Nuclear Weapons Effects, Policy, and Proliferation Certificate Program (NWEPP)
Target Audience
The AFIT NWEPP program is targeted to mid-career Air Force officers, non-commissioned officers, and civilians with current or future assignments in the Air Force and DoD nuclear enterprise. The primary focus of NWEPP is providing formal graduate education in the areas of nuclear weapon effects, nuclear proliferation and technologies, and nuclear weapon strategy and policy to the Air Force's operational nuclear community.
Expected Completion Time
The NWEPP program consists of three 10-week academic quarters (~9 months), part time. Students must complete all three courses, and maintain a grade point average of at least 3.00. The student must fulfill the course and GPA requirements within 2 years of enrolling and successfully completing the first course. Prospective students should be aware that this is a graduate level program with an expected time commitment of at least 16 hours per week for each class.
Program Format
The program consists of three distance learning (DL) academic courses intended to educate students in a broad range of nuclear weapons topics including: weapon effects, key technologies required to develop and sustain a nuclear weapons program, non-proliferation challenges in the modern world, and the evolution of nuclear weapon policy and strategy from the Manhattan Project to the present. Students receiving the NWEPP certificate will develop skills necessary to advise and develop new nuclear strategy and policy as world events change. They will understand the technical nature of nuclear weapons enough to interface with the technical communities in the DOD and DOE responsible for developing and maintaining the nuclear stockpile. Finally, they will appreciate why nuclear weapons are unique, and why they have provided an active deterrent for the US and its allies since their inception, and why that critical mission continues today.
When to Start
The NWEPP program starts 3 cohorts each calendar year. A cohort consists of ~40 students and starts by taking NENG 596 (Nuclear Weapon Effects). The start date for each cohort are the spring (late March), summer (late June), and fall (early October) academic quarters. Courses are offered as arranged per cohort.
Program Schedule
| Term | Credits | Course | Title | Prereqs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA,WI,SP | 4 | NENG 500 | Nuclear Weapons Strategy and Policy | None - NENG 591 and NENG 596 recommended |
| FA,WI,SP | 4 | NENG 591 | Nuclear Weapons and Proliferation | None - NENG 596 recommended |
| FA,SP,SU | 4 | NENG 596 | Nuclear Weapon Effects | None |
Applicant Qualifications
A Bachelor degree is required with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and candidates must have earned a C or better in college level algebra.* This program is open to students in residence at AFIT and candidates that are nominated to the program by AETC/A10 in consultation with Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). Interested persons outside of this scope must coordinate with AETC/A10 to gain entry. This certificate is available to US citizens only.
*Exceptions for selected individuals with high potential for completion will be determined by the Engineering Physics Department (ENP)
Contact Program Administrator
Ms. Amanda Zehring, Contractor
Administrative Assistant, NWEPP Graduate Certificate Program
937.255.3636 ext 4706
Major Benjamin R. Kowash
Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering, AFIT
Director, NWEPP Graduate Certificate Program
937.255.3636 ext 4571