Air Force Institute of Technology

Founded in 1919 and granting degrees since 1956, the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is the Department of the Air Force’s leader for advanced, multi-disciplinary academic education, as well as its institution for initial technical and professional continuing education. AFIT is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Dayton, Ohio. Dayton's heritage and industrial base in aeronautics and aviation, coupled with the close proximity to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) provide a scientific and engineering research and educational experience focused on producing future leaders of the Department of the Air Force. A component of Air University and Air Education and Training Command, its primary purpose is to provide specialized education to select officer and enlisted U.S. military personnel and civilian employees.

On 8 May 2012, AFIT formally welcomed its first civilian director and chancellor during an appointment of leadership ceremony. Dr. Todd Stewart served for 34 years with the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 2002 at the rank of major general. On 28 January 2015, AFIT welcomed its first Provost and Vice Chancellor Dr. Sivaguru S. Sritharan[1] former Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the Naval Postgraduate School.

AFIT's four schools include:

• The Graduate School of Engineering and Management, which offers graduate programs leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in engineering, applied science, and management disciplines. The Graduate School has six departments:
  • Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Engineering Physics
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Operational Sciences
  • Systems Engineering and Management
• The School of Systems and Logistics, which teaches more than 200 professional continuing education courses in acquisition management, logistics management, contracting, systems management, software engineering, and financial management delivered to warfighters around the globe via customer focused delivery modes including resident, on-site, and online courses.[2]
• The Civil Engineer School, which develops and delivers civil engineer and environmental professional continuing education and provides consultation in support of U.S. Air and Space Forces.[3]
• The School of Strategic Force Studies, which manages the overall execution of nuclear (via the Nuclear College at (Kirtland Air Force Base) & cyber PCE (via AFIT at Wright-Patterson AFB). The school provides responsive & relevant continuing education courses to more than 2,900 Air Force & DOD students annually.

AFIT has two Centers of Excellence and seven research centers funded by a number of federal agencies with interdisciplinary scope and international footprint representing a number of scientific areas for the United States Air Force and the Department of Defense:

• • Air Force Cyberspace Technical Center of Excellence (CyTCoE)
  • Scientific Test & Analysis Techniques Center of Excellence (STAT T&E)
  • Autonomy & Navigation Technology Center (ANT)
  • Center for Cyberspace Research (CCR)
  • Center for Directed Energy (CDE)
  • Center for Space Research & Assurance (CSRA)
  • Center for Technical Intelligence Studies & Research (CTISR)
  • Nuclear Expertise for Advancing Technologies Center (NEAT)
  • Homeland Security Community of Best Practices (HS COBP)

AFIT's Graduate School of Engineering and Management is a graduate-only, research–based institution and the sole degree-granting element of AFIT. The Graduate School focuses on studies and research that are relevant to the Air and Space Force mission as well as the needs of the defense establishment as a whole. AFIT's Aeronautics & Astronautics Department has graduated nine U. S. astronauts including Guy Bluford (PhD 1978), first African-American astronaut.[4] Since graduate degrees were first granted in 1956, AFIT has awarded more than 20,600 master's and 1,000 doctor of philosophy degrees.

It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[5]

Students

An AFIT graduation ceremony

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) enrolls over 650 full-time graduate students. The student body consists primarily of Air Force and Space Force officers, but is rounded out by members of the other four U.S. Armed Services, select enlisted Airmen,[6] international students from coalition countries, U.S. Government civilians, and civilians (U.S. citizens) not affiliated with the Government. Selection of officers for graduate education is fully funded by their service and is based upon outstanding professional performance as an officer, promotion potential, and a strong academic background. Admission of non-Government affiliated civilians is based on academic preparation and requires U.S. citizenship. A substantial number of AFIT graduates are assigned to AFRL and NASIC upon graduation from AFIT. Many of the AFIT student thesis projects are influenced directly or indirectly by AFRL, NASIC, NRO and other Air Force and defense agencies.

• George W.S. Abbey – Former Director of the Johnson Space Center
• Brigadier General Russell J. Anarde, USAF, Ret.[7]
• Captain Milburn G. Apt – The first pilot to achieve Mach 3[8]
• General George T. Babbitt Jr., USAF, Ret.[9]
• Brigadier General Rosanne Bailey, USAF, Ret.[10]
• David Barish – Developer of the paraglider[11]
• Lieutenant General Ted F. Bowlds[12]
• Brigadier General Cary C. Chun[13]
• Lieutenant General Roger G. DeKok, USAF, Ret.[14]
• Lieutenant General William J. Donahue, USAF, Ret.[15]
• General Jimmy Doolittle – Doolittle Raider[16]
• Lieutenant General Hans H. Driessnack, USAF, Ret.[17]
• Colonel Arnold L. Franklin Jr. USAF, Ret – In April 1986, as the 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Franklin led the USAF raid on Libya.[18]
• Dr. Russell Merle Genet – Pioneered the world's first fully robotic observatory[19]
• Lt Col George E. Hardy, USAF, Ret – Tuskegee Airmen[20]
• Brigadier General Harold R. Harris, USAF, Ret.
• General Robert T. Herres, USAF, Ret.[21]
• General Charles R. Holland, USAF, Ret.[22]
• Robert P. Johannes – One of the developers of the control configured vehicle (CCV) concept
• Lt Col Frank A. Kappeler, USAF, Ret – Doolittle Raider[23]
• General George Kenney, USAF, Ret.[24]
• Major General Donald L. Lamberson, USAF, Ret.[25] – Considered the father of lasers in the Air Force
• Major General Louis G. Leiser, USAF, Ret.[26]
• Donald S. Lopez, USAF, Ret. – Deputy Director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum[27]
• Lieutenant John A. Macready – American Test Pilot and Aviator
• Lieutenant General Forrest S. McCartney, USAF, Ret.[28]
• Lt Col Harry C. McCool, USAF, Ret – Doolittle Raider[29]
• Lt John A. Macready, USAF, Ret – American test pilot and aviator
• General Bernard Schriever, USAF, Ret.[30]
• General Lawrence Skantze, USAF, Ret.[31]
• Major General Joseph K. Spiers, USAF, Ret.[32]
• Lieutenant General James W. Stansberry, USAF, Ret.[33]
• Lieutenant General William E. Thurman, USAF, Ret.[34]
• Major General Jerry White (Navigators), USAF, Ret.[35]
• Colonel Richard V. Wheeler, USAF, Ret. – American Test Pilot and Aviator[36]
• Lt Col Archie Williams, USAF, Ret. – Gold medal winner of the 400 m sprint – 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin
• Michael Wynne – Former Secretary of the Air Force[37]
• Dr. Steven M. Cron - retired Michelin engineer and co-inventor of the Tweel.

• Air School of Application 1919–1920
• Air Service Engineering School 1920–1926
• Air Corps Engineering School 1926–1941
• Army Air Forces Engineering School 1944–1945
• Army Air Forces Institute of Technology 1945–1947
• Air Force Institute of Technology 1947–1948
• United States Air Force Institute of Technology 1948–1955
• Institute of Technology, USAF 1955–1956
• Air Force Institute of Technology 1956–1959
• Institute of Technology 1959–1962
• Air Force Institute of Technology 1962–present