AF selects captains for prestigious doctorate program Published Sept. 12, 2016 By Kat Bailey Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force has chosen six captains for the 2017 Chief of Staff of the Air Force Captains Prestigious Ph.D. Program as a result of a recent selection board. The program exposes rising officers to a unique learning experience at top-tier universities. The captains will obtain doctorate degrees in strategic studies beginning in 2017 in order to build a cadre of strategic thinkers. Primary selectees are Capt. Samuel Jones, assigned to the Air Force Life Cycle Management at Air Force Materiel Command; Capt. Frank Turek, assigned to the 3rd Intelligence Squadron at Air Combat Command; and Capt. Derek Ray, assigned to the 480th Intelligence Wing at ACC. Alternate selectees are Capt. Kyle Bingman, assigned to the Carl A. Spaatz Center for Officer Education at Air Education and Training Command; Capt. Jake McKeon, assigned to the Space and Missile Systems Center at Air Force Space Command; and Capt. Christopher Umphres, assigned to the 435th Fighter Squadron at AETC. Degree options include Asia Pacific studies, history, political science, international relations, economics, philosophy, international business relations, international security studies, and political systems and theories. More information is available and on myPers. Search “prestigious” from the active duty officer landing page. For more information about Air Force personnel programs, go to the myPers website. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following these instructions on the Air Force Retirees Services website.