Dr. Dana H. Born is a retired Brigadier General with 30 years of service in the United States Air Force.
She serves as Faculty Chair, Senior Executive Fellows (SEF) Program; Faculty Advisor for the Black Family Graduate Fellowship and previously the National Security Fellows; Lecturer in Public Policy, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Prior to coming to Harvard, from 2004-2013, she served two terms as the Dean of the Faculty at the United States Air Force Academy where she was also the Professor and Head of the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department. Previously, Dana served as an Exchange Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, Assistant Director for Recruiting Research and Analysis for the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy), Deputy Chief of the Personnel Issues Team for the Department of the Air Force (DC/Staff Personnel), Aide and Speech Writer to the Secretary of the Air Force, Squadron Commander for 11th Mission Support Squadron at Bolling AFB, DC and in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
As a Distinguished HOW Fellow, Dana is a teacher and mentor with The HOW Institute for Society’s NXT-GEN Fellowship for Moral Leadership. She is also a host of the HOW Conversations video series and podcast.
A graduate with distinction of the United States Air Force Academy, Professor Born received her B.S. in Behavioral Sciences (1983), M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Trinity University, TX (1985), M.A. in Research Psychology from University of Melbourne (1991) and Doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Penn State University (1994). She received Penn State University’s Alumni Fellow Award (2012) and Distinguished Alumni Award (2018) and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Simmons College in Humane Administration (2007).
Born is the recipient of the Secretary of the Air Force’s Eugene M. Zuckert Award for Outstanding Management Achievement, Air Force Association’s Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award for outstanding contributions to Aerospace education, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Defense Meritorious Service Medal. She has been honored with the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Annual Teaching Awards 2014-2023 as well as the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Innovation in Teaching Award in 2017.
Dr. Born is an Independent Director and Vice Chair on the Midwest Reliability Organization Board serving also as Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and serves on the Governance and Personnel Committee; a Trustee on the Board for DeVry University serving on the Audit and Finance and on the Academic Quality and Student Success Committees; Academic Advisory Board member, Chegg [CHGG (NYSE)]; as well as Trustee with the United States Air Force Academy’s Falcon Foundation – serving on the Strategy and Governance and formerly on the Scholarship Committees; Supporting Director on the Air Force Academy Foundation Board and Chair of the Stewardship Committee; Past President and Chair of the Board, International Women’s Forum - Massachusetts; Senior Consultant for the Core Leadership Institute; 10 years as a Peer Evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission; Member of the Women Corporate Directors, International Women’s Forum, and Council on Foreign Relations; former Council Member on Boston Mayor’s Pay Equity Workforce Council; Advisory Board Member for ”With Honor;” and “A Child’s Guide to War” documentary, “Blue Star Families,” Senior Officer for Mission: Readiness; Honorary Board member for the National EOD Warrior Foundation. Past-President of the American Psychological Association (Society for Military Psychology) and previous Independent Director on Board of the Apollo Education Group having served on Compensation, Audit and Special Litigation Committees.
Executive Education Programs
Senior Executive Fellows
Academic Journal/Scholarly Articles
Edited Volumes
Sponsored projects include research, training, convening, and other initiatives externally funded through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Funding sources can include the US federal government, state and local agencies, private foundations, corporations, and foreign entities (public and private).
The below list includes all sponsored projects in progress or completed within the current and past 2 calendar years, administered at the Harvard Kennedy School under the direction of the named faculty member as Principal Investigator. Please note that this list includes only those activities supported by external sponsored funding; other sources of support are not included (e.g., philanthropy, HKS or Harvard internal resources).
Project Title
Sponsor Name
Award Date
Transparent Engagement
Harvard Kennedy School is proud of its energetic involvement in the world. To better understand how to solve public problems by improving policy and leadership, we engage directly with policymakers, public leaders, governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses whose activities affect those problems. However, we recognize that such engagement can raise questions about perceived and potential conflicts of interest, so we disclose publicly the key professional activities of our faculty outside the Kennedy School. The activities disclosed below are for the most recent reporting period, as defined by University policy. Some may be paid, some may be unpaid, and others may be in exchange for expense reimbursement only.
Outside Professional Activities For Dana Born
| Organization | Relationship |
|---|---|
| ANZSOG | Consulting |
| Bahrain Government | Consulting |
| DeVry University | Fiduciary board membership |
| Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO) | Membership on a scientific or other advisory board |
| 1440 Multiversity | Reimbursed travel |
| 1440 Multiversity | Research or teaching appointment |
| Saint Josephs University | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |
| Sandia National Laboratories | Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation |