Colonel Steven C. M. Hasstedt is the Acting Dean of the Faculty and Permanent Professor of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. As Dean, he commands the 750-member Dean of Faculty mission, overseeing the annual design and instruction of more than 500 undergraduate courses for 4,000 cadets across 32 academic disciplines, directing the operation of five support staff agencies, and managing faculty resources involving $350 million.
Col. Hasstedt earned his commission and degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1992. Col. Hasstedt is a fully qualified joint officer with extensive multinational operations experience. He served in leadership positions on multiple command staffs and led a multinational logistics working group at Joint Forces Command, consisting of personnel from Headquarters, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Joint Staff J4, U.S. Transportation Command, and 13 nations focused on improving coalition logistics information exchange. He was the first non-rated commander of Detachment 1, 715th Air Mobility Operations Group, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and he also commanded the 729th Air Mobility Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, as the 2009 AMC Small Air Terminal Unit of the Year.
Prior to his current role, Col. Hasstedt served as the Head of the Department of Biology and the Chair of the Basic Sciences Division, where he represented the departments of Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics & Meteorology.
EDUCATION
1992 Bachelor of Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1994 Transportation Officer Course, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2001 Master of Science, Environmental Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2003 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Advanced Study of Air Mobility, Air Mobility Warfare Center, Fort Dix, N.J.
2008 Master of Science, School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, Ohio
2008 Joint & Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2008 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2013 Doctor of Philosophy, Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1. May 1992 – May 1993, Flight Commander, Vehicle Operations, 58th Transportation Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. May 1993 – November 1994, Flight Commander, Combat Readiness and Resources, 58th Transportation Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
3. November 1994 – September 1995, Flight Commander, Vehicle Operations, 56th Transportation Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
4. October 1995 – August 1996, Chief of Combat Readiness and Resources Flight, 437th Aerial Port Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
5. August 1996 – August 1997, Flight Commander, Air Terminal Operations, 437th Aerial Port Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
6. August 1997 – August 1998, Executive Officer, 437th Operations Group, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
7. August 1998 – June 2000, Chief of Cargo Operations Section, Directorate of Operations, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
8. June 2000 – December 2001, Student, Environmental Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Ill.
9. December 2001 – December 2003, Instructor of Biology and Academic Advisor-In-Charge, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
10. December 2003 – April 2004, Assistant Professor of Biology and Academic Advisor-In-Charge, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
11. May 2004 – June 2005, Student, Advanced Study of Air Mobility, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Mobility Warfare Center, Fort Dix, N.J.
12. July 2005 – June 2006, Commander, Detachment 1, 715th Air Mobility Operations Group, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
13. July 2006 – May 2009, Joint Logistics Analyst, U. S. Joint Forces Command, Joint Concept Development & Experimentation, Suffolk, Va.
14. May 2009 – July 2010, Commander, 729th Air Mobility Squadron, Lajes Air Base, Azores, Portugal
15. July 2010 – July 2013, Student, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Colo.
16. July 2013 – December 2014, Assistant Professor of Biology and Director of Curriculum Integration, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
17. December 2014 – July 2016, Director of Staff, Dean of Faculty, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
18. July 2016 – November 2020, Permanent Professor & Head, Department of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (Chair, Basic Sciences Division, 2020 – 2023)
19. January 2025 – May 2025, Vice Dean of the Faculty, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
20. June 2025 – Present, Acting Dean of the Faculty, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air and Space Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters
2002 – 2003 U.S. Air Force Academy Outstanding Academy Educator Award, Department of Biology
2001 Outstanding Student in Environmental Sciences , Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
2000 National Defense Transportation Association, International Jr. Executive Leadership Award
1999 Headquarters, Air Mobility Command, Company Grade Officer of the Year
1998 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston S.C., Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award Winner
(Current as of July 2025)