Dr. Steve Ellis is a 25-year Air Force veteran with over 30 years of experience as an instructor, curriculum developer, training program evaluator, and learning systems innovator.  He is a scholar-practitioner serving as the Learning Coordinator for the AFWERX Agility Prime Program, helping bring electric aviation to the forefront.  Dr. Ellis researches the learnability of aircraft control schemes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of flying training.  He collaborated with colleagues to create and field instructor development workshops.  He has published U.S. Air Force training policy, instructions, process guides, articles in performance improvement journals, conference papers, and book chapters for student-centered instruction.  He has led workshops on human capital development for the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce and Air Force audiences.  He has a Ph.D. in Human Capital Development from the University of Southern Mississippi.

 

Measuring the Effect of Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft Configurations on Pilot Learning and Performance, Defense Technical Information Center (2023)  https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/trecms/AD1205353

 

A New Approach to Policy: Creating a Culture of “Can.” Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando, FL (2020) https://www.xcdsystem.com/iitsec/proceedings/index.cfm?Year=2020&AbID=76793&CID=572#View

 

Can Values be Trained? Applying Affective Engagement to Change Organizational Culture (2020). Performance Improvement Quarterly, https://doi.org/10.1002/piq.21327

 

Transitioning from Instructor-Centered to Student-Centered Learning: Case Study of the U.S. Air Force Technical Training Organizations. In The Routledge international handbook of student-centered learning and teaching in higher education. (2020). ISBN 978-0-367-20052-7

 

Applying Affective Engagement to Change Organizational Culture: A Secondary Analysis of Sexual Assault Prevention and Reporting Curriculum Outcomes on U.S. Air Force Technical Training Campuses” (2017). DissertatIons.1378.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1378

 

LICENSES

FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Operator

J. Brock Vaughn is a distinguished acquisition professional and accomplished aviator with over 25 years of proven experience directing complex, high-value programs for the Department of the Air Force and U.S. Space Force. He currently serves as the Director of Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) Acquisitions for the Battle Management Command, Control, Communication, and Space Intelligence (BMC3) portfolio, overseeing a critical $4.2 billion portfolio. Holding an Advanced Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification in Program Management, Mr. Vaughn has built a career centered on acquisition excellence, strategic leadership, and delivering vital, resilient capabilities for national defense.
Complementing his defense civilian career is his deep-seated expertise in aviation. An avid pilot with over 3,000 hours of flight time, Mr. Vaughn has extensive experience piloting twin-engine jet and turboprop aircraft, as well as performing precision aerobatics in both biplanes and gliders. His passion for aviation extends directly into hands-on aerospace craftsmanship, having personally built and refurbished multiple experimental aircraft. This unique, practical understanding of flight dynamics and aircraft construction directly enhances his strategic oversight of advanced aerospace systems.
Mr. Vaughn’s professional journey bridges military operational experience, corporate financial leadership, and federal acquisition. He began his career with nearly a decade of service as a Missile Field Commander in the U.S. Air Force, commanding troops in real-world security operations, followed by private sector tenure as a Chief Financial Officer. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Procurement & Acquisition Management from Webster University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University. His consistent record of outstanding performance has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Exemplary Civilian Service Award and being named Civilian of the Year twice.

Captain Will Lese currently flies Airbus A320-series aircraft for a major U.S. airline. In addition, he works with the airline’s safety department on initiatives focused on operational safety. Prior to his current role, Will flew Embraer 170/175 aircraft for a regional airline and served as a Certified Flight Instructor, training pilots across a variety of aircraft and operations. He has accumulated more than 5,000 hours of flight experience. Will holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harvard University, with a secondary field in Psychology, and a master’s degree in Aviation and Aerospace Sustainability from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, specializing in Aviation Safety.

Will is dedicated to advancing a safer, smarter, and more resilient aviation industry for the next generation of flight operations.