Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2025, Nursing

Purpose: Veterans hold a set of health care expectations specifically related to cultural values derived from their military service. Although veterans expect veteran culture—specifically veteran identity and the five veteran core values of honor, duty, courage, respect, and trust—to be an integral part of their health experience, health professionals are not educated on these concepts. Health professionals' knowledge and integration of veteran culture is essential because veteran identity and veteran core values guide veteran perceptions and health decisions that can lead to optimal health. The purpose of the study was to describe the five veteran core values in a health context. Methods: A qualitative design was used to explore veterans' (N = 21) experiences with the five veteran core values in a healthcare context. Qualitative data were analyzed using a deductive and inductive approach analysis and were validated by two content experts. Results: Veterans expect VA primary care providers to deliver values-based health care. Violations of the veteran core values were interpreted as disrespect or trust issues. Conclusion: The study confirmed earlier studies regarding the impact of veteran identity and expanded knowledge about the five veteran core on the veteran health experience. Knowledge gleaned from the study is an important first step to advance the limited body of evidence about veteran identity and the veteran core values of honor, duty, courage, respect, and trust that may confirm or contribute to health professionals' knowledge of the importance of culturally competent care for veterans in all healthcare settings. Future research will expand the reach of VA provider cultural competence to ensure that veteran health care reflects the veterans' value system. Implementing culturally competent care is showing appreciation for our national heroes and sincerely thanking them for their service.

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2024, Educational Administration

For more than a half century, the Department of Defense (DoD) has worked to address the issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), but bias, prejudice, and the negative impacts of these realities have continued (DoD Board on Diversity and Inclusion, 2020). In a policy memorandum, senior DoD executives have committed to affecting an enterprise-wide, organizational, and cultural shift; however, apathy and cynicism among active-duty servicemembers has created a barrier to successfully achieving the mandate. Study findings showed that engaging leadership to overtly display their commitment and support, exposure to intentional and inspiring bias awareness training, and empowering and energizing staff members to embrace the multicultural environment are keys to successfully realizing a DE&I-focused organizational climate.

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education, Cleveland State University, 2024, Levin College of Public Affairs and Education

Military sexual trauma (MST) is increasingly prevalent, with 8,866 reported cases in 2021, though actual numbers are likely higher. Despite prevention efforts by the Department of Defense, barriers to reporting, such as fear of retaliation and career impact, persist. MST negatively affects physical and psychological health, well-being, and career aspirations. Institutional Betrayal (IB), where survivors feel betrayed by their institution's response to MST, worsens these impacts. While studied in civilian contexts, IB's effect on U.S. military members remains underexplored, particularly regarding institutional identification. In this study, I seek to contribute to the literature about IB by clarifying the relationship between the variables of IB, institutional identification, and trauma symptom severity and through examining the impact of gender and positional power imbalances as covariates. Previous research has established the existence of a significant relationship between IB and trauma symptom severity, but has largely left out the potential impact of institutional identification with the military. Previous studies have suggested that higher levels of IB predict more severe trauma symptoms in several populations including the military. Utilizing a mediated regression model, I hypothesize that higher levels of institutional identification will result in IB, which will mediate the relationship between institutional identity and trauma symptom severity. Additionally, gender and power imbalance will be controlled for as covariates. The purpose of including IB in discussions and future research about MST is not only to provide more in-depth explanation of the culpability of the system, but also to direct the responsibility of making lasting change. This study sampled 95 student veterans who endorsed experiencing at least once instance of MST. Participants completed an online survey distributed through Qualtrics. A mediation model was used to investigate the re (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Education (EdD), Wright State University, 2024, Leadership Studies

