With the Spring 2025 semester scheduled to start on Monday, Liberty University has announced these important leadership updates: Dr. Steven Brinly has been named dean of the School of Aeronautics, Dr. Timothy Todd has been named dean of the School of Law, and Dr. Richard “Rich” Diddams is dean of the School of Business.
“These team members are proven leaders who are committed to student success and dedicated to Liberty’s mission of Training Champions for Christ,” said Liberty Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Scott Hicks. “We are excited to see how the Lord will use their talents and gifts to lead their schools into the future with academic excellence, innovation, and growth. The transformative impact they and their teams have on our Liberty students is profound and immeasurable.”
These deans have previously served their schools as interim deans.
Dr. Steven Brinly has a diverse background in aviation, beginning his career as a maintenance technician on general aviation aircraft. Over the years, he has worked as a flight instructor, aviation business developer in North Africa, and an aviation maintenance instructor. He holds a B.S. in Aviation and M.A. in Intercultural Studies, both from Liberty University; a Master of Commercial Aviation from Delta State University; and a Ph.D. in Aviation from St. Louis University.
As dean, Brinly is dedicated to integrating technology in aviation training and developing missions aviation programming. He is actively involved in professional organizations such as Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), ASTM International, and the Aviation Technician Education Council. He is passionate about guiding students to serve Christ while learning aviation, and he has been instrumental in leading the School of Aeronautics to win prestigious national awards like the Loening Trophy.
Dr. Timothy Todd holds a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University, M.S. in Applied Economics (Financial Economics concentration) from Johns Hopkins University, Juris Doctor from Liberty University School of Law (where he graduated first in his class), and an M.S. in Accounting and B.S. in Business from Liberty. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed in Virginia, and holds a Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics from Kansas State University.
Todd has published extensively, contributing to both academic and professional journals. His areas of teaching and interest include taxation, financial planning, wills, trusts, estates, estate planning and business planning.
He was the first Liberty Law graduate and alumnus to join the law school faculty full time. Todd served as associate dean for academic affairs from 2016-20 and was the first associate dean of faculty development and scholarship at Liberty Law (2020-24).
In addition to serving as dean of the School of Business, Dr. Rich Diddams is also Liberty’s assistant vice provost of engineering and technology. His distinguished career includes over 20 years of service as a Marine Infantry Officer. He also served on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and as a White House senior advisor on counterterrorism. Diddams has over 15 years of experience in the engineering and construction industry, where he has held numerous leadership positions, including president and CEO of a mid-size engineering firm operating in 17 states and overseas.
In both of his current roles at Liberty, Diddams remains focused on enhancing the educational experience and career readiness of students. His leadership is marked by a commitment to help leaders reach their potential and fulfill their calling in service to others.
Diddams received a D.B.A. in Leadership from Liberty University, M.S. in Econometrics & Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a B.S. in Engineering from John Brown University.