Richard Kohn

Richard Kohn is an American historian specializing in military history and civil-military relations, with a particular focus on the development of the United States Air Force. A professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his scholarship has significantly influenced academic and policy discussions on the proper relationship between the American military and civilian leadership. Kohn is widely recognized for his critical analyses of airpower and his editorial leadership of the journal The Journal of Military History.

Early life and education

Born in New York City in 1944, Kohn developed an early interest in history. He pursued his undergraduate education at the University of Denver, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then continued his graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a major center for historical scholarship, where he earned his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in history. His doctoral dissertation, completed in 1975, examined the early political struggles of the United States Air Force following its establishment as an independent service, foreshadowing his lifelong scholarly focus.

Academic career

Kohn began his academic career with a position in the Department of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he would spend the majority of his professional life. He also served as the Chief of Air Force History for the United States Air Force from 1981 to 1985, a role that provided him with unique access to archival materials and senior leadership. Following this government service, he returned to Chapel Hill, eventually becoming a full professor and chair of the curriculum in Peace, War, and Defense. Kohn has held visiting appointments at prestigious institutions including Duke University and the United States Air Force Academy, and served as the editor-in-chief of The Journal of Military History from 1999 to 2010.

Research and contributions

Kohn's research has centered on two interconnected themes: the history of American airpower and the theory of civil-military relations. His seminal work, Eagle and Sword: The Federalists and the Creation of the Military Establishment in America, 1783-1802, analyzed the foundational debates over a standing army in the early American Republic. He is perhaps best known for his critical examinations of the United States Air Force, questioning strategic assumptions and institutional culture in works like The Future of Air Power and numerous articles. His 1994 essay "Out of Control: The Crisis in Civil-Military Relations" in The National Interest sparked intense debate within the Pentagon and academia about the post-Cold War dynamics between the Joint Chiefs of Staff and civilian authorities like the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States.

Awards and honors

In recognition of his contributions to the field, Kohn has received several major awards. He was the recipient of the Samuel Eliot Morison Prize from the Society for Military History, awarded for a lifetime of contributions to military history. His book Eagle and Sword won the Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History Prize. Furthermore, his service and scholarship have been honored by the United States Air Force, which awarded him the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service.

Personal life

Richard Kohn is married and has family. Since retiring from full-time teaching at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he remains active in scholarly circles, frequently participating in conferences and contributing to publications on contemporary civil-military issues. He resides in North Carolina and continues to write and lecture on the historical and policy challenges facing the United States Armed Forces.

Category:American military historians Category:1944 births Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faculty Category:Living people