By Bill Hancock

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - Dr. Thomas F. Christian, has been named the Director of the Air Force Center for Systems Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology and in a pining-on ceremony, at AFIT, on 25 Feb, became a member of the Senior Executive Service.

In his new position as Director, Dr. Christian will serve as an authority in applied aeronautical systems engineering charged with providing technical oversight and advice to the highest Air Force and government officials. His position is in direct support of the Air Force chief of staff efforts to recapture acquisition excellence. The scope of technical coverage includes system performance and effectiveness, airworthiness, systems-of-systems, best practices, risk management, requirements development, manufacturing, integration, test and evaluation, lifecycle management, and simulation and analysis as applied to manned and unmanned air vehicles.

"We are very lucky to have acquired Dr. Christian," stated Maj. Gen. Walter Givhan, AFIT Commandant.";His extensive expertise and knowledge make him the perfect addition to AFIT and the Air Force Center of Systems Engineering."

Dr. Christian entered federal service in 1968 as an aerospace engineer at the Warner Robins Air Materiel Area. Following completion of his doctoral research in 1973, he worked in both the nuclear power and manufacturing industries. He returned to federal service as Chief Engineer for the Special Operations Forces System Program Office, then as Director of the 402nd Software Maintenance Group, and most recently as ASC Director of Engineering for the Agile Combat Support Systems Wing.