Christopher Roche

I am a strategic and transformational executive with over 26 years of experience spanning military, federal, and academic sectors, specializing in enterprise-wide training strategy, instructional systems governance, and workforce development. Currently, I serve as an Instructional Systems Specialist for the U.S. Navy and mentor doctoral candidates in leadership and research at the University of Arizona Global Campus. My career has been defined by leading large-scale curriculum modernization, driving cross-sector collaboration, and cultivating high-performance teams across global operations. With an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration and multiple graduate degrees in leadership and adult learning, I bring a unique blend of operational rigor, creative innovation, and strategic foresight. I am passionate about building scalable learning ecosystems, mentoring future leaders, and driving cultural transformation that leaves a lasting legacy. As a servant leader, I strive to elevate others by highlighting their strengths and empowering teams to achieve mission-aligned excellence.

Instructional Systems Specialist

U.S. Navy – Chief of Naval Aviation Training | 2022–Present

• Lead the design, development, and evaluation of aviation training curricula, ensuring alignment with DoD, CNATRA and CNAF instructions and guidelines .
• Conduct front-end analysis and apply the ADDIE model to develop performance-based instructional materials that meet operational readiness objectives.
• Manage enterprise-wide training feedback systems, leveraging Qualtrics, T-SHARP, and NIPDR analytics to assess instructional effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts, instructional designers, and program managers to modernize courseware and integrate emerging technologies.
• Ensure compliance with federal training mandates, including SCORM, Section 508 accessibility, and Navy Aviation Enterprise eLearning platform requirements.
• Facilitate curriculum review boards and training requirement reviews to validate learning objectives, assessment strategies, and delivery modalities.
• Provide strategic consultation on instructional systems design, contributing to policy development and long-range training plans across aviation domains.
• Lead quality assurance efforts for instructional content, applying Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model and data-driven performance metrics.

University of Arizona Global Campus | 2023–Present

• Mentor doctoral candidates in research methodology, project design, and scholarly writing.
• Provide individual guidance through dissertation development, fostering academic rigor and critical inquiry.
• Support institutional goals for retention and completion through proactive engagement and feedback.

Alvin Community College | 2021–2022

• Restructured workforce programs to align better with regional labor markets demands, increasing enrollment and employer engagement. 
• Managed operational budgets and resource planning to support strategic growth and program sustainability.

U.S. Army | Various Global Assignments | 2012–2021

• Served as senior enlisted advisor for multi-site training operations, overseeing up to 500 personnel across diverse functional areas.
• Mentored more than 120 junior, mid, and senior level leaders and facilitated professional development pipelines, fostering inclusive, high-performance cultures.
• Directed strategic implementation of workforce development initiatives, aligning training programs with evolving mission requirements and federal standards.
• Spearheaded organizational change efforts, improving instructional systems, training, and operational readiness across joint environments.
• Led governance of multimillion-dollar budgets, resource allocation, and performance metrics to ensure mission-critical outcomes through effective and lethal training.
• Collaborated with senior officers and civilian stakeholders to drive policy integration, curriculum modernization, and enterprise-wide training optimization.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Higher Education Administration

Liberty University, 2022

Focus: Strategic Leadership, Curriculum Governance, Transformational Change

Master of Education, Adult & Lifelong Learning

Penn State University, 2015

Focus: Instructional Design, Adult Learning Theory, Program Evaluation

Master of Liberal Arts, Leadership Studies

University of Texas at El Paso, 2013

Focus: Ethics, Change Management, Organizational Leadership and Development