The Evolution and Development of the Dissertation

Dr. Susan Burgess Miller is the Executive Director of the NASA Aerospace Education, Research and Operations (AERO) Institute. She retired from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration where she was the recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Medal and the Exceptional Achievement Medal. While at NASA she was most recently the Director, Academic Investments at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA. There she was responsible for all academic and education programs, K-20, and development of the Aerospace Education Research and Operations (AERO) Institute. The AERO Institute is a revolutionary, new business model to produce the next generation aerospace technical workforce within the aerospace community.  Federal, state and local governments, industry, and academia partner to ensure that research, educational, and operations programs enable and maintain a viable aerospace workforce for the 21st Century. Earlier in her career she worked at three NASA field Centers and at NASA HQ in a variety of management positions spanning personnel, facilities and workforce strategies. She also was the Deputy Director, Personnel Services, Small Business Administration and the Agency Personnel Director, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. During a 2-year sabbatical, she served as the County Administrator for King George County, Virginia with overall responsibility for all county services including public utilities and functions. Dr. Miller is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, (BA) and George Washington University, MS and EdD. Her areas of research interest and publication include organizational culture, complexity science and high reliability organizations. Dr. Miller teaches Research Methods at the Doctoral level for Capella University and Management, Leadership and Global Cultural Organization at the Master’s level for the Graduate School, University of Maryland University College.