CSAF to sponsor 3 captains for PhD program Published June 27, 2013 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Chief of Staff of the Air Force will sponsor three eligible captains to pursue a doctorate degree through the fiscal 2014 CSAF Captains Prestigious PhD Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced. "The program helps develop a cadre of strategic thinkers," said Tech. Sergeant Jason Franklin, from the AFPC officer developmental education section. "Intellectual development of officers, especially in critical thinking skills, relatively early in their careers will result in Air Force and joint leaders who have the ability to communicate at a strategic level with civilian leaders across enterprises." Candidates selected for the program may pursue studies in history, political science, international relations, economics, philosophy, international business relations, international security studies, and political systems and theories. Participating educational institutions include Columbia University, Cornell University, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Tufts University-The Fletcher School, University of California-Berkley, University of California-Los Angeles, University of Chicago, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Texas-Austin, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Yale University. Major commands, combatant commands, direct reporting units and field operating agencies may each nominate one active-duty captain. The Air Force District of Washington may nominate three from the National Capital Region, but only one of those can be from Joint Base Andrews Md., Franklin said. Endorsed nomination packages are due to AFPC by Aug. 15. Applicants must be line of the Air Force active-duty captains with no more than nine years of total active-commissioned time as of Aug. 31, 2014. "The selection panel will choose members based on their academic experience and job performance," Franklin explained. "Release from their career field is required, so we recommend that interested officers contact their assignment team to discuss the opportunity." Applicants must ensure they meet school application criteria and deadlines in time to start the PhD program in fall of 2014, Franklin said. "School application deadlines may be earlier than program selection, so don't wait to find out if you're selected, or it could be too late to apply for the school of your choice," said Franklin. For complete eligibility criteria and application instructions, go to myPers at https://mypers.af.mil and enter "PSDM 13-57" in the search window. AFPC will host two program webinars July 2. To participate in the 8 a.m. central standard time webinar, log in to https://connect.dco.dod.mil/captphd2014am. To attend the 4 p.m. CST webinar, go to https://connect.dco.dod.mil/captphd2014pm.