Gary Packard

Interim Senior Vice Provost for Online Initiatives

Dr. Packard, a retired Brigadier General, joins the University of Arizona from the Air Force Academy Foundation, where he serves as Program Manager for the Institute for Future Conflict. In this capacity, he has been responsible for working with the President/Superintendent’s leadership teams to define the challenges graduates are facing in the 21st Century National Defense, which entailed a $100 million campaign goal. Dr. Packard has developed partnerships to support cutting edge academic, research, and training opportunities.

At the United States Air Force Academy, Dr. Packard has served as Vice Dean for Curriculum and Strategy, leading the academic strategic plan, facilitating diversity and inclusion programming, serving as donor liaison to launch the Institute for Future Conflict, and overseeing the research centers and research portfolio. Previously, he served as Vice Dean of the Faculty and managed daily operations for 24 academic and student support departments at the USAF Academy. He has also served as Chair of the Social Sciences Division, which championed programs and curriculum for five academic departments. 

With a career spanning more than 37 years as an Air Force Officer, Dr. Packard has also served as a pilot, instructor pilot, evaluator, Deployed Director of Staff, Operations Officer and Commander, accumulating 3,900-plus hours flying hours. As Commander, Dr. Packard was responsible for aircraft and training resources and annually graduating over 200 new pilots. In his role as Deployed Director of Staff, he oversaw the operations of a base of 11,000 assigned and transient multi-national personnel.

Noteworthy among his many accomplishments, Dr. Packard was awarded the Charles S. Gersoni Military Psychology Award for outstanding contributions to military psychology and the Fellowship by the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education, which allows students in the United States and other countries to study in Sweden to encourage bilateral cooperation in research. He also was recognized with the Master’s Degree Award for Academic Excellence at Michigan State University and as the Squadron Instructor Pilot of the Year at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.

Dr. Packard earned a doctorate in Developmental Psychology with a focus on social network influences on leadership and professional military development for cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy, a master’s degree in Counseling from Michigan State University, a masters in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from the United States Air Force Academy.

 

ADMIN
 Susan Terwilliger

susan.terwilliger@uagc.edu