This study explored the experiences and perceptions of faculty members at an institution of military education participating in a Faculty Learning Community (FLC) focused on educational technology utilization during the 2022-2023 academic year. As the Department of Defense (DoD) emphasizes the importance of technology capabilities and workforce development, understanding faculty experiences in these settings becomes crucial for effective technology integration in teaching and learning. Utilizing a participatory action research (PAR) design, the study collected data through faculty artifacts, researcher reflexive journals, semi-structured interviews, bi-monthly meeting minutes, videos, and presentation materials. The research questions focused on the change of participants' understanding of how technology supports teaching practices, and their experiences in an educational technology learning community. Findings from this study provide insights aimed at facilitating effective practices for faculty development and contribute to the ongoing conversation about technology integration in military education settings.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2024, American Culture Studies

This dissertation explores the role of democracy promotion in US foreign intervention with a particular focus on the weaponization of media and civil society by two important US democracy promotion institutions, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and US Agency for International Development (USAID). Focusing on these two institutions and building on scholarship that takes a critical Gramscian Marxist perspective on US democracy promotion, this study brings media imperialism and deep political scholarship into the conversation. Delimiting the study to focus on US activities, I trace historical patterns of intellectual warfare and exceptional states of violence and lawlessness pursued by the US government in case studies of foreign intervention in which democracy promotion has played an important part since 1983. I survey the evolution of elite US Cold War conceptions of managed democracy as well as transformations of covert Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) media and civil society operations into institutionalized, pseudo-overt US democracy promotion that became a foundational pretext and method for US interventionism post-Cold War. Case studies include the Contra War in 1980s Nicaragua, Operation Cyclone in 1980s Afghanistan, the 2000 overthrow of Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milosevic, the 2002 military coup against Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, the 2004 coup against Haitian president Bertrand Aristide, and the 2014 Euromaidan Coup against Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. I dedicate the penultimate chapter to US-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011, demonstrating how USAID provided instrumental monetary, media, and civil society support to primarily sectarian, theocratic, Salafi rebels against the Ba'athist government. Throughout the dissertation, I argue that the NED and USAID represent important engines of intellectual warfare in US foreign intervention, mobilizing communications and organizational resources to reinf (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership), Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Teacher Education and Leadership Studies

The military has long been recognized as a traditionally male-dominated field where women have faced various barriers and limited opportunities for advancement. Women are becoming more powerful in the military as leaders, breaking down barriers and dispelling preconceptions as they take command, inspire, and shape the military's future. The problem under investigation was the persistent underrepresentation of women in the U.S. military; due to gender bias and preconceptions that are deeply embedded in military culture, women in the military face unique difficulties and impediments. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of women leaders in the U.S. military and how they have worked to overcome challenges when accessing top leadership positions. This study followed a qualitative method that utilized a phenomenological design. The researcher collected data from 10 female leaders in top leadership positions within any armed forces. For this study, a top leadership position was defined as (a) Captain, (b) Major, (c) Lieutenant Colonel, (d) Colonel, (e) Brigadier General, and (f) General. The researcher collected data via semi-structured interviews, asking each participant the same ten open-ended questions in the same manner during a private interview. Five themes emerged from the dataset: (a) resilience and adapted strategies, (b) gendered workplace inequities, (c) personal and professional balance, (d) building and nurturing professional networks, and (e) gendered workplace pressures. These themes highlight various aspects of women's experiences, including intersectionality challenges, mental health considerations, and organizational support. Specifically, the recognition of these themes contributes to a more robust understanding of the multifaceted challenges faced by women leaders in the military.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership , Franklin University, 2024, International Institute for Innovative Instruction

