Maj. David Swanson, Ph.D (far right), AFIT materials science doctoral alumnus, and recent transfer to the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, London, United Kingdom. As an international program officer in aerospace materials and structures programs, Swanson is responsible for investigating new and emerging scientific research efforts in Europe and selecting the most exciting and relevant programs to receive Air Force grant funding. Pictured is a renowned European research collaborator in their laboratory that was selected to receive AF grant funding from the EOARD AFOSR. (AF Contributed Photo)
By: Jaclyn Knapp, AFIT CSRA
Air Force Institute of Technology alumni, Maj. Grant Thomas, Ph.D. and Maj. David Swanson, Ph.D. are recent transfers to the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, London, United Kingdom. AFOSR is the basic research technical directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory supporting the United States Air Force and Space Force through the One Lab, or Two Services approach.
As a vital component of AFRL, AFOSR's mission is to discover, shape and champion basic research that profoundly impacts the future Air and Space Forces. AFOSR accomplishes its mission through global investment in advanced discovery research efforts in relevant scientific areas.
As international program officers, Thomas and Swanson are responsible for investigating new and emerging scientific research efforts in Europe and selecting the most exciting and relevant programs to receive Air Force grant funding. The technical expertise required for their current assignments was acquired through the challenges of studying and researching current Air Force topics, and establishing Air Force collaboration partnerships as AFIT doctoral students.
“My experience at AFIT’s Center for Space Research and Assurance was invaluable! Both fellow students and professors have extensive experience with space topics and close ties with space collaborators and partners,” said Maj. Thomas, international program officer, space science, EOARD AFOSR.
“As an AFIT astronautical engineering doctoral student, I utilized valuable resources such as telescopes, state-of-the-art lab equipment, [access to] journal articles, etc. These resources made it possible to obtain an advanced space degree while making a significant contribution to defense-related space research solutions,” said Thomas.
Since the Center was founded in 2014, more than 100 masters of science and post-doctoral degrees have been awarded in astronautical engineering and space systems engineering programs by AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management. Post-graduation, 50-75% of space graduates work in space-affiliated Department of Defense organizations.
“The combination of top-notch academics, hands-on, relevant research, and collaboration with Department of Defense space organizations, provide our graduates a great foundation for technical career paths in space engineering,” said Col. Tim Albrecht, AFIT CSRA director.
Although international assignments are rare, an advanced degree in space has the potential of leading to many other exciting opportunities throughout the entire DoD,” said Albrecht.
The Air Force Institute of Technology, or AFIT, located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the Air and Space Force’s graduate school of engineering and strives to be the student’s first choice for advanced academic education and technical professional continuing education.
For additional information about graduate or post-doctoral degrees in astronautical engineering or space systems, please visit the CSRA website at https://www.afit.edu/CSRA/ , call 937-255-6565 extension 4753 or email Jaclyn.knapp.ctr@afit.edu.
Maj. David Swanson, Ph.D (left), AFIT material science doctoral alumnus, and recent transfer to the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, London, United Kingdom. As an international program officer in aerospace materials and structures programs, Swanson is responsible for investigating new and emerging scientific research efforts in Europe and selecting the most exciting and relevant programs to receive Air Force grant funding. The technical expertise required for his current assignment was acquired through the challenges of studying and researching current AF topics and establishing AF collaborations and partnerships as an AFIT doctoral student. (AF Contributed Photo)
Maj. Grant Thomas, Ph.D, AFIT astronautical engineering doctoral alumnus, and recent transfer to the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, London, United Kingdom. As an international program officer in space science, Thomas is responsible for investigating new and emerging scientific research efforts in Europe and selecting the most exciting and relevant programs to receive Air Force grant funding. The technical expertise required for his current assignment was acquired through the challenges of studying and researching current AF topics and establishing AF collaborations as an AFIT doctoral student. (AF Official Photo)
