John M. Sheehan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor College of Distance Education
Cmdr., U.S. Navy, Retired
John M Sheehan Profile Image

Biography

A naval aviator and attack pilot, Cmdr. Sheehan served in VA-115 at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan and aboard USS Independence (CV-62). In 1995, he joined Attack Squadron 196 (VA-196) for the final Intruder deployment, serving as a forward air controller/airborne. He transitioned to the EA-6B Prowler, and served two tours with Electronic Attack Squadron 141 (VAQ-141) as Prowler tactics instructor and night vision goggles instructor. He has logged over 3,500 flight hours and 750 arrested landings on nine aircraft carriers. Ashore, Sheehan served on the Joint Staff in J-5 strategy, and as engagement lead for South and East Africa at U.S. Naval Forces Africa in Naples, Italy.

Contact Information

Areas of Expertise

  • Africa
  • Civil War
  • Civil-Military Relations
  • COIN
  • Cold War
  • Desert Storm
  • Diplomacy
  • Economics
  • Foreign Policy
  • Geopolitics
  • International Relations
  • Korean War
  • Maritime History
  • Maritime Strategy
  • National Security
  • Philippines
  • Policy
  • Security Cooperation
  • Vietnam War
  • WWII

Professional Highlights

2018

Associate Professor, U.S. Naval War College

Joined the Strategy and Policy faculty of the Naval War College, Monterey, CA.
2013

Military Professor, U.S. Naval War College

Joined the Strategy and Policy faculty of the Naval War College, Newport RI.
2010

PhD Candidate, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School

Reported to NPS as a Doctoral candidate for a three-year resident program in Security Studies.
2007

U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa

Served as engagement lead for South and East Africa. Headquartered in Naples, IT.
2004

Joint Staff

Strategy and Policy Directorate, J-5, Joint Staff, Pentagon. Served as the lead for Security Cooperation, lead for Global Posture Realignment, and as the Subject Matter Expert for DoD Regional Centers (George Marshall Center, Asia Pacific Center, etc.).
1998

VAQ-129, VAQ-141, VAQ-129, and VAQ-141 again.

Prowler transition, squadron pilot, RAG instructor, and VAQ department head tours. Highlights: NVG Instructor, Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor, Prowler Tactics Instructor, NVG Instructor/Instructor.
1991

VA-128, VA-115, VA-196

Intruder replacement pilot, squadron pilot, and twilight squadron pilot tours. Highlights: forward deployed airwing, Forward Air Controller (FAC), NVG, and FAC-Airborne.
1989

AOCS, VT-27, VT-23, VT-21

Aviation Officer Candidate School, Class 09-89, commissioned on 5 May 89; Primary flight training in Corpus Christi, TX; Intermediate jet training in Kingsville, TX; Advanced jet training in the mighty A-4 Skyhawk in Kingsville, TX; Wings of Gold in February 1991.

Education

Ph.D., United States Naval Postgraduate School, Security Studies

M.A., George Mason University, American History

M.B.A., Columbia College

M.A., United States Naval War College, National Security and Strategic Studies

B.S., San Jose State University, Aeronautics

C.V. or Resume

External Memberships and Associations

Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society

Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations

United States Naval Institute

United States Naval Postgraduate School Foundation

United States Naval War College Foundation

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