Latest AFIT graduates earn degrees Published Sept. 16, 2004 By Kim Curry Air Force Institute of Technology Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- More than 70 scientists and engineers are the recipients of graduate and doctoral degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology.AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management held its graduation ceremony Sept. 14. The graduating class earned 67 master’s degrees and four doctorates.Air Force majors composed the majority of the Class of September 2004; however, the institute also graduated one lieutenant colonel, one captain and two enlisted students. Women made up about 10 percent of the class. Upon graduation, most will fill technical positions requiring advanced academic degrees in their respective fields of study from across the Department of Defense.Also during the ceremony, two students were recognized for exemplary performance during their graduate studies. Maj. Gary Leong was the recipient of the Brig. Gen. Mervin E. Gross Award named after the first commandant of the institute. Major Leong was lauded for his exceptional scholastic achievement and possessing high qualities of character, initiative and leadership.The Edwin E. Aldrin Sr. Award is named after a member of the institute’s first graduating class and the father of astronaut Buzz Aldrin. It was presented to Maj. Carl Schaefer for demonstrating strong personal leadership and accomplishing AFIT’s education objectives in an outstanding manner.A list of recent graduates can be found at http://pa.afit.edu/Grad_Sep_2004/index.htm.