Caps and Gowns in Air Force Blue
Written by Harrison Donnelly
As they pursue advanced degrees in order to enhance their service to the nation, Air Force general officers have turned to a wide range of academic institutions, according to a new study by Kerrigan Media International.
Research into current Air Force generals’ official biographies found that they have obtained advanced degrees, usually at the master’s level, from scores of universities across the nation, and even a few from overseas. But a handful of schools emerge as leaders in the field, drawing substantial numbers of senior officers as successful degree candidates.
At the top of the list is the University of Southern California, which has granted master’s degrees to 29 current Air Force generals, all but one in the field of systems management.
Second on the list is Webster University, a Webster Groves, Mo.-based institution that maintains an international network of more than 100 campuses across the United States, Europe, China and Thailand. At least 25 general officers list Webster master’s degrees in business and management.
Fifteen ranking officers cite master’s degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, all focused on aviation and aeronautics.
The research also underscores the importance of advanced degrees in the highest ranks of Air Force leadership. Air Force Chief of Staff General T. Michael Moseley (Texas A&M), Vice Chief of Staff General John D.W. Corley (University of the Philippines, Manila) and Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Arthur J. Lichte (University of Southern California) all have advanced degrees from non-military institutions, as do the great majority of uniformed officials listed as Air Force senior leaders.
At least one officer, Lieutenant General Frank G. Klotz, vice commander, Air Force Space Command, has a Ph.D. in politics from Oxford University, and the leaders of the service’s legal, medical and chaplaincy departments have specialized degrees in those professions.
EXCELLENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY
Reflecting on their success in attracting Air Force leaders to obtain advanced degrees, officials from the leading degreegranting institutions pointed to a number of factors, including both academic excellence and programs designed to make instruction accessible to busy officers in widely distributed locations.
Webster officials, for example, point to their university’s philosophy as particularly well suited to the demands of military life. “Since its founding in 1915, Webster University has been at the forefront of adult education,” according to a spokesman. “Webster has always possessed a willingness to embrace educational challenges, to do things in new ways, and to move in new directions. This progressive strategy is the basis for Webster University’s academic excellence, and fosters Webster’s reputation for delivering quality education to all of its students.”
Webster University offers programs or provides service centers at 53 military installations or at professional military schools.
At USC, The Institute of Safety and Systems Management that produced so many general officers has now evolved into successor units that carry on its tradition. “Not only do we have the old Institute’s curriculum carried on in our department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and our Aviation Safety Program, but we also have the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, the first university research center and education center funded by the Department of Homeland Security,” Yannis Yorstsos, dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, said. “We are certain we will have plenty of future alumni winning stars not just in the Air Force but in all the service branches. This is particularly true because our Distance Education Network now allows active duty personnel anywhere in the world to earn USC M.S. engineering degrees in more than 30 fields.”
“When I talk to military officers, I find the most frequent graduate degree I encounter is a master’s degree in engineering management,” stated James Moore II, chair of the Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. “Systems management is an evolving field, and the Epstein ISE Department’s M.S. degrees in systems architecting and engineering and in engineering management represent the cutting edge of this field. We would not be in a position to offer either of these degrees without the faculty expertise the Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and our academic partners at USC inherited from the Institute of Safety and Systems Management.”
At Embry-Riddle, educators see the keys to Air Force success as not only their subject-matter expertise, but also their dedication to providing convenient delivery methods for instruction. The university’s traditional campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., offer master’s degrees in aeronautics, aerospace engineering, business administration in aviation, human factors and systems, safety science, software engineering and space science.
In addition, Embry-Riddle makes available degrees in aeronautical science, management, occupational safety management and technical management at extended campus locations at more than 130 military and civilian centers in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East, as well as through distance learning.
Tom Davis of Troy University points to three main reasons for his Troy, Ala.-based institution’s military popularity. “Troy University’s service to the military dates to 1950, so we understand how to accommodate the unique needs of those who serve our country,” he said. “Foremost in this service is providing high-quality academic programs, as the Troy degree is respected within military and civilian circles.
“Second is Troy’s accessibility. We operate almost 60 sites in 17 U.S. states and 14 foreign nations, including sites at over 20 military installations. The combination of Troy campuses worldwide, plus degree programs offered via distance learning, allows mobile military personnel to start a degree program with Troy in one place and finish in another,” Davis added.
Golden Gate University (GGU) president Phil Friedman points to several factors in the University’s success and popularity among air force and other military personnel. With programming designed to meet the needs of working adults, GGU offers an array of undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, technology and law. GGU offers day, evening and weekend courses year-round at its location in San Francisco, and at its other teaching sites in San Jose, Sacramento, Walnut Creek, Monterey Bay, Seattle and Los Angeles.
Through GGU’s award-winning Cyber- Campus, air force and military personnel can earn full degrees and professional certificates without having to commute to class. The CyberCampus programming combines academic rigor with flexibility for a virtual classroom experience, and courses are taught by experts who are well-respected working professionals in their field.
At Central Michigan University (CMU), Terry Rawls, interim vice president and executive director off-campus programs, also cites three key factors. The first, he said, is “a commitment to high-quality programs customized to the needs of the student build a foundation from which officers can, and do, grow.
“Second, CMU enters into a commitment with each student to see to it that the student’s goals are met, regardless of duty station,” Rawls continued. “If you start with CMU you will have the opportunity to finish with CMU. Finally, because of these first two factors CMU is known throughout the military as a top-shelf choice for top-shelf officers: The numbers don’t lie.”
Auburn University officials, meanwhile, note that their campus is located less than 50 miles from Maxwell AFB, Ala., and Air University. But they also point to the institution’s tradition of excellence and rising academic standing. “Whether you want a traditional on-campus or unique distance learning program, Auburn faculty and staff work tirelessly, responding to the needs of Air Force students often challenged by tight timelines to complete their post-graduate degrees,” said dean and Wachovia professor Paul M. Bobrowski.
The excellence of California State University’s aeronautical, electrical and engineering programs, and competitiveness of its MBA and public administration programs, are at the heart of that 23-campus institution’s appeal, officials say. They also point to friendly teachers and small classes, as well as special efforts by faculty, administrators and students to provide a welcoming environment to military personnel. ♦