The Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management recently recognized the faculty and staff recipients of the 2024-2025 Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education Excellence Awards. For the 2024-2025 school year, 50 Excellence Awards recipients were recognized from SOCHE’s 18 member institutions.

These awards recognize individuals for their “demonstrated excellence in teaching, service, and/or scholarship” in three categories: Faculty Excellence Award, Staff Excellence Award and Campus Impact Award. 

Staff Excellence Award – Ms. Angela Hayden, Electronics Technician, AFIT Graduate School of Engineering and Management

This award is based on AFIT’s criteria, with special consideration of demonstrated excellence in student success, service and/or assessment.

Ms. Hayden restored full functionality to a $2M radio frequency chamber, repairing $10K in hardware and optimizing research accuracy for radar detection students. She also resolved 287 computer issues, upgraded 75 systems, saved $27K in replacement costs, and ensured a flawless annual inspection. Angela also applied continuous process improvement (CPI) to enhance the $8K Polycom system and developed quick-connect thesis tools—innovations that streamlined mission support, advanced academic presentations, and reinforced her role as a driving force behind 110 students and 30 faculty members’ academic success.

Faculty Excellence Award - Lt. Col. Sean McConville, Assistant Professor of Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Air Force Institute of Technology Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Department of Operational Sciences

This award is based on AFIT’s criteria, with special consideration of demonstrated excellence in student success, service and/or assessment.

Lt. Col. McConville revamped the Advanced Study of Air Mobility Command’s (AMC’s premiere in-residence Intermediate Development Education program) capstone, aligning it with National Defense Strategy priorities via an Indo-Pacific themed wargame that integrates commercial logistics theory into a military application, preparing AMC’s future leaders for great power competition. Additionally, Lt. Col McConville secured a $15K grant to build a high-end software tool to assist USTRANSCOM with C-17 apportionment. Lastly, he utilized his professional network to secure Subject Matter Experts from the USAF Weapons School to assist with an artificial intelligence project focused on beyond-visual-range air-to-air combat and integrated air defense rollback.

Campus Impact Award - Lt. Col. Chandra M. Pasillas, Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Science, Air Force Institute of Technology Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Department of Engineering Physics

This award is based on AFIT’s selection criteria, with special consideration for performance that made a positive impact on the school or campus as a whole.  The category is open to faculty, staff or administrators.

Lt. Col. Chandra M. Pasillas, transformed campus teaching and learning through several initiatives. Lt. Col. Pasillas trained 40 faculty in active learning, which resulted in more engaging learning experiences. She directed a $20K pedagogical grant program that boosted innovative teaching practices. Her assistance with the launch of a new Basic Meterology Program graduate certificate, with a master’s pathway resulted in a 250% enrollment boost. Additionally, she pioneered a flexible non-degree enrollment option for direct accession students, broadening critical educational access for new Air Force Weather Officers.

Formed in 1967, Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education is a consortium of 23 colleges and universities located throughout Ohio. SOCHE is the regional leader for higher collaboration, engaging with colleges, universities, and industry to transform the economy through the education and employment of nearly 200,000 students in southwest Ohio.

AFIT’s GSEM provides in-residence and distance learning graduate degrees and certificates in engineering, applied science, mathematics and management. GSEM provides its students with several significant advantages, including a more personalized educational experience; academic programs with a defense-related focus, and research on high-priority defense problems.

AFIT is located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. AFIT’s mission is to educate defense professionals to innovatively accomplish the deterrence and warfighting missions of the USAF and USSF. AFIT’s vision is to lead defense-focused education, research and consultation to accelerate military superiority across all domains and is accomplished through operationally relevant advanced academic education, research, and professional continuing education. For more information, please visit the AFIT webpage https://www.afit.edu/ or contact EN outreach, AFIT.EN.Outreach@us.af.mil