Faculty

Commander J. Scott McPherson is a Permanent Military Professor and instructor of Leadership Concepts in the National Security Affairs Department.  He holds a transdisciplinary PhD from Salve Regina University with an emphasis in ethics, technology, military science, and public policy. From 2003-2008, he taught in the Strategy and Policy department and served as Executive Assistant to the Chair.  During this time, was a key member of the team that bifurcated the Naval War College resident course into two distinct curriculums, and led his department's efforts toward subsequent accreditation for Joint Professional Military Education Phase I and II.  He then joined the National Security Affairs Department and currently serves as the coordinator for Ethics and Officer Professional Military Education for his sub-course in addition to his teaching duties.

 

In 2000, Commander McPherson received his Masters degree with distinction as well as the Forrestal Award for Force Planning from the Naval War College. He has served on the Joint Staff as a psychological operations officer and Chief of the Special Activities Branch, as well as Executive Assistant to the Director for Information Operations. A former Naval Flight Officer, he has achieved mission commander qualifications and operational tours in three different carrier-based aircraft: the E-2C Hawkeye, A-6E Intruder and EA-6B Prowler. During his EA-6B tour, he also earned air wing strike lead qualification. He has flown combat missions in support of the no-fly zones in Iraq as well as Somalia, and has acquired over 3000 flight hours and 590 arrested landings while assigned to various west coast carriers.

 

His research and interests include national security, leadership, professional military education, ethics, space weaponization, and technology.