Greetings & Welcome to the AFNC!

"We are proud of our center's history and we continuously strive to lead across the DoD in all we do here at The Air Force Negotiation Center (AFNC). AFNC is recognized as a leader in educating and training individuals and teams on conflict management, negotiation, mediation, and facilitation. Our instruction is presented across the Air Force and DoD, and delivered by our own world-class faculty.

Thank you for visiting our page, and we hope you take a moment to engage with us online or in person."

Frank Shifflett, Col USAF   

   Commander, Ira C. Eaker Center for Leadership Development

Colonel Frank Shifflett is the Commander of Air University’s Ira C. Eaker Center for Leadership Development, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

The Eaker Center provides leadership education, functionally aligned technical training, professional continuing education, and civilian undergraduate education to Department of the Air Force and other Department of Defense personnel. The Center is comprised of six primary schools: Commanders' Professional Development School; Force Support Professional Development School; Air Force Chaplain Corps College; Civilian Leadership Development School; Air Force First Sergeant Academy; and the Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School. Each year, the Center educates more than 30,000 students in the classroom and via distance learning. Full Biography

Sandra L. Edwards, Ph.D. 

    Primary Advisor

Dr. Edwards is the Principal Advisor and Program Manager of Education & Training for the Air Force Negotiation Center, Maxwell AFB, AL. As Principal Advisor to the AFNC Director, she provides senior-level guidance regarding organizational, educational, training, budget, procurement and contracting matters.  Full Biography

Paul J. Firman

    Federal & Level III AF Mediator and  Air Force Conflict Management & Dispute Resolution Lead

Paul Firman is the Chief, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Education & Training at the Air Force Negotiation Center (AFNC), Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He directly supports the Air Force Chief of Staff Guidance to improve conflict resolution skills by ensuring relevant education and training programs are designed, developed, and delivered to the Total Force. Full Biography 

Thomas J. Gajewski, Ed.D.

    Chief, Information Technology

Dr. Thomas J. Gajewski is the Chief, Information Technology at the Air Force Negotiation Center (AFNC) and serves the Department of the Air Force as an Instructional Systems Specialist for the Air University, Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Dr. Gajewski brings to the table 40 years of mechanical / manufacturing engineering, international managerial and academic administration experience as well as significant tenure on podium. Full Biography  

Candice B. Fitzmaurice

    Training Instructor

Mrs. Candice Fitzmaurice is a Training Instructor for the Air Force Negotiation Center (AFNC), Maxwell AFB, AL. In this role she designs, develops, and delivers AF-wide training in conflict management. She supports the AFNC in researching, developing, and teaching curriculum for all areas of conflict management to include alternative dispute resolution, negotiations, mediation, and facilitation. Full Biography    

John G. Boyles

    Instructional Systems Designer

Mr. John Boyles is an Instructional Systems Designer at the Air Force Negotiation Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.  In his role, he is responsible for the development of instructional materials, curriculum development, as well as Instructor duties as it relates to and with expertise in negotiation, alternative dispute resolution and conflict management/transformation. Full Biography      

Dustin E. Lawrence

    Instructional Systems Designer

Mr. Dustin E. Lawrence is an Instructional Systems Design professional at the Air Force Negotiation Center, Maxwell, Air Force Base, Alabama. In this position, he is charged with course development, including project management and process improvement activities, performing instructor duties to Air Force Negotiation Center audiences, conducting research, coordination, and development efforts required of a course design phase, developing test programs before fielding new products, producing Sharable Content Object Reference Model compliant products to be delivered on multiple cyber-based platforms, as well as formatting and loading products appropriately for use on Learning Management Systems. Full Biography