Bio
S. Mike Pavelec earned his doctorate at The Ohio State University in 2004 in the history of science and technology with a military focus. His dissertation was the basis for his first book, The Jet Race and the Second World War. He taught at Hawaii Pacific University, the U.S. Naval War College, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) and the Joint Advanced Warfighting School. He was back at ACSC before transitioning to the Department of Spacepower, which is now the Schriever Space Scholars at Johns Hopkins University. He was the director of the Schriever Space Scholars before returning to Montreal, Canada, in 2025. He currently teaches sessional classes at McGill University and is an advisor for the 3 Canadian Space Division for strategy and policy.
A prolific writer, Mike has eight books in print, including his latest study, American Airpower: The History, Theory, and Art of Air Warfare (Naval Institute Press, forthcoming 2026), and has written extensively on airpower, spacepower and technology. He has two books under contract, including his current research on a cultural comparison of air and space technology in its early years. He is a regular contributor to the History Channel and the Smithsonian Channel in his ongoing military history and aviation shows. When not teaching and writing, he enjoys riding his BMW motorcycle and visiting craft breweries.