AF seeks motivated, creative officers for advanced research program Published May 8, 2014 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, needs eight motivated, creative officers for the fiscal year 2015 Service Chiefs Program, or SCP, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced May 7. Officers must be major-selects, majors, lieutenant colonel-selects or lieutenant colonels to apply for the three-month program, slated to begin in September. Application packages are due to the AFPC officer developmental education branch by May 31, said Tech. Sgt. Jason Franklin, the AFPC officer of developmental education. "This program is for highly motivated, active duty officers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities in operational positions and who have clear potential to move into senior operational leadership positions," Franklin said. The program exposes rising military officers to a unique organization, the mission of which is to rapidly develop imaginative, innovative and often high-risk research ideas, he explained. "The significant technological impact these officers will have goes well beyond the normal evolutionary approach," Franklin said. DARPA SCP members provide input into technology development efforts during the program, and continue to serve as liaisons between DARPA and the services after completion. DARPA funds all temporary duty travel, lodging, and per diem during the program. Candidates must be considered highly competitive for promotion to the next grade and have a secret-level security clearance. Although participants do not incur an additional active duty service commitment, volunteers should be willing to continue their active duty career for at least three years after program completion. For more information, including complete eligibility requirements and application instruction, visit the myPers website. Select "search all components" from the search drop down menu and enter "DARPA" in the search window. Select PSDM 14-41.