The Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management recognized 25 students with awards earned during their time as master’s students at a ceremony on 24 March. Awards for faculty members recognized their outstanding support to student success.

Awards Selected by the Students

The Ivan B. Thompson Award recognizes the member of the graduating class who has shown exceptional service to the class, school, community, and Air Force. The 2022 winner was Capt Kelly Minor (M.S. Engineering Management).

Lt Col Justin Delorit, Assistant Professor of Engineering Management in the Department of Systems Engineering and Management won the Dr. Leslie M. Norton Teaching Excellence Award. This award is given to a faculty member in honor of commitment and service to the graduating class.

 The Beta Chapter of the Sigma Iota Epsilon Professional Management Fraternity awarded the Dr. Anthony D'Angelo Award for Student Leadership to Capt Erica Sadowski (M.S. Engineering Management). This award recognizes the Sigma Iota Epsilon student who demonstrated excellent leadership and teamwork.

Lt Col Justin Delorit, Assistant Professor of Engineering Management within the Department of Systems Engineering and Management received the Beta Chapter of the Sigma Iota Epsilon Management Professor of the Year Award for outstanding contributions to the understanding of management sciences.

The Ohio Eta Chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Honor Society, sponsored two awards. The Tau Beta Pi Best Thesis Award recognizes the master’s student whose thesis was judged to make a significant contribution to the engineering community. The 2022 winner was Capt Charles Carr (M.S. Astronautical Engineering).

The Tau Beta Pi Thesis Advisor of the Year was given to Maj Costantinos Zagaris, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, for his outstanding support to students during the thesis process.


Association and Society Awards

The Dayton Chapter of the International Society of Logistics sponsored the Jerome G. Peppers Jr., Outstanding Student Award. This award is given to a member of each graduating class whose academic record and research contributions to the field of logistics are judged to be superior. The 2022 winner was Capt Anna Davis (M.S. Acquisition and Program Management).

The Dayton/Miami Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute sponsored the Dr. Martin D. Martin and Dr. John Adams Thesis Award given to the author of the thesis that best addresses a project management topic and is judged to be an outstanding research effort in terms of its contribution to the project management body of knowledge. The 2022 winner was Maj Jereme Henrard (M.S. Engineering Management).
 

The Dr. James T. Moore Graduate Research Prize, sponsored by the Military Operations Research Society, is named after Dr. Moore who served for 21 years at AFIT as a Professor and head of the Department of Operational Sciences. This award is given to the author of a thesis judged to demonstrate the best application of operations research methodology or theory development to a military problem. Key elements considered for this award include the applicability and impact of the research, the originality and scope of the research effort, and the overall quality of the written presentation. The 2022 winner was 2nd Lt Daniel Laird (M.S. Operations Research).

Two separate awards are given to students performing research in technical disciplines related to Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT). The MASINT discipline is technically derived intelligence that allows detection, tracking, identification, or signature characterization of fixed or dynamic target sources. The first award is sponsored by the MASINT Committee, a technical coordination office within the Defense Intelligence Agency with government representatives from the intelligence community and the Department of Defense. The National Measurement and Signature Intelligence Committee Academic Excellence Award is given to the author of a master’s thesis judged to best exemplify research and analysis of a measurement and signature intelligence subject. The 2022 winner was 2nd Lt Preston Dicks (M.S. Nuclear Engineering).
 

The Advanced Technical Intelligence Association Outstanding Student Award is given to a graduating student who demonstrates the highest overall level of performance while pursing academic work in the field of measurement and signature intelligence. Determination of the winner is based on cumulative grade point average and research excellence as demonstrated through a thesis or research project. The 2022 winner was 2nd Lt Austin Logan (M.S. Operations Research).

The Alpha Chapter of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) sponsored the ANS Thesis Award. This award is given to the author of a thesis judged to make the most significant contribution to the field of nuclear engineering and physics. Other key criteria for determining the winning thesis include originality, completeness, and level of difficulty. The 2022 winner was 2nd Lt Preston Dicks (M.S. Nuclear Engineering). 

