Rick Ernest

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  May 2009 - Jun 2015

  The Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) provides an online Master's and non-Master's distance learning (DL) program supporting the professional development of over 10,000 students worldwide. Our programs provides USAF Intermediate Developmental Education and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff accredited Joint Professional Military Education Phase I completion credit to over 3,500 mid-career officers and government civilian equivalents annually. I am responsible for the daily management of 19 military and civilian course directors developing and sustaining curriculum for 24 DL courses. Additionally, I assist the Department Chairman in all curriculum development and evaluation matters, implementing the ACSC Commandant's strategic vision. Show less As the Course Director in the Air Command and Staff College’s Distance Learning (DL) department, I developed and executed curriculum for the ACSC online master's Practice of Command course and the non-master's programs Leadership and Command course. I provided support to 10,000 Air Force active, Reserve, Guard, civilian and joint service students in two programs worldwide. I provided technical support and assist with course design and layout using the Blackboard Learning Management System. I also assisted the Dean and Department Chair in planning, policy-making, developing and implementing the DL strategic vision. Finally, I served as an adjunct instructor, lecturer and subject matter expert for leadership and command issues for both online and in-residence programs. Show less As the Commander, I led a 12-person weather detachment providing support to joint, combined, and NATO units with timely and relevant weather information in support of combat training. I served as the Joint Multinational Training Command Staff Weather officer, developing contingency plans based on weather impacts to U.S. Army Europe’s (USAREUR) planning and training missions. In this role, I oversaw weather support operations and resource protection for over 10,000 aircraft missions at USAREUR's largest training ranges annually. I also led training and sustainment operations for Battlefield Weather Airmen to meet rapid worldwide deployment in support of command-directed taskings. Show less As Executive officer, I lead a staff of six in the management of over 1,000 military, civilian and contractors in the National Air and Space Center’s Data Analysis Group. I reviewed suspenses, requirements from the Group Commander and five Squadrons to establish priorities, levy taskings, and render responses. I also performed qualitative review of all official correspondence including staff packages, promotion/retention forms, awards and decorations. Finally, I planned, controlled and coordinated all briefings, meetings and suspenses to facilitate daily operations at the Group level. Show less

  • Deputy Chairman, ACSC Distance Learning Curriculum Department

    Sept 2014 - Jun 2015

  • Course Director/Leadership and Command

    Nov 2012 - Sept 2014

  • Commander

    Jan 2010 - Oct 2012

  • Executive Officer

    May 2009 - Dec 2009
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  Technical College of the Lowcountry

  Jul 2015 - now

  Online Course Coordinator

  Provides management and daily operational oversight of the Blackboard SaaS LMS in the delivery of higher education courses in distance (online synchronous & asynchronous), hybrid, and face-to-face modalities. Lead for Blackboard change management and software upgrades. Develops training resources and provides training events for all TCL faculty, staff, and students to assist in technology adoption, integration, and troubleshooting. Evaluates new technology platforms for potential adoption by TCL and provides initial testing and training of innovative education tools once adopted. Provide reports, artifacts, and associated data to college leadership to support accountability and academic integrity investigations, while maintaining data security and necessary privacy in accordance with Federal and State guidelines. Supports the TCL Help Desk, assisting fulltime and adjunct faculty, staff, and students in problem resolution across the college’s various technology platforms, including authentication, platform configuration, and troubleshooting. Additionally, skilled in user management on Microsoft Azure Active Directory, support of Micorsoft365 tools and in data query/report creation using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. Show less