CSAF to sponsor three captains for PhD program

  • Published
  • By Debbie Gildea
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

The chief of staff of the Air Force will sponsor three eligible captains to pursue a doctorate degree through the fiscal year 2015 CSAF Captains Prestigious PhD Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced. 

"Intellectual development of officers, especially in critical thinking skills, relatively early in their careers will result in Air Force and joint leaders able to communicate at a strategic level with civilian leaders across various enterprises," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Franklin, AFPC officer developmental education.

Applicants must be line of the Air Force active duty captains with fewer than nine years of total active commissioned time as of Aug. 31, 2015. They must have completed their bachelor's and master's degrees and have earned the grade point average required by their preferred school. 

Candidates selected for the program may pursue a doctorate in Asia Pacific studies, history, political science, international relations, economics, philosophy, international business relations, international security studies, and political systems and theories. 

Participating educational institutions include Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ohio State University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Tufts University-The Fletcher School, University of California-Berkley, University of California-Los Angeles, University of Chicago, University of Denver, Korbel School, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of North Carolina, University of Texas-Austin, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Yale University.

Major commands and combatant commands may submit five active duty captains. Direct reporting units and field operating agencies may each nominate three active duty captains. The Air Force District of Washington may nominate three active duty captains from the National Capital Region, but Joint Base Andrews may forward only one nomination package. Applications are due to the Air Force Personnel Center no later than Aug. 15, 2014. 

"The selection panel will select officers and make a recommendation to the CSAF based on applicants' military performance, strength of application, letters of nomination, past academic performance and personal statements," Franklin explained. "Release from the interested officer's career field is required, so they will need to contact their assignment team to gain release prior to submitting an application."

Applicants must ensure they meet school application criteria and deadlines in time to start the PhD program in fall of 2015, said Franklin.

For more information about the program and other personnel issues, go to myPers at 
https://mypers.af.mil. Select the force development link on the left side under "learn more about," select "Developmental Education and Special Programs," and scroll down to the captains PhD section.