This study applied a qualitative methodology and generated descriptive data while exploring the food insecurity (FI) of student service members and veterans (SSM/V). Thematic data analysis was used to rigorously interpret the participant's reporting's (Braun, & Clarke, 2006; Terry, et al., 2017). The conceptual framework that informed the study was the multi-theoretical model of student persistence (Falcone, 2011). The following research question (RQ) guided the researcher: How do food-insecure military student service members and veterans describe their post-secondary food-insecure lived experiences? The study's in-depth semi-structured interviews applied five open ended questions The guiding research question and four research sub-questions. In sum 15 SSM/V participants were recruited online and interviewed from five different states, along the east coast, and the central U.S. (Maramwidze-Merrison, 2016). Participants were from various postsecondary institutions. Three support services professionals were interviewed each having completed a doctoral degree, from two different states, and familiar with FI. The researcher developed codes were read and reread during coding and analyzed on an Excel Spreadsheet, for recurring and critical themes that developed throughout the interviews (Creswell, 2014; Pajo, 2017). Categorization, and consolidation of the intersecting codes and themes found four informative themes critical to the topic of the FI SSM/V. This exploratory study provided rich descriptive data on the following four FI SSM/V themes: 1) intersecting stressors, 2) consider seeking help, 3) accessing Food, 4) coping strategies. The researcher also integrated content gleaned from experiential observations, and reflections, to add context to the experiences of the FI SSM/V (Maramwidze-Merrison, 2016). Key terms: DFAC, food security (FS), food insecurity (FI), military discharge, military student service member and veterans (SSM/V), postsecondary.

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2023, History

John M. Sant was a World War II bomber co-pilot who was shot down over German-occupied Czechoslovakia in 1944. He and the other eight surviving crew members were captured and sent to Stalag Luft I, a German prison camp near the Baltic Sea. Sant spent the next ten months in captivity, keeping a logistical journal of his daily life in the camp. With this journal, along with primary documents, copies of declassified military paperwork, and a typed account of Sant's narrative located in the Skinner Personal Archive as a chronological framework, this thesis constructs a biographical narrative of Sant's life and wartime experiences. Sant's journal provided an indirect glimpse into his inner thoughts. His entries reflect a fear of being overlooked, both during captivity and following release. Sant found solace in escapism through literature and reminisced about home life, emphasizing the importance of morale and interpersonal connections among the POWs. Elements of optimism infuse the passages he chose to copy down, showing his enduring belief in the strength of the Allied forces. The journal also served as a covert way to challenge the authority of the main camp authorities. Sant's hopefulness played a crucial role in maintaining his emotional well-being, a theme more prominent in his post-war writings. The arrival of new prisoners, while disheartening, meant access to more current information. Sant's diary entries not only reflect his emotional state regarding his fellow POWs but also his reaction to news like General Patton's progress in Europe, offering him temporary relief from worries about America's military effectiveness. His aspirations for post-war life served as a comfort and a way to look forward to a future beyond the uncertainty of war. The journal also played a key role in asserting Sant's sense of self-determination under the strict confines of his POW status. While it contained no information unknown to his captors, it provided him with a sense of con (open full item for complete abstract)

Psy. D., Antioch University, 2023, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology

This body of research is focused on susceptibility risk factors associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including History of Child Abuse, Attribution Style, Moral Injury, Biological and Familial Risk Factors, Intelligence, Gender, and Social Support (Unit Cohesion and Family Support). The objective of this study is to investigate PTSD risk factors the literature has identified. The goal of this research is to highlight risk factors for PTSD and increase the efficiency of the clinical interview process during the assessment phase of a clinical intake and treatment. The data comes from The Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (STARRS) which includes the All-Army Study (ASS), and New Soldier Study (NSS), a de-identified cross-sectional survey of active-duty soldiers exclusive of those in Basic Combat Training or deployed to a combat theater. The de-identified research data comes from a 5-year study on risk and resiliency factors impacting our service members a total of N = 21,449. The overall model for this proposed analysist is based on the Diathesis Stress Model, also known as the vulnerability-stress model. The Diathesis Stress model made it possible to generate and study new hypotheses about the role of risk factors in causing mental health illness. A multiple regression model will be utilized to assess whether PTSD symptomology could be predicted by the following variables: history of child abuse, Attribution style, Moral Injury, Biological and Familial Risk Factors, Intelligence, Gender, and Social Support (Unit Cohesion and Family Support.) This dissertation will be available when complete in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/ and OhioLINK ETD Center, https://etd.ohiolink.edu.

