Howard Coombs started his doctorate after a career in the military. Since first enrolling in the Canadian Forces in 1979, he has had the privilege of command from platoon to brigade, as well as a variety of staff positions. After being awarded a Master’s degree by the United States Army School of Advanced Military Studies, he began his PhD in history at Queen’s. Focusing on military history, his dissertation examined Canada’s army and staff education, from 1946 to 1995. Taking advice from other ex-military PhDs, he took his time and experienced the whole academic life over the eight years of his program. In addition to the usual funding, he designed and taught his own courses every term, which taught him a great deal and helped him refine his pedagogy.

His supervisor helped him to prepare for both academic and, especially, non-academic jobs, and encouraged him to publish. In lieu of formal apprenticeships, Howard learned from senior colleagues. This support was particularly valuable, as at the beginning of the program, he faced preconceived notions of what a person from the military would be like, as well as suspicions about his research. However, as more military historians entered the department, those stereotypes broke down and previously resistant people accepted Howard and his subject.

While he was still ABD, Howard began working at the Royal Military College, where he is now an Assistant Professor. His teaching experience was a key factor in landing his job—RMC is primarily focused on undergraduates—but he also teaches graduate students and keeps involved in graduate studies. He continues to develop his teaching method, systematizing how he solicits feedback and criticism at the end of each course. His current research project is a manuscript draft examining Canadian Army staff education after the Second World War, as well as a researching and drafting number of conference papers on Canadian professional military education.

Howard remains involved in the Canadian Forces beyond his research, as well; he still serves with the Canadian Army Reserve, and he is currently assigned to the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre on a part-time basis. In addition to operational deployments to the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan as a military officer on regular and reserve duty, he deployed with Joint Task Force Afghanistan as a civilian advisor to the Task Force Commander. For his service, Howard has been awarded both the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service and the Order of Military Merit.

Header image courtesy of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Howard Coombs started his doctorate after a career in the military. Since first enrolling in the Canadian Forces in 1979, he has had the privilege of command from platoon to brigade, as well as a variety of staff positions. After being awarded a Master’s degree by the United States Army School of Advanced Military Studies, he began his PhD in history at Queen’s. Focusing on military history, his dissertation examined Canada’s army and staff education, from 1946 to 1995. Taking advice from other ex-military PhDs, he took his time and experienced the whole academic life over the eight years of his program. In addition to the usual funding, he designed and taught his own courses every term, which taught him a great deal and helped him refine his pedagogy.

His supervisor helped him to prepare for both academic and, especially, non-academic jobs, and encouraged him to publish. In lieu of formal apprenticeships, Howard learned from senior colleagues. This support was particularly valuable, as at the beginning of the program, he faced preconceived notions of what a person from the military would be like, as well as suspicions about his research. However, as more military historians entered the department, those stereotypes broke down and previously resistant people accepted Howard and his subject.

While he was still ABD, Howard began working at the Royal Military College, where he is now an Assistant Professor. His teaching experience was a key factor in landing his job—RMC is primarily focused on undergraduates—but he also teaches graduate students and keeps involved in graduate studies. He continues to develop his teaching method, systematizing how he solicits feedback and criticism at the end of each course. His current research project is a manuscript draft examining Canadian Army staff education after the Second World War, as well as a researching and drafting number of conference papers on Canadian professional military education.

Howard remains involved in the Canadian Forces beyond his research, as well; he still serves with the Canadian Army Reserve, and he is currently assigned to the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre on a part-time basis. In addition to operational deployments to the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan as a military officer on regular and reserve duty, he deployed with Joint Task Force Afghanistan as a civilian advisor to the Task Force Commander. For his service, Howard has been awarded both the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service and the Order of Military Merit.

Header image courtesy of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.