Lt Col Hal Bidlack, Ph.D., USAF (Ret)

Dr. Hal Bidlack has pursued a career-long goal of exploring the relationship between national security, environmental and energy policies.

He served as an Associate Professor at the United States Air Force Academy [USAFA] in Colorado Springs, where he taught for more than 17 years. He earned his Doctorate in Political Science at the University of Michigan in 1996 with a focus on American National Government and Environmental Security Issues. His dissertation titled “Swords as Plowshares: The Military’s Environmental Role” studied the relationship between military mission requirements and environmental constraints.

Dr. Bidlack received his commission as an Air Force officer in 1980 and retired from active service in 2006 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He twice served as a Director on the National Security Council at the White House, where he helped draft briefing materials, position papers and speeches for the President and Vice President. He served as Deputy Director of US Air Force Institute for National Security Studies, and was an Action Officer for the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks during duty at the Pentagon. His experience also includes a term as Deputy Director of Security Programs and Military Advisor for the Office of the Coordinator of US Assistance to the Former Soviet States at the US State Department, as well as service as a Military Policeman.

Dr. Bidlack’s career since retiring from active service with the Air Force includes a run for the U.S. Congress (Democratic Party nominee), service as Chair of his County’s Democratic Party and an appointment by the Governor of Colorado to the Judicial Performance Review Committee, and continuing to teach political science at USAFA as an Adjunct Professor. He also served as Program Chair for the Environmental Policy Panel at the Air Force Institute for National Security Studies.

Currently, he is a staff member for US Senator Michael Bennet (Colorado).

His scholarly papers, presentations and courses taught include:

➢ “The Impact of Global Climate Change on National and International Security,” DOD Policy Paper. ➢ “Interagency Cooperation on Environmental Security: The White House Perspective,” INSS Policy Paper.

➢ “The Wakeup Call,” The Windstar Journal.

➢ “Global Warming and National Security”, Presentation to the Colorado/Wyoming Political Science Association.

➢ “Global Warming and National Security”, Presentation to Colorado Council on International Organizations.

➢ “China’s Environmental Challenges – A Summary,” POTUS Briefing Book, Clinton China Trip, 1997

➢ “American National Government and National Security”

➢ “International Relations and National Security Policy”

➢ “The Politics of the Judiciary and the Supreme Court”

➢ “The American Presidency”

➢ “The American Congress”

➢ “Environmental Politics and Environmental Security”

➢ “Research Methods”

In addition, since the mid-1990s Dr. Bidlack has appeared before audiences around the nation portraying Alexander Hamilton in the Chautauqua method. His performances begin with an unscripted monologue, followed by audience questions on any subject, answered in character as Alexander Hamilton. Dr. Bidlack has appeared before numerous audiences, including a nationally-televised debate with another scholar portraying Thomas Jefferson.

Additional information can be found at www.HamiltonLives.com