Doctor of Education (EdD), Ohio University, 2023, Educational Administration (Education)

This study explored the Deming System of Profound Knowledge as a method of leadership and management in K-8 education. The study focused on the process of acquiring and understanding Deming's teachings as they related to the principalship and educational leadership. Using autoethnography as methodology, I leverage personal qualitative data and related educational leadership literature to present my personal journey of becoming an educational leader who practices Deming's System of Profound Knowledge as their primary method for leading and managing a school. Upon reflection and analysis, I found W. Edwards Deming's System of Profound Knowledge practical and valuable as a leadership method in today's schools. Though the mastery of Deming's teachings was a long, complex process, it greatly improved my leadership practice. The findings highlight essential knowledge and skills required to understand and practice the System of Profound Knowledge. It connects educational leadership and Deming's method and recommends further research.

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2023, Educational Administration

The present study analyzes the relationship of Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery assessment (ASVAB) in relationship to academic success in Air Force Public Health Apprentice (PHA) technical training. Classification into the PHA career field is based upon a cutoff score of the General composite ASVAB assessment. The ASVAB assessment has four components to the assessment. The PHA course tests students on eight blocks of instruction, running four courses a year. This study looked at two consecutive years of student records, (N=202), and ASVAB scores prior to classification of the PHA career field. The problem being analyzed is to find if there is a correlation between ASVAB scores and success on PHA exams. The results of this study identified a correlation between higher ASVAB General Composite scores and a higher PHA block exam score. Additionally, this study identified a correlation among higher ASVAB Administrative, Electrical, and Mechanical Composite scores and PHA block exam scores. Implications of this study have identified the need for further research to be conducted to analyze further correlations with the ASVAB composites and PHA exam success

Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.), Franklin University, 2023, Health Programs

Military readiness relies upon the health of servicemembers and the ability to perform the duties of their position. Rates of overweight or obese body compositions have been found to be increasing in prevalence within the United States armed forces (Yang et al., 2021). To identify further gaps in knowledge, consolidate and synthesize information, and inform future study, a systematic review with meta-synthesis was performed under the lens of a socio-ecological framework. When searching EBSCO, PubMed, and Google Scholar, 194 results were analyzed within the PRISMA guide. Twenty articles met inclusion after review. After NVivo and manual theme identification from those marked for inclusion, information was synthesized based on the frequencies found in the collective group of articles. The results indicated 95% of the articles found rising rates of obesity in the United States armed forces were problematic for military readiness. The need to intervene was discussed in 85% of the articles found, while only 65% discussed the need to curve chronic disease related to obesity. As the Department of Defense has 1.33 million active duty and approximately 1 million more in a reserve status, policy changes are likely to have a sweeping impact (DOD Demographics, 2020). Further study is recommended to inform future policy decisions. These include researching efficacy of current standards for retention or recruitment, more analysis of reserve and guard forces, civilianizing some non-deploying active duty positions, and trending a greater number of years' worth of data to assess temporal relationships.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, History

This dissertation is an analysis of American service members of Italian origin and how their military service during World War II influenced their assimilation into American mainstream society and the construction of present-day Italian-American identity. I argue that Italian-Americans' large-scale service in the military between 1941 and 1945 proved crucial in determining a rapid assimilation into the American mainstream that was complete by the end of the war, as well as substantial educational, professional, and economic advances in the years immediately afterward. One of the keys for this positive record lay in Italian-Americans' unquestioned demonstration of loyalty through their service against their country of origin, Italy. At the same time, while World War II was a catalyst for Italian-Americans' assimilation, their service in Italy also brought about a reconciliation with their Italian roots that they were aiming at downplaying, and ultimately their maintenance instead of complete erasure. Loyal service in World War II later became a tenet of Italian-American pride when it was re-elaborated during the 1960s and 1970s movement for ethnic revival by later generations of Italian-Americans. This study also complements the existing historiography on enemy alien minorities during World War II (German and Japanese-Americans) and other ethnic groups. As a result, it facilitates understanding of the interplay of factors of military service, race, ethnicity, and wider socio-racial contexts in determining inclusion or exclusion into American mainstream society and preservation of elements of ethnic identity.

Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.), Franklin University, 2023, Health Programs

The dissertation explored the Lived Experiences In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosed Veterans Utilizing Telemedicine Treatment. The intended purpose of the research was to focus on the existing literature gap concerning the lived experiences of veterans who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder/post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD/PTSS) and have utilized telemedicine treatment for their diagnosis while identifying means to improve the veteran experience with the modality. Veteran lived experiences should be taken into account in order to identify ways to aid veterans in improving their mental healthcare outcomes and treatment experiences. The research question and two sub-research questions were addressed in this study through a qualitative descriptive approach. The study utilized the Theory of Planned Behavior, patient satisfaction, and engagement as a guide. A sample of veterans who utilized telemedicine as a treatment modality for their PTSD/PTSS diagnosis participated in data collection. Data collection occurred through an open-ended and multiple choice survey that was administered through Microsoft Forms. The survey data provided in-depth responses concerning the lived experiences of PTSD/PTSS telemedicine treatment satisfaction and engagement in the veteran population of Kentucky. The collected data was subjected to verbatim transcription, coding via ATLAS.ti™ (v8) software, and major theme analysis. Insight gained from the study findings contributed to the body of knowledge by providing advice and guidance to the stakeholder population (i.e., veterans, healthcare professionals, governmental organizations) concerning the future utilization of the modality to treat PTSD/PTSS in the veteran population.

Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, 2023, History (Arts and Sciences)

This thesis explores the chronology of events surrounding the U.S. Arctic Expedition of 1879–1881, also known as the Jeannette Expedition, as well as the expedition's place in public memory. This epic expedition, which tested the limits of human endurance and will for survival, was a story of its time. Its tragic fate captivated the imagination of its contemporaries and was widely covered by the press. However, it is nearly absent in today's collective consciousness of this country and receives little attention from scholars. Often, basic facts concerning the expedition, such as the dates of the events, their duration and sequence, and the number of crew members, vary from one publication or source to another. Relying on primary and secondary materials, the author seeks to verify some of these basic facts and identify the reasons behind the expedition's obscurity in public memory.

Master of Arts in Medical Ethics and Humanities, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 2023, College of Graduate Studies

My thesis explores the concept of dual loyalties among military physicians and proposes a more thorough integration of virtue ethics in the military. The ethical principles and values embodied in virtue ethics theory align with the foundational mission and purpose of the military, but their implementation of the theory remains incomplete. The proposed framework for military medical ethics combines both virtue theory and duty-based ethics, with an emphasis on the former. While duty-based ethics are important, this framework recognizes the importance of virtuous character traits to help military physicians navigate dual loyalties. The aim is to ensure that duties are nested in a way that enables the actualization of moral virtues. By prioritizing the development of virtuous character traits, military physicians can better fulfill their duties in a manner that aligns with virtuous character. The military and medical profession share a commitment to ensuring that military physicians uphold high moral standards by being people of good character. Despite the military's appreciation for virtue ethics, there are instances where its application falls short which may be due to various factors like a lack of emphasis on character development in training or a focus on rules and regulations over virtuous conduct. My thesis seeks to create a more robust ethical framework for military medical ethics that combines duties, rules, and regulations with the development of virtuous character to prevent misconduct and distress among military physicians. By incorporating a more comprehensive virtue ethics theory into military medical ethics education and development, military physicians can develop a deeper understanding of how to act virtuously in challenging situations, even when the duties, rules, and regulations may not explicitly guide their behavior.

