CSAF to sponsor three captains for PhD program

  • Published
  • By Shelly Petruska
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  The Chief of Staff of the Air Force will sponsor three eligible captains to pursue a doctorate degree through the fiscal year 2016 CSAF Captains Prestigious PhD Program.

"Intellectual development of officers, especially in critical thinking skills, relatively early in their careers will result in Air Force and joint leaders able to communicate at a strategic level with civilian leaders across various enterprises," said Maj.Yulanda Bogany, chief of developmental education.

Applicants must be line of the Air Force active duty captains with fewer than nine years of total active commissioned time as of Aug. 31, 2016. They must have completed their bachelor's and master's degrees and have earned the grade point average required by their preferred school.

"Interested officers must contact their assignment team to gain release from their career field prior to submitting an application," said Bogany. 

Applications are due to the Air Force Personnel Center no later than July 15, 2015. Applicants must ensure they meet school application criteria and deadlines in time to start the PhD program in fall of 2016. Officers submitting their packages are encouraged to immediately begin applying to their schools of interest.

Candidates selected for the program may pursue a doctorate in Asia Pacific studies, history, political science, international relations, economics, philosophy, international business relations, international security studies, and political systems and theories.

Major commands  and combatant commands may nominate five active duty captains. Direct reporting units and field operating agencies may each nominate three active duty captains.  The Air Force District of Washington may nominate three active duty captains from the National Capital Region. 

The selection panel will select officers and make a recommendation to the CSAF based on applicants' military performance, strength of application, letters of nomination, past academic performance and personal statements.

"This program exposes rising officers to a unique learning opportunity that not only benefits them as future leaders, but provides the Air Force with a stronger workforce supporting critical mission needs," said Bogany.

Complete eligibility requirements and application instructions are available on the myPers website.

For more information about Air Force personnel programs go to myPers at https://mypers.af.mil. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one at http://www.retirees.af.mil/mypers/index.asp