Background & Purpose: Instructors at educational centers are among the key stakeholders with a significant impact on organizational performance. This study aimed to identify and validate the professional competencies of military instructors in the training centers of the Air Defense Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.
Methodology: This applied research employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, competency factors were identified through thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with experts in human resource management working in Air Defense training centers. In the quantitative phase, the classic Delphi method was used to validate the identified competencies. A questionnaire based on the extracted factors was purposefully distributed among selected academic experts to assess the level of consensus. Quantitative data were analyzed using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and descriptive statistical measures such as central tendency and dispersion.
Findings:The results indicated that the professional competencies of military instructors fall into six main categories: information protection and security, military, functional, ethical, social, and cognitive competencies. These categories were defined by a total of 34 specific indicators.
Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights for the effective management and development of military instructors’ professional competencies. The findings can contribute to enhancing the educational performance of military training centers