Congressman Mike Turner commended the choice of Dr. Todd I Stewart to be the new Director and Chancellor of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Stewart, who retired as a Major General of the Air Force in 2002, previously served as the Director of Plans and Programs at Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patt. Turner, along with Sen. Rob Portman, has introduced H.R. 1999, a bill which would designate criteria for the leadership at AFIT.
“The selection of Dr. Stewart shows that the Air Force is concentrating on the important role of senior leadership at AFIT. In the years ahead, AFIT should have a qualified and capable individual like that of Dr. Stewart’s in order to maintain expertise and relevance on issues affecting the cyberspehere and nuclear enterprise,” said Turner.
H.R. 1999, would allow the Secretary of the Air Force to fill the top post with either an active duty Colonel, or a retired Brigadier General or higher. It also creates a SES level Provost position to prevent against any disruptions in academic and institutional affairs that can be generated from regular changes in leadership. These options would ensure continuity in the Institute’s approach towards educating our nation’s military leaders while adhering to the Department of Defense’s proposal to eliminate the number of flag officers in our military.
Following Turner’s efforts to boost the leadership at the Air Force Institute of Technology, the FY12 NDAA conference committee between the House and Senate saw fit to provide for greater Air Force oversight of the postgraduate school. The leadership of the school will now be comprised of both a Commandant and a Provost.
“The FY12 NDAA has brought AFIT one step closer to achieving prominence amongst our military’s postgraduate schools. This step ensures that Air Force personnel and leadership reductions do not affect the quality of AFIT leadership by establishing two leadership positions, to help guide AFIT in the years ahead. I look forward to continuing my effort with Sen. Portman in strengthening AFIT’s mission of training the future leaders of our Air Force,” said Turner.
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