AFIT awards 245 diplomas Published March 23, 2007 By Kim Curry Air Force Institute of Technology Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNEWS) -- More than 240 scientists, engineers and management specialists earned graduate and doctoral degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Diplomas were presented at a graduation ceremony March 22 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The institute's Graduate School of Engineering and Management awarded 240 master's degrees and five doctorates. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne, a 1970 AFIT graduate, delivered the commencement address. "I am pleased that you've studied hard," Secretary Wynne told the graduates. "I am pleased that you worked with great determination, because in all cases your nation needs you back, needs you back smarter, needs you back more determined, needs you back to apply the technologies that you've learned to the challenges that all of us face going forward. "AFIT is a world class graduate school," the secretary said. "Its graduates stand the test against many, from many institutions around the world. The difference is, the Air Force Institute of Technology is committed to warrior problems. Our Air Force was born of the types of technologies that you learn here. Whether it was the magic of aviation, the magic of space, or, now, the magic of cyberspace ... it is marvelous to see that fire and determination still resonates well here at AFIT." Air Force officers comprised the majority of the Class of 2007. However, the institute also graduated six Air Force enlisted, seven Army officers, two Marine officers, two Navy officers, and eight civilians, along with six international students from Argentina, Australia and South Korea. Upon graduation, most AFIT students will fill technical positions requiring advanced academic degrees in their respective fields of study from across the Department of Defense. Three students were recognized for their exemplary performance during their graduate studies. -- The Secretary James G. Roche Award was presented to Senior Master Sgt. William Jackson, who demonstrated exceptional academic achievement through a combination of grade point average and outstanding thesis, as well as high qualities of character, initiative, leadership and service while in a master's graduate program. -- The Edwin E. Aldrin Sr. Award was presented to Maj. Timothy Franz for demonstrating strong personal leadership and accomplishing AFIT's education objectives in an outstanding manner. In recognition of his exceptional scholarship and high qualities of character, initiative, and leadership, Major Franz also was the recipient of the Mervin E. Gross Award, named in honor of Brig. Gen. Mervin E. Gross, first commandant of the institute. -- Capt. Robert Koo received the Commandant's Award for demonstrating the most exceptional individual master's thesis research. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) Click here to view the comments/letters page