Dr. Clayton serves as an Assistant Professor of Leadership for the Leadership Institute at Air University (AU), Maxwell AFB, AL. Dr. Clayton teaches the application of leadership across multiple colleges and schools for Air University. Additionally, Dr. Clayton advises and works with several research groups focusing on the human domain in areas of emotional intelligence, empathy, resilience, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Clayton is also the Director for Immersive Learning and Simulations (ILS) Research Task Force (RTF) for Air University. In this position he teaches the application of immersive technology such as virtual and augmented reality as well as application of immersive technology for Air University courses as well as operational use of immersive technology across the Air Force. Dr. Clayton is a Lt Col and Reservist in the United States Air Force where he has served in various positions such as the Division Chief for Guard/Reserve Affairs and Academic Advisor to the Vice-Dean of Squadron Officer College, Deputy Director of Training for Squadron Officer College, Academic Advisor to the Dean of Academic Affairs for Squadron Officer School, and Assistant Professor at Air Command and Staff College.

Dr. Clayton is a 1999 graduate of Purdue University and earned his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He served as a Maintenance Officer for 5 years in the Air Force before joining the Air Force Reserves as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) for Air University. He served as an instructor for Air University and has taught for more than 10 years across several schools at Air University with more than 7,000 hours of classroom instruction time and holds a Masters in Adult Education and Training from the University of Phoenix, is certified as a Master Level Instructor, Distance Learning Instructor, Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and certified Innovator. Dr. Clayton also holds a Doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in higher education and his research focuses on the application of leadership using immersive technology. Several of his projects for Air University and the Air Force focus on emotional intelligence application and most recently unconscious bias training using mixed realty avatars.