Colonel Dean Bushey, Ph.D
Colonel Dean Bushey, Ph.D
UAS Commander/Program Manager
 
Biographical Sketch
Col Dean Bushey is the Program Director for Unmanned Aircraft Systems training and research, and an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado which administers the nationally accredited Computer Science program. A Command Pilot with over 4500 flight hours, Col Bushey is responsible for all operations, education and training involving unmanned aircraft, related research, and local coordination of UAS operations. He conducts research in UAS operations, UAS digital systems integration, and multiple UAS system communication. He is a noted expert in Computer Science Education and conducts research in critical thinking and undergraduate education.

A native of Bloomington, Indiana, Col Bushey is a 1988 alumni of the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, where he graduated with Academic and Military honors. After graduation he attended advanced flight training at Williams AFB, AZ. His first operational tour was as executive officer and C-12 Instructor Pilot at Clark AB, Philippines where he was responsible for safe flight operations and transport of VIPs all over the south pacific. He was assigned to Dover AFB, DE from 1992-1995 where he served as Chief of Standardizations and Evaluator Pilot for the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy aircraft. From 1995-1996 he attended Clemson University and earned his Master’s Degree in computer science before returning to the US Air Force Academy as an instructor in computer science and T-3 Firefly instructor pilot. In 1998 he was assigned to Ramstein AB, Germany as an Assistant Director of Operations and Instructor Pilot for the 76th Airlift Squadron flying Gulfstream G-III and G-IV SP aircraft, transporting very high level dignitaries, white house staff, congressional leaders, and service chiefs of staff across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. In 2002 he went to Indian Springs AAF, NV and served as assistant director of operations for unmanned combat aircraft, Predators, for the 15th and 11th Reconnaissance Squadrons. Here he served as a deployed Predator Squadron Commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom. From 2004-2007 Col Bushey attended Clemson University, SC pursuing his Ph.D. in Computer Science. After completing his degree he returned to the US Air Force Academy in his current capacity.