Steven Pierce, D.M., is a retired avionics senior chief petty officer who began in the College of Distance Education as an Associate Professor of National Security Affairs and manager of NWC's Online PME Program in 2006. He taught in and managed NWC's Homeland Security electives track from 2009 to 2016, and in 2019, he was assigned as the Assistant to the Dean for Technology and Innovation, where he oversaw operations of the college's Empower Student Information and Blackboard Learning Management Systems. In December 2017, he earned a Doctorate in Management degree from Colorado Technical University and in August 2020, he was named Deputy Dean, CDE and currently serves as CDE's Interim Dean.