Rotary Welcomes Air University Chief Academic Officer Dr. Mark Conversino

President Chuck Redden and Rotarian Susan Jackson with Dr. Conversino.

On August 3, 2023, the Rotary Club of Birmingham welcomed Dr. Mark J. Conversino, Chief Academic Officer at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base. Dr. Conversino discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine in great detail and its implications for the U.S. and countries throughout the world.

About Dr. Mark J. Conversino

Dr. Mark J. Conversino is Chief Academic Officer, Air University (AU), Maxwell AFB, AL.  In this role, as a member of the University’s senior leadership team, he is the executive-level authority for all issues pertaining to academic programs across the University.  This includes curriculum development, integration, and assessment, institutional research, regional and specialized accreditation compliance, and coordinating with Headquarters, Air Force and Air Force Major Command staffs.  He also works closely with AU Center Commanders and School Commandants to ensure the quality and viability of their education programs.  From 2015 to 2019, he served as Deputy Commandant at the Air Force’s School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) which is also located at Maxwell.  From 2008 until 2015, he served as Dean of the Air War College (AWC), having joined the college’s faculty following his retirement from active duty with the Air Force.  Dr. Conversino continues to teach in the AWC’s Regional Security Studies core course, focusing on Russia/Former Soviet Union and the Baltic States.  Dr. Conversino holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from Indiana University. He is the author of the book Fighting With The Soviets: The Failure of Operation FRANTIC, 1944-1945, which was also published in Ukraine in 2015.  He also has written several chapters in edited works, and numerous articles and reviews in scholarly and defense-related journals.  Dr. Conversino is a past member of the Board of Advisors for the Baltic Defense College in Tartu, Estonia and currently serves as Executive Director of the Alabama World Affairs Council.