The Air Force Historical Foundation’s General Bryce Poe II Award is given to a student or group of students whose thesis contributes to an understanding of the historical factors affecting an Air Force or Department of Defense problem, event, or process. The 2022 winner was 1st Lt Sammantha Jones (M.S. Cost Analysis).

The Society of American Military Engineers Kittyhawk Chapter sponsored the SAME Award. This award is given to the student in the engineering and environmental management program who demonstrates superior scholarship, outstanding leadership, character, and initiative. The award criterion also considers the student's overall performance and ability to work with faculty and fellow students. The 2022 winner was Capt Zach Moer (M.S. Engineering Management).

The Society of American Military Engineers Kittyhawk Chapter sponsored the Office of the Air Force Civil Engineer, George K. Dimitroff Award. This award is presented annually to the author of the thesis judged to have made the most significant contribution to the Air Force civil engineering career field. The 2022 winner was Capt Jacob Franke (M.S. Engineering Management).
 

The U. S. Cyber Command sponsored the Cyberspace Research Excellence Award given to the student whose master’s level research is judged the best in advancing Air Force capabilities in cyberspace. The 2022 winner was Capt Banks Lin, USSF (M.S. Cyber Operations).

The Dayton Section of the Institute of Navigation sponsored the Institute of Navigation’s Research Excellence Award given to the author of a master’s thesis reflecting the most exceptional research contribution to scientific or engineering knowledge in the navigation area. The 2022 winner was 1st Lt James Lynch (M.S. Computer Science).

The Greater Dayton Chapter of the International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA), sponsored the ICEAA Thesis Award. This award is presented to the author of the thesis which best qualifies both as an outstanding research effort and as a significant contribution to the development and/or application of cost analysis or cost accounting. The 2022 winner was Capt Susan Moore (M.S. Cost Analysis).

The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), presented the SPIE Thesis Award. This award for excellence in optics and photonics research recognizes the best light-based thesis of a graduating master’s student. The 2022 winner was Capt Benjamin Rinaldi (M.S. Applied Physics).

The Dayton Area Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, presented the MOAA Outstanding Military Professor Award. MOAA is the nation’s largest veteran’s organization of retired, former, and currently serving uniformed officers. The Outstanding Military Professor Award is given in recognition of the military professor who has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and service. The 2022 award winner was Lt Col Justin Delorit, Assistant Professor of Engineering Management in the Department of Systems Engineering and Management.

The Cincinnati-Dayton Chapter of the Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences, presented the Dr. George S. Patnell Military and Security Research Award. This award is given to the author of a thesis focused on a military or security problem that is judged to make a meaningful theoretical contribution to the discipline of operations research. The award is sponsored by the Military and Security Society of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences. The 2022 award winner was 2nd Lt Benjamin McCloskey (M.S. Operations Research).


Graduate School of Engineering and Management Awards

In August 2002, under the leadership of Air Force Secretary James G. Roche, AFIT enrolled its first class of 16 non-commissioned officers into the Graduate School of Engineering and Management, and subsequently created a specific award to honor the top enlisted student. The Secretary James G. Roche Award is presented to the graduating enlisted student who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement through a combination of grade point average and outstanding research, as well as high qualities of character, initiative, leadership and service. The 2022 winner was MSgt Michael Ames (M.S. Environmental Engineering and Science and M.S. Industrial Hygiene).

The Lieutenant Edwin E. Aldrin, Sr. Award is sponsored by the Wright Memorial Chapter of the Air Force Association and is named in honor of Lieutenant Edwin E. Aldrin, Sr.; a member of the institute’s first graduating class of 1920, who upon graduation became AFIT’s first Vice Commandant. This award recognizes the student who has displayed the most exceptional leadership characteristics while in the graduate program. The 2022 award winner was Capt Carol Bryant (PhD Aeronautical Engineering).
 

