Dr. Don Tharp, Educational Technologist

School of Public Affairs
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Phone: (719) 255-4992

E-mail: dtharp2@uccs.edu

Downloadable CV

Bio:

     Don recently joined UCCS School of Public Affairs as its Educational Technologist.   Don wanted to return to academia and to assist faculty and students in their learning; he also wanted to be part of the growing SPA team.

     Don brings a rich background of experience and education to his educational technology position at the School of Public Affairs.  Don moved to UCCS School of Public Affairs from Lockheed Martin (Training and Logistics Systems) after 2.5 years designing training and learning systems for customers around the world.  At Lockheed Martin he especially liked working with customers to design and develop training/learning systems using technology to enrich learning. Prior to working with Lockheed Martin, Don served in the Air Force for 28 years.  He started out flying the “tough as nails F-4 Phantom II jet”, then transitioned to teaching at the Air Force Academy and flying training aircraft. After completing his PhD in Educational Technology at the University of Northern Colorado, he returned to Air Force Academy as an Assistant Professor in Educational Technology.  The Air Force sent Don to work with the US Army as a Static-line Jump qualified Air Liaison Officer for 10 years in multiple locations around the world including Iraq and Afghanistan. “My last assignment was at Air University as the Chief of Future Learning and Associate Professor responsible for leading the integration of technology across Air Force learning communities.”

     Don considers his greatest professional accomplishment to be the training and leading of men and women. He continues, “Seeing their success in their jobs and their confidence grow as we developed as a team to meet worldwide operational requirements was amazing!”   Don’s goal at UCCS School of Public Affairs is not totally different: “To assist the School of Public Affairs grow to be a leader in our field of education.” To do this he hopes to help the faculty and staff provide a learning environment where they can experiment with learning techniques and technology that would be beneficial to teaching success and student learning by integrating appropriate technology to maximize learning in any given situation. Explaining this goal, Don states, “Technology can be a great tool, but you have to remember it is just a tool and it’s how you use the tool that makes it beneficial to the process.” This should be an achievable goal for Don as he was named the USAF Academy’s Outstanding Educator by his peers and students. 

     Don has been married over 30 years to his “lovely wife Mona.”  Together they have two children, both married. Recently, he became a grandfather for the first time.  Willow is Don and Mona’s min-pin; Willow, Don admits, rules the roost now that their children are gone.   Don is an avid reader of fantasy novels, history books, and, of course, instructional technology articles on learning.  His favorite quote comes from his high school football coach, “If you ain’t trying, you’re dying.”

     In addition to his Ph.D., Don holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Michigan State University, a Master of Arts degree in Asian Studies from the University of Philippines, a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from the National War College.

Short Curriculum Vita

Donald D. Tharp
                                                                                       
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Training and Education Leader          Seasoned Management Executive      Client Relationships
Change Management Executive         Budget/Financial Management           Fast-Paced Environments
Marketing and Negotiations                Talent Acquisition & Training            Strategic Planner

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
University Colorado - Colorado Springs : School Public Affairs - Colorado Springs, CO      01/2013 - Present                  Educational Technology - Blackboard, Web Design, Technology Integration (online/classroom), training.

Lockheed Martin Global Training and Logistics - Orlando FL                               10/2010 - 01/2013
Research Engineer - Innovative Learning and Training; Business Development Training Solutions; Curriculum Development; Instructional Design and Technology, Simulations and Logistics Engineering-Manager

Coordinate Lockheed Martin innovations, technologies and learning into business strategy and execution. Organizational management responsibilities (training, budgeting, estimates, personnel and logistics).
·         Align learning/training solutions to business needs and available resources (people, processes, technology and funding) to help design and deliver prioritized learning solutions available to the customer.
·         Implement and use Instructional Design theory and capability to assist development, implementation and support business development training solution strategy.
·         Develop and implement methodologies to communicate the strategic learning/training plan.
·         Provide training and learning effectiveness analysis and recommendations to improve Lockheed Martin learning, eLearning, training, simulations and competitive posture for future training contracts.
    
