Principle Investigators and Mentors:
Dr Delores Knipp, USAFA DFP and Lt Col Christopher Smithtro, AFIT ENP

As a preliminary step establishing a Community Coordinated Modeling Center graduate fellowship to fund a resident Master of Science degree in Space Environment and Space Weather at the Air Force Institute of Technology, we are proposing a trial 18-month program.  The program will consist of appropriate courses and thesis work at AFIT to be completed by a Class of 2008 Academy graduate.  Full tuition and fees will be provided by CCMC.

CCMC, USAFA, and AFIT would mutually benefit from having a USAFA graduate enroll in an AFIT advanced degree program in space environment and space weather.  Benefits to CCMC include unbiased research on and validation and verification of DoD space environment models resident at the CCMC as part of the graduate thesis work.  Benefits to AFIT include student enrollment in space environment courses and thesis work relevant to DoD’s interest in characterizing the space environment.  Benefits to USAFA include a graduate scholarship opportunity for a cadet with demonstrated excellence in a technical discipline who becomes an addition to the pool of future faculty.  Benefits to the Air Force include enhancement of space situational awareness.

Role of USAFA: Teach course(s) that introduce cadets to the physics and impacts of the space environment on DoD signals and systems; Include appropriate modeling efforts in course work; Identify potential fellowship candidates; Mentor Cadet Summer Research Program Participants in Space Environment Applications.

Role of AFIT: Teach course(s) that expand student knowledge of the space environment impacts on DoD signals and systems; Investigate physics of related fields; Guide student research on and validation and verification of space environment models of interest to DoD that reside at the NASA CCMC; Produce technical notes and reports; Coordinate research with interested DoD agencies.

Role of CCMC: Provide web-based tools for model access for beginning and advanced students; Provide funding to AFIT for 18 month program of study (FY08-09 estimate is $22.5K for AFIT tuition); Provide travel funding as needed for the student to visit CCMC and attend a national meeting to report results.

Eligibility Criteria for USAFA Graduate
Minimum GPA: 3.00; Minimum GRE score: 500V/600Q
USAFA Course Completion: Physics 370 with minimum grade of B; Math 245
Major: Physics, Meteorology, Astronautical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering
Strong Interest in Space Environment Interactions demonstrated by Cadet Summer Research project, or course work in USAFA’s Small Satellite Program, or participation in appropriate departmental Independent Study Courses

No follow on assignment is required by this proposal.  All agencies involved in the proposal hope to improve the national technical competency in the realm of space situational awareness.  A desired long-term outcome is an Air Force member who returns to USAFA and/or AFIT Faculty to develop future space leaders.