DNP, Otterbein University, 2024, Nursing

Dating back to 3200 BC, military personnel routinely experience peripheral extremity wounds during combat. Traditionally, military anesthesia providers utilized general anesthesia and opioids to treat acute pain in the combat setting. Opioids can cause adverse effects such as respiratory depression, delirium, hemodynamic instability, nausea & vomiting, and addiction, which causes delays in care and requires more resources. Regional anesthesia is gaining favor during military operations due to its safety profile and effectiveness in controlling acute pain. Regional anesthesia is safer and more effective than opioids in the trauma/combat setting. Guidelines were provided based on current evidence in the literature and provided to guide anesthesia providers in combat. Implementing a regional training course for military anesthesia providers will instill confidence and provide guidelines for future and current providers in the combat setting. Medical carts in the operating room will reduce the time spent searching for equipment and maintain workflow during combat. Changing the current clinical practice will improve post-surgical recovery and ease of transportation for U.S. personnel serving in the combat setting.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2023, History

The Airborne Mafia analyzes the creation and transmission of values, beliefs, and norms from one subculture to the larger US Army bureaucracy and its impacts on Cold War institutional development. This project demonstrates the capacity for a military subculture to have an enormous effect on the behavior of its parent service and national strategic policy. I explore the impact of small groups within the military establishment on shaping military and national strategy—particularly during the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations through such general officers as Matthew B. Ridgway, Maxwell D. Taylor, and James M. Gavin. As this group ascended to control the US Army, they brought three key cultural tenets: operational flexibility, decentralization, and the efficacy of the aerial delivery of combat power. Most scholars have focused on the wartime exploits of parachute units while eschewing their impact on the post-war army. Others have posited that the atomic army, the Strategic Army Corps, and helicopter warfare are indicative of institutionalization and a fight for relevancy without developing the cultural origins of these ideas. Exploring the development of a distinctive airborne mindset through the lenses of organizational culture, psychology, and sociology, this dissertation argues that this tactical-level subculture thrust its leaders to prominence and undergirded significant policy and doctrinal changes during the Cold War.

Psy. D., Antioch University, 0, Antioch Seattle: Clinical Psychology

Posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) remains one of the most pervasive health conditions to affect the 2.7 million United States service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Untreated and/or inadequately treated PTSD can further lead to an array of health risks including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, social and occupational impairments, poorer quality of physical health, decreased overall perception of quality of life, and increase the risk of suicide. Considering these risks, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) created the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for the Management of PTSD and Acute Stress Reaction (ASR), highlighting the strongest evidence-based approaches to treatment for clinicians providing care for service members. The CPGs further outlines the importance of providing clients/patients with psychoeducation regarding PTSD and treatment options, offering a client-centered approach through a Shared Decision-Making Model (SDM), while also illustrating known barriers to treatment, and concerns regarding early termination. Successful implementation of the CPGs is expected to enhance assessment of client's/patient's needs and assist in determining and providing effective care. The number of veterans suffering with PTSD continues to be an alarming concern, one with life-threatening implications. While this concern is recognized among clinicians, statistics continue to highlight the vast number of those suffering with PTSD and PTSD related conditions, further pressing the need to explore additional ways to improve the efficacy of treatment. The purpose of this study is to explore the post 9/11 military population's experience in seeking treatment, as reflected by the CPGs recommendations, while further exploring their views regarding ways to improve the efficacy of assessing and treating PTSD. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA, https://aura.antioch.edu/, and Ohio Link ETD (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2022, Educational Leadership

The United States military developed leadership staff rides to develop their officers with the leadership skills necessary to lead forces into battle. Using leadership characteristics with on-site historical battlefield examples, staff rides gave leaders an avenue to learn leadership and ramifications of historical decisions. This study focuses on developing Air Force leadership staff rides to help bridge the gap between classroom, book leadership learning and on-site leadership discussions on how historical examples can be interpreted into today's leadership lessons for modern military uses. This grounded theory research, focusing on interviews with professional military members, found how revisiting current leadership topics, and adding unique historical perspectives increased the overall leadership experience and educational development of Air Force members.