Air Force Research Institute - Maxwell Air Force Base, AL                                 10/2008 - 09/2010
Chief, Future Learning and Innovations; Vice Director, Air Force Research Institute; 
Air War College Associate Professor - Adjunct

Developed, validated, and directed Future Learning and Innovations (e.g., Social Media, Learning Management Systems, Instructional Technology) to diffuse across Air University's 180,000 student eLearning and resident educational programs world-wide.

·         Designed and implemented an innovation classroom lab to allow faculty to experiment with and evaluate technology and instructional techniques before eLearning and classroom implementation.
·         Transformed learning technology implementation process: reduced purchasing time and costs by 12%.
·         Led research team on affective learning, instructional design and technology integration: delivered research project, three articles and presentations ahead of schedule & under budget.
·         Developed and led stand up Learning Technology Working Group for Air University and advisory boards for all Air University's 8 schools to facilitate sharing knowledge, experience and technology integration.
·         Instructed faculty on learning and implementing Web 2.0, multimedia and new instructional techniques.

3d Air Support Operations Group - Fort Hood, TX; Baghdad, Iraq                    06/2006 - 10/2008
Commander - Combat Operations

Directed worldwide operations and budget administration for 867 personnel located at 7 locations. Supervised essential security, human resource development, information management, communications and weather support while providing US Army and Marines and Allies Joint air and space integration and developmental enhancements.
·         Planned and orchestrated US forces Iraq growth in support of US strategic and operational objectives.
·         Reorganized training, integrated technology and initiated mentor instruction shortening the training cycle for new Airmen from over six months to less than six weeks.
·         Implemented Command and Control center to facilitate interaction and shortened response time by 30%.
·         Coordinated with senior leadership to institute new US Air Force and Army manpower requirements.
·         Developed theater-wide learning strategy to integrate video and web conference learning to lowest levels.

                                                                                                                    
National War College - Fort McNair, DC                                                              07/2005 - 06/2006
Student; National Security Strategies, interagency relations, foreign affairs, leadership, strategic economics and national defense on the global scale.
                                  
Headquarters Plans and Programs - Langley Air Force Base, VA                       06/2004 - 06/2005
Deputy Chief - Strategy, Concepts and Doctrine Division

·         Reshaped Air Combat Command's strategic think tank and instituted research-based strategy studies: defined expeditionary aircraft and personnel requirements for Combat Air Force Headquarters.
·         Studies shaped training, management, acquisition and programming of manpower and equipment.

18^th Air Support Operations Group - Pope Air Force Base, NC; Baghdad,          06/2002 - 06/2004
Deputy Commander - Combat Operations/Inspector General

Responsible for management and budget for over 1,000 personnel at 9 geographically separated units operating in a fast-paced joint environment. Supervised training, scheduling, facilities and communications; provided US Army Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations airpower integration. 
·         Spearheaded development and launch of new organization (484 Air Expeditionary Wing); oversight spanned seven countries and over 12,000 personnel ensuring command, control and communication was responsive and supported US and International partners to lowest level.
·         Transformed an aging Training Center boosting training capabilities and use by 20% year one then 35% after.
·         Designed and implemented an online Joint Fires simulation and training program.

17^th Air Support Operations Squadron - Fort Benning, GA; Afghanistan            06/2000 - 06/2002
Commander - Combat Operations

Accountable for Joint Terminal Attack Controller and weather personnel, budget, operations, and training:  to the elite US Army Rangers, Joint Special Operations and US Special Operations.
·         Developed integrated technology-based training, mentorship and simulation to facilitate a six-month training cycle instead of twelve months:  saving $35K annually.
·         Assisted Joint Special Operations video capable asset integration into their operational capabilities.
·         Established and managed communications, operations and training spanning 4 continents.
                                                                                                                                                                                             
United States Air Force - Worldwide Assignments                                                 12/1982 - 06/2000
Operations Officer, Assistant Professor, T-43 Instructor, F-4 Weapons System Officer         
·         Evaluator, Instructor, Mission Commander and Test Weapons System Officer - Eight Top Gun Awards.
·         Scheduler - executed $64M flying hour program; Chief of Training - managed $24M training programs.
·         Joint Terminal Attack Controller, Airborne, Naval Gunfire, and Joint Fires Qualified.
·         Undergraduate Navigator Training & Joint Firepower Control Course- Distinguished Graduate.
                                                                                                                                                                          
