The Air Force Institute of Technology is very proud to announce that Dr. Heidi R. Ries, Dean for Research at the Graduate School of Engineering and Management, received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, Commander, Air Education and Training Command, presented the award while he was at AFIT for a visit on 21 November.

From 1 September 1999 to 31 May 2008, the exemplary leadership and professional excellence demonstrated by Dr. Ries significantly contributed to the institute’s research support to several critical Air Force and Department of Defense organizations. Dr. Ries has been the energizing force behind the Air Force Institute of Technology’s growing research program for the past eight years; she encouraged the formation of research centers of excellence, and drastically improved the institute’s research support infrastructure. Her initiative and dedication directly resulted in an almost 400 percent increase in external sponsor funding received by the Institute for research and educational programs; from 2.58 million dollars in Fiscal Year 2000 to over nine million dollars received to date in Fiscal Year 2008.