Joel Westa, Colonel (Ret.) is the former President/CEO of Christian Schools International. Following a 25-year career in the United States Air Force, where he served as a B-52 Weapons Officer, Squadron Commander, Vice Wing Commander and Wing Commander, he served in administration at the university level and at the pre-K-12 level. He has a bachelor’s degree in music education from the King’s College, a Master of Music from Penn State University, a Master’s in Operational Planning from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and a Masters in National Security Strategy from the Naval War College, where he later went on to teach risk assessment and decision making and implementation. He is a graduate of the Harvard Senior Executive Fellows program, and holds three executive certificates from Notre Dame in Non-Profit Leadership and Management and Advanced Negotiation, and a certificate from Cornell University. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, he writes and consults on non-profit Board Governance and school leadership. He is married to Deborah, and they have 4 children and 8 grandchildren. He is deeply committed to serving fellow veterans in their post service journey.