Air Force Institute of Technology alumnus, Lt. Col. James Bowers assumed command of Air University Detachment 1 at AFIT, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, during a recent ceremony.  Pictured is Commander and President of Air University, Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos, left, incoming AU Detachment 1 Commander, Lt. Col. James Bowers, right, and outgoing AU Detachment 1 Commander, Col. Chris Rondeau, far right [AF contributed photo].

AFIT alumnus Lt. Col. James Bowers assumed command of Air University Detachment 1 at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, during a recent ceremony.

Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos, Commander and President, Air University, presented opening remarks.

“AFIT is ground zero for where the science takes place – this is where research, innovation, test, evaluation, relentless pursuit of technological advantage, serial collaboration, extreme teaming, and an insatiable appetite for learning generate mission success. AFIT produces the warfighters who persistently gain and maintain our nation’s technical superiority,” said Tullos.

Col. Chris Rondeau, Lt. Col. Bowers’s predecessor, was recognized by Lt. Gen. Tullos for his success and “passion for taking care of his Airmen and their families – a literal diaspora scattered across the globe and the country.”

Under his leadership, Rondeau oversaw faculty members deliver graduate degree programs, conduct cutting-edge research, execute vital occupation training and administer civilian education programs to an estimated 35,000 students annually.

Additionally, he implemented a targeted training initiative to equip 600 airmen with essential Artificial Intelligence skills, which resulted in the award of 261 AI certifications and accelerated AFIT’s pace of learning.  Rondeau also ensured AU had visibility on the stressors faced by many of AFIT’s remote and geographically separated personnel.

AFIT alumnus Lt. Col. James Bowers assumed command of Air University Detachment 1 at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, during a recent ceremony.  Pictured is Commander and President of Air University, Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos, left, and outgoing AU Detachment 1 Commander, Col. Chris Rondeau, right [AF contributed photo].

Tullos praised Rondeau for the “courage to always do what’s right, which is quite often not what’s easy.  And he acted with the empathy of an exemplary leader.  In a nutshell, his actions always demonstrated that our most critical resource – our people – are our mission.”

Following his assignment at AFIT, Rondeau will assume command as Deputy Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory.

AFIT alumnus Lt. Col. James Bowers assumed command of Air University Detachment 1 at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, during a recent ceremony [AF contributed photo].

When welcoming the AFIT alumnus to his new assignment, Tullos remarked that Bowers “brings a wealth of leadership experience and a proven track record of exceptional performance.”

As AFIT’s senior military leader, Lt. Col. Bowers is responsible for maintaining good order and discipline for approximately 1,900 active-duty faculty, staff and students.  

Bowers, who received his master’s and doctoral degrees in Applied Physics at AFIT, will also serve as the AFIT Deputy Director, where he leads the strategic vision and tactical decisions of the Institute.  

In his remarks, Bowers expressed gratitude and excitement about his new assignment.

“Never in a million years did a wild-eyed 21-year-old undergraduate summer intern working in the AFIT Aerostructures Lab imagine that years later, he would be given the distinctive honor of leading and serving this prestigious Institute that has given me so much.  I am truly honored and excited to be a part of this team and family,” said Lt. Col. James Bowers, commander, Air University Detachment 1 and AFIT deputy director.

“AFIT excels at what I see are the three ‘L’s;’ ‘learning, laboring, and leading’.  We are a learning organization delivering and managing defense-focused advanced academic education and professional continuing education.  Through our research, we learn by doing and as a byproduct of that labor, we enhance lethality daily.  Based on our reputation of learning and laboring, we lead in consultation with our partners to deter our foes with our capabilities.”

Prior to his assignment at AFIT, Bowers was assistant professor of physics and deputy department head, department of physics and meteorology at the United States Air Force Academy.  As professor and deputy head, he managed 35 faculty members, and executed a 2.6 million-dollar budget across five research centers that educated 1,900 student annually in fundamental and advanced physics and meteorology instruction.

About AFIT 

AFIT is located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. WPAFB is the location of the AFRL headquarters, a world-class laboratory research function, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), life cycle management of Air Force weapon systems from inception to retirement and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC)/National Space Intelligence Center (NSIC).

AFIT’s mission is to educate defense professionals to innovatively accomplish the deterrence and warfighting missions of the USAF and USSF.  AFIT’s vision of leading defense-focused education, research and consultation to accelerate military superiority across all domains is accomplished through operationally relevant advanced academic education, research, and professional continuing education.  For more information, please visit https://www.afit.edu/ .