FSU historian appointed to teach next generation of leaders at U.S. Air Force Academy
A 糖心vlog historian has been appointed to serve as a distinguished visiting professor in the humanities division at the United States Air Force Academy.
Kurt Piehler, director of FSU鈥檚 and an associate professor in the , will teach several courses to Air Force cadets during the fall and spring semesters of the 2024-2025 academic year.
鈥淭he idea of teaching cadets and working at the academy is quite exciting, especially to have a role in training the next generation of military leaders,鈥 Piehler said. 鈥淥ver the years, I鈥檝e really enjoyed teaching students about the importance of understanding war in society and the issues centered around them, and I鈥檓 looking forward to contributing to the service in this way.鈥
The U.S. Air Force Academy, located just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a four-year public university and military service academy. The academy was established in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and officially opened its doors in 1955. Each year, about 12,000 students apply to attend the academy while only about 1,400 are admitted, making the Air Force Academy the most competitive of the three U.S. military academies.
鈥淧rofessor Piehler has spent a lifetime of scholarship considering the history of war and society,鈥 said Jennifer Koslow, chair of the Department of History. 鈥淗e knows the history of public policy, the history of leaders, the history of military engagements, and the history of warfighters in the 20th century 鈥 in other words, he can tell the story of our nation as a whole while personalizing the past and making it relevant to the future.鈥
Piehler, who earned a doctoral degree from Rutgers University, New Jersey, joined FSU鈥檚 history faculty in 2011 and became director of the institute that same year. He specializes in U.S. history of the 20th century, and previously held academic roles at Baruch College of the City University of New York and Rutgers, including as founding director of the Rutgers Oral History Archives of World War II.
Piehler has authored, co-edited, and edited more than two dozen books covering the lives and experiences of American servicemembers, the impact of global military operations on the American home front and culture and the enduring legacy of World War II etched into American civilian and military history.
His appointment to the Air Force Academy continues a tradition of FSU history faculty and graduates serving appointments at U.S. service academies and military institutions.
鈥淎mong the things I鈥檓 most looking forward to is working with two of my former students at the academy: Air Force Maj. John Prince, an assistant professor, earned his doctorate with me at FSU, and instructor of history Air Force Maj. Chris Reith earned his master鈥檚 degree while working with me,鈥 Piehler said.
During his appointment, Piehler will help develop new courses, assist in cadet independent study projects, contribute to research on current Air Force issues, recommend additions and removals to archival holdings and more.
鈥淚鈥檒l be teaching the basic course in military history that all cadets are required to take, and class sizes are capped at around 18 students,鈥 Piehler said. 鈥淓ven in this introductory class, it will be mostly discussion-based. I鈥檓 slated to teach an upper-level class on World War I during the fall semester, and I鈥檓 hoping to teach a similar course on World War II in the spring.鈥
In addition to educating the next generation of Air Force leaders, Piehler is hoping to advance his own research through academy resources. As someone who has found himself immersed in history scholarship and military science since he was in elementary school, he鈥檚 hoping to reside on the Air Force base to take advantage of everything the academy offers to faculty members, especially its library archives.
鈥淗aving Professor Piehler elected to this position provides external validation of the excellence of our faculty, and I can think of no better scholar to work with Air Force cadets who will serve as our nation鈥檚 future leaders,鈥 Koslow said. 鈥淚t is a tremendous honor to be asked to be a distinguished visiting professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy.鈥
For more information about Piehler鈥檚 work and the Department of History, visit . To learn more about FSU鈥檚 Institute on World War II and the Human Experience, visit .