The Louis F. Polk Award is sponsored by the National Defense Industrial Association and recognizes the student who has made an advanced contribution in their professional field. The winner of this award has exhibited the highest standards of academic and professional accomplishment, and through their research made a significant contribution toward strengthening the nation’s industrial defense base. The 2022 award winner was Capt Zachary Cleveland (M.S. Atmospheric Science).
 

The Mervin E. Gross Award is presented to the graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and high qualities of character, initiative, and leadership while in a master’s graduate program. Named in honor of Brigadier General Mervin E. Gross who, following World War II, was responsible for reorganizing the Air Corps Engineering School as the Air Force Institute of Technology. The 2022 award winner was Capt Samuel Vonniederhausern (M.S. Electrical Engineering).

The Dean’s Award recognizes the most exceptional master’s thesis by a graduating student within each academic department. Award determination is based on the master’s thesis reflecting the most exceptional contribution to scientific, management, or engineering knowledge. Each individual was competitively selected by their respective academic department.

• Mathematics and Statistics Department - Capt Alexander Contarino (M.S. Applied Mathematics)
• Electrical and Computer Engineering Department – Capt Andrew Dittrich, USSF (M.S. Electrical Engineering)
• Engineering Physics Department – Capt Tyler Dolezal (M.S. Applied Physics)
• Operational Sciences Department – 2nd Lt Andrew Mogan (M.S. Operations Research)
• Systems Engineering and Management Department – 2nd Lt Owen Sedej (M.S. Environmental Engineering and Science)
• Aeronautics and Astronautics Department – Capt Charles Carr (M.S. Astronautical Engineering)

From the collection of Dean’s Award recipients, one overall winner is chosen to receive the Chancellor’s Award. The Chancellor’s Award is presented to the graduating student who produced the most exceptional master’s thesis. The 2022 Chancellor’s Award and Russ Prize, sponsored by the AFIT Foundation, went to – Capt Andrew Dittrich, USSF (M.S. Electrical Engineering).

The AFIT Chancellor is authorized to designate no more than 10 percent of each graduating class as Distinguished Graduates. The criteria for identifying DG achievement encompasses academic scores, the “whole person” concept based on professional qualities, and the recommendation of the department heads to ensure the students are deserving of the honor associated with DG. The DGs for the class of 2022 were:

• Capt Patrick Assef (M.S. Systems Engineering)
• Capt Tyler Brown (M.S. Electrical Engineering)
• Capt Charles Carr (M.S. Astronautical Engineering)
• Capt Zachary Cleveland (M.S. Atmospheric Science)
• Capt Alexander Contarino (M.S. Applied Mathematics)
• 2nd Lt Tristan Creek (M.S. Cyber Operations)
• Capt Tyler Dolezal (M.S. Applied Physics)
• Capt Jacob Hatzinger (M.S. Systems Engineering)
• Capt Mark Kurtz, USSF (M.S. Space Systems)
• Capt Jedidiah Langlois (M.S. Engineering Management)
• 2nd Lt Irene Liew (M.S. Operations Research)
• 2nd Lt Austin Logan (M.S. Operations Research)
• Capt Kaiana Miller (M.S. Cost Analysis)
• Capt Zachary Moer (M.S. Engineering Management)
• 2nd Lt Andrew Mogan (M.S. Operations Research)
• 2nd Lt David Mottice (M.S. Operations Research)
• Capt Daniel Parkhill (M.S. Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
• Capt Niko Petrocelli (M.S. Computer Engineering)
• 1st Lt Guillermo Salcedo (M.S. Electrical Engineering)
• 2nd Lt Owen Sedej (M.S. Environmental Engineering and Science)
• Capt Samuel Vonniederhausern (M.S. Electrical Engineering)
• Capt Brady Weaver (M.S. Acquisition and Program Management)

All photos by U.S. Air Force Jaima Fogg