 TEACHING EXPERIENCE
United States Air Force Academy, CO                                                                      02/1997 - 12/1998
Assistant Professor; T-43 Flight Instructor - Directed 22 personnel                             06/1992 - 07/1994
Accountable for faculty and technology development, budget, operations and teaching 2000 students annually.
·         Transformed core courses by infusing technology, simulations and multimedia, doubled student satisfaction, knowledge and throughput.
·         Senior Educational Technology representative.
·         USAFA Outstanding Academy Educator of the year, 1998.
                                                 
School Board Member - Colorado Springs Christian School - CO                         02/1998 - 01/1999
Technology Lead, Teacher Development Lead; Assistant Football Coach - Varsity and Junior Varsity

College of Education - University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, CO                 04/1998 - 12/1998
Assistant Professor-Adjunct - Educational Technology

College of Education - University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO                06/1994 - 02/1997
Doctoral Student, Graduate Assistant, Assistant Professor-Adjunct, Webmaster

EDUCATION
Degree     Year       Institution                                                Area of Study
Ph.D.        1997       University of Northern Colorado              Educational Technology
M.S.          2006       National War College                                 National Security Strategy
                  2002       Air War College                                            Professional Military Education
                  1996       Air Command and Staff College                Professional Military Education
M.A.         1989       University of Philippines                            Asian Studies
                  1987       Squadron Officer School                             Professional Military Education
B.A.         1980       Michigan State University                            History

PUBLICATIONS
Tharp, D. D. (2012), Live Virtual and Constructive Training: Why Invest into the Future of Training Now? Lockheed Martin Global Training and Logistics White Paper, Orlando, FL.
Tharp, D. D., Gould, A. J. & Potter R. (2010) Leveraging Affective Learning for Developing Future Airmen. U. S. Army Medical Department Journal, Fort Sam Houston, TX.
Tharp, D. D., Gould, A. J. & Potter R. (2009) Leveraging Affective Learning for Developing Future Airmen. Research Study - AU Press, Maxwell AFB, AL.       
Dirksen, D. J. & Tharp, D. D. (2000) Goals 2000: Initial Evaluation. Research Paper: Moving Beyond the Crossroads: Teachers as Agents for Change. NECC 2000: National Educational Computing Conference Proceedings.
Persichitte, K. A., Tharp, D. D. & Caffarella, E. P. (1999) Contingent Innovation-Decisions, Infrastructure, and Information Technologies, Educational Technology & Society, 1999, volume 2(1), [On-line].
Persichitte, K. A., Tharp, D. D., & Caffarella, E. P. (1999) Technology Integration in Teacher Preparation: A Qualitative Research Study, Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 1999 volume 7:3.
Young, S., Persichitte, K. A., & Tharp, D. D. (1998).  Electronic Mail Interviews: Guidelines for Conducting Research. International Journal of Educational Telecommunications (IJET) volume 4(4), p. 291-299.
Hill, J. R., Tharp, D. D., Sindt, K. M., Jennings, M., & Tharp, M. (1997). Collaborative Web Site Design. TechTrends, 42(2).
Persichitte, K. A., Tharp, D. D., & Caffarella, E. P. (1997). The Use of Technology by Schools, Colleges, and Departments of Education: Fall, 1996. American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
Dirksen, D. J., & Tharp, D. D. (1997). The Role of CBAM in Teacher Education to Facilitate Systemic Change. Technology and Teacher Education Annual 1997.
Dirksen, D. J. & Tharp, D. D. (1996). Utilizing CBAM to assess the use of instructional technologies in the classroom. Technology and Teacher Education Annual 1996.

Additional Publications and Presentations are available upon request.
www.linkedin.com/pub/donald-tharp/a/618/350

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Association for Educational Communications and Technology            EDUCAUSE
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education              Air Force Association