Dana H. Born

Dr. Dana H. Born is a Senior Associate, Defense, Emerging Technology, and Strategy Program and

Senior Advisor, National Security Fellowship at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). Prior to retiring from Harvard in 2024, she served as Co-Director of the Center for Public Leadership, Faculty Chair of the Senior Executive Fellows Program, Faculty Advisor for the National Security Fellows and Black Family Graduate Fellowship, and Lecturer in Public Policy. A recipient of the HKS Innovation in Teaching Award (2017) and the HKS Annual Teaching Awards (2014–2024).

A retired Brigadier General with 30 years of service in the United States Air Force, Dr. Born served as a military commander in times of peace, conflict and crises. Prior to Harvard, she served nine years as Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) leading a 700+ member faculty with a $350M budget. She previously commanded the 11th Mission Support Squadron at Bolling AFB and served as an on-scene Commander during the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.  Other assignments include roles as aide, speechwriter, and policy analyst to two Secretaries of the Air Force; exchange officer with the Royal Australian Air Force; and service in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Born is the recipient of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Secretary of the Air Force’s Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award and the Air Force Association’s Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award for contributions to aerospace education.

Currently, Dr. Born serves as Chair of the Midwest Reliability Organization, Chair of the Board of Trustees for DeVry University and Keller Graduate School of Management, and Member of the Academic Advisory Board for Chegg. She is a Trustee for the USAFA Falcon Foundation (Member, Strategy and Governance Committee) and an Honorary Advisory Board Member for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warrior Foundation. Dr. Born also serves on advisory boards for With Honor, Blue Star Families, and Mission Readiness, and previously served on the Air Force Academy Foundation Board (Chair, Stewardship Committee), and as President and Board Chair of the International Women’s Forum (Massachusetts).

Dr. Born is a Senior Distinguished Fellow with The HOW Institute for Society, past President of the American Psychological Association (APA Fellow, Society for Military Psychology), Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Women Corporate Directors, Board Risk Committee, and former peer evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission.  Her prior board service includes roles as an Independent Director for Volato (Chair, Audit Committee) and Apollo Education Group (Independent Director, member of the Compensation, Audit, and Special Litigation Committees).

Dr. Born earned her B.S. in Behavioral Sciences from USAF Academy (with distinction), an M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Trinity University (TX), an M.A. in Research Psychology from the University of Melbourne, Australia and a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Penn State University. She is a recipient of Penn State’s Alumni Fellow Award (2012) and Distinguished Alumni Award (2018) and holds an honorary doctorate from Simmons College in Humane Administration (2007).

Dr. Born is the spouse of a retired military officer and proud parent of two daughters currently serving as active-duty officers (USAF and USMC) bringing a multigenerational perspective to service, leadership and national security.

Born, D. H., Correa, M. & George, W. (2025).  Authentic Leadership Across Levels: Unlocking Global Potential. In Special Issue: The Future of Global Talent Management: Strategies, Innovations, and Challenges for a Diverse and Dynamic Workforce.  Editors: Gary Latham, Ron Piccolo, and Paula Caliguiri. Organizational Dynamics.

Born, D. H., & Yemiscigil, A. (Fall, 2024).  Leadership Perspective: What Makes Leadership Development Impactful? Exploring a Whole-Person Approach. Journal of Character and Leadership Development (JCLD). https://doi.org/10.58315/jcld.v11.304

Born, D. H., & Caliguiri, P (Spring, 2024).  Leadership Perspective: Leaders’ Psychological Bravery. Journal of Character and Leadership Development (JCLD). https://jcldusafa.org/index.php/jcld/article/view/292/437

Dimmock, A. & Born, D. H., (Fall, 2023).  Leadership Perspective:  A More Perfect Union:  Meaning in the Preamble of the United States Constitution. Journal of Character and Leadership Development (JCLD). https://doi.org/10.58315/jcld.v10.285

Yemiscigil, A., Born, D. H., & Ling, H.  (Feb 28, 2023). "What Makes Leadership Development Programs Succeed?" Harvard Business Review. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/publications/what-makes-leadership-development-programs-succeed