Eleven new members joined the Tau Beta Pi Ohio Eta chapter at AFIT during the fall quarter of the 2024-2025 academic year. (U.S. Air Force contributed photo)

Congratulations to the newest members of the Tau Beta Pi (TBP) Ohio Eta chapter at the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. During the fall quarter of the 2024-2025 academic year, 11 students were initiated into the AFIT chapter, joining 44 other current student and 26 faculty members. Since its inception, the chapter has initiated 2,498 members and has been the home chapter of one TBP outstanding advisor Lt. Col. Kurt P. Rouser (Ret.) (2019) and two TBP distinguished alumnus awards General Robert T. Herres (Ret.) (1999) and Major General William A. Anders (Ret.) (2006).

AFIT holds an annual initiation ceremony during the fall quarter and, as needed, in the winter quarter. Membership is open to master’s students who rank in the top 1/8th of students and have completed 24 credit hours in their program. For doctoral students, membership is open to those with above a 3.5 GPA, at least 24 credit hours of coursework completed, and a faculty recommendation. Students who have been initiated previously are automatically members of the Ohio Eta chapter at AFIT.

Upcoming events for the AFIT chapter include the annual master’s thesis competition during the winter quarter. All active master’s students who are members are eligible to participate. The AFIT chapter traditionally celebrates Pi Day (March 14) with a special event each year. This year members will partner with the Tau Beta Pi Dayton Alumni chapter, of which all Ohio Eta members automatically become members of as well, for a casual lunch/dinner to celebrate. And, during spring quarter, officer elections will be held. In October 2024, the Tau Beta Pi Convention was held in Rapid City, SD, and 2nd Lt. Liam Weinfurtner represented Ohio Eta among 250+ active chapters. The 2025 annual convention will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The chapter is currently under the amazing leadership of 1st Lt. Patrick Dougherty, AFIT chapter president, and Dr. Julie A. Jackson, chief advisor and Professor of Electrical Engineering. Additional Graduate School faculty who serve as chapter advisors are Dr. David Jacques, Professor of Systems Engineering, Dr. Larry Merkle, Research Assistant Professor, Dr. Richard Deckro, Distinguished Professor of Operations Research, and Lt. Col. Rachel Derbis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Chapter members and advisors encourage interested students to join the team. For more information on how to join AFIT’s chapter, reach out to the officers at afit-taubetapi@au.af.edu.