Dr. Ruff-Stahl is an adjunct associate professor in the Aeronautics Department. He holds a Ph.D. from Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany), a Ph.D. in Media and Communications from the European Graduate School in Saas Fee (Switzerland), an M.S. in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle and an M.S.S. in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Air Force Air War College. Additionally, he holds an Airline Transport Pilot license.
In his operational and academic career, Dr. Ruff-Stahl enjoyed the opportunity for extensive research, such as the integration of large UAS into the European air traffic system and for the European Community’s FLYSEC project – here aiming to develop an innovative airport security process for passengers, airports and airlines. He has supervised international System Safety Management Cases and publishes regularly in the fields of safety, military strategy, human factors and aviation.
Dr. Ruff-Stahl is an active duty colonel in the German Air Force, has been trained as a fighter pilot and logged more than 3000 hours in the MiG-29 Fulcrum, F-4 F Phantom II and T-38 Talon. He has been a military instructor pilot in fighter squadrons and at the prestigious Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program at Sheppard Air Force Base. Dr. Ruff-Stal is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force-GAF Fighter Weapons School and has been a squadron- and vice wing commander. After his flying career, he became a diplomat, initially serving as Defense Attaché to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and presently as Defense Attaché to Lithuania.
During an operational tour in Afghanistan, Dr. Ruff-Stahl served as the head of flight operations, safety, and security of Mazar-e Sharif International Airport. Among many other tasks, this included the managerial oversight of the airport's air traffic control, ramp operations, the selection and training administration of ATC Tower and firefighting personnel to ultimately reach ICAO level 9 standards in a conflict zone. He is fluent in German, English, Russian and Italian.
Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Cultural Science, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin
M.A.S. - Master of Aeronautical Science in Aviation Aerospace Management, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
M.S.S. - Master of Strategic Studies in Strategic Studies, Air University
Military Pilot License (Germany and USA)
Airline Transport Pilot License (FAA)
Flight Engineer (FAA)
Military Flight Instructor
FWIC Instructor
Ratings:
- F-4F Phantom II
- MiG-29 Fulcrum
- T-38 Talon
- B 737
External Supervisor for the Ph.D. research program at the School of Mathematics and Engineering, City University London, UK.
Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Media and Communications, European Graduate School
Fellow of the Royal Aeronautlcal Society (2019)
2012: Air War College nomination for U. S. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff national defense and strategy essay competition
2011: Publication scholarship, Walter de Gruyter Stiftung, Berlin
2010: International Region Award, Embry-Riddle
2007: Faculty of the Year Award, Embry-Riddle