Oak Deberg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Instruction, Philosophy and Classics
Contact
- MH 4.05.30 K
- Oak.Deberg@utsa.edu
Bio
Retired from the military after a 30-year career in the United States Air Force (USAF). Service included commanding an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) missile launch facility, original engineering research on advanced crew systems, aerodynamic considerations in air-to-air combat, developing unmanned aerial vehicle clandestine flight profiles, and determining ICBM basing requirements. Also served as executive secretary to the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (academic and industry advisors to the Secretary of the Air Force and the USAF Chief of Staff). Served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as technical and scientific advisor to several presidential and secretary sponsored panels concerning MX (aka Peacekeeper ICBM) basing issues. Later, appointed as arms control advisor for, and delegate to, several treaty negotiations with the Soviet Union (specifically, START and INF). In the twilight of career, was assistant chief-of-staff for a USAF major air command.
After leaving the USAF, pursued interests that could not be developed while on active duty. Obtained certification as a financial planner (loves fiddling with numbers) and taught folks to fly (became a flight instructor years earlier as a benefit of the GI Bill). Finally, decided to follow his second love, i.e. philosophy, history and science. Obtained doctorate in philosophy from Texas A&M University. Academic areas are military philosophy, ethics, political philosophy, animal rights, and philosophy of science.
Married to his first love, Joellen, they have been a team for over fifty-six years.
Degrees
- Ph.D., Philosophy, Texas A&M University
- M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology
- B.A., Philosophy, University of Texas at San Antonio
- B.S., Chemistry, University of California (Berkeley)
