Dr. Nils Wagenknecht, German administrative and professional personnel exchange officer at the Air Force Institute of Technology and Dr. Walter Jones, AFIT director and chancellor, following the signing of a Letter of Accord to Collaborate between AFIT and the University of the German Armed Forces Munich on 12 July. The goal of the collaboration is to develop research and academic partnerships in disciplines of mutual interest such as electrical and computer engineering, technology, space, cyber, and operations research. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Katie Scott)

Dr. Walter Jones, Air Force Institute of Technology director and chancellor, signed a Letter of Accord to Collaborate between AFIT and the University of the German Armed Forces Munich (UniBw Munich) on 12 July. The goal of the collaboration is to develop research and academic partnerships in disciplines of mutual interest such as electrical and computer engineering, technology, space, cyber, and operations research.

Both universities recognize the importance of academic exchanges in terms of teaching and research, as well as the special opportunities provided through contacts between faculty and students. This is the first arrangement between AFIT and a German university.

“We have valued our collaborations with Germany, both bilaterally and through our NATO partnership, for many years. This agreement takes that collaboration to another level by enabling joint efforts in teaching and research between two top military-focused universities,” said Dr. Walter Jones, AFIT director and chancellor. “I look forward to working with our University of the German Armed Forces Munich colleagues for years to come.”

Dr. Andreas Knopp, professor of satellite communications technologies at UniBw Munich, coordinated the conclusion of the Letter of Accord that will commence in the field of electrical and computer engineering.

“We are pleased with the closer cooperation and the new opportunities to collaborate on scientific and educational level,” said Knopp who is also a chair holder of signal processing and the director of the Munich Center of Space Communications research facility at UniBw Munich.

The partnership was brokered by Dr. Nils Wagenknecht, a contracts lawyer for the Federal Ministry of Defense in Germany. He joined the AFIT team in 2021 for a one year under the Administrative and Professional Personnel Exchange Program between the German Federal Defense Administration and the U.S. Armed Forces where he serves as an executive staff member working to identify education exchange opportunities between AFIT and German universities.

“The arrangement establishes a win-win relationship for both institutions. I am delighted to be able to accomplish this excellent joint international partnership during my time at AFIT,” said Wagenknecht.

The Letter of Accord will also enable faculty to explore additional forms of scholarly collaboration including certificates, seminars and conferences, and the exchange of relevant academic materials.

About the University of the German Armed Forces Munich
Located in Neubiberg, Germany, the University of the German Armed Forces Munich is recognized by the State of Bavaria as an institution of higher education within the area of responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Defense. It provides future officers with an opportunity to pursue civilian higher education. As at other universities, the core tasks comprise academic teaching, research as well as technology and knowledge transfer.

About AFIT
The Air Force Institute of Technology, located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio is the Department of the Air Force’s graduate school of engineering and management as well as its institution for technical professional continuing education. AFIT is committed to providing defense-focused graduate and professional continuing education and research to sustain the technological supremacy of America’s air, space, and cyber forces.