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Air Force Institute of Technology's Civilian Institution Program

The Military History Center is proud to participate in two Air Force programs. One is the Air Force Institute of Technology's Civilian Institution Program. The Air Force Institute of Technology, or AFIT, is the Air Force's graduate school of engineering and management as well as its institution for technical professional continuing education. A component of Air University and Air Education and Training Command, AFIT is committed to providing defense-focused graduate and professional continuing education and research to sustain the technological supremacy of America's air and space forces. AFIT accomplishes this mission through three resident schools: the Graduate School of Engineering and Management, the School of Systems and Logistics, and the Civil Engineer and Services School. Through its Civilian Institution Programs, AFIT also manages the educational programs of officers enrolled in civilian universities, research centers, hospitals, and industrial organizations. Since resident degrees were first granted in 1956, more than 16,000 graduate and 350 doctor of philosophy degrees have been awarded. In addition, Air Force students attending civilian institutions have earned more than 12,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees in the past twenty years. The goal of AFIT is to provide defense-focused technical graduate and continuing education, research, and consultation for air, space, and cyberspace competence.

School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS)

The second is the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS). A revolution in Air Force Professional Military Education (PME) began in the late 1970's following the frustrations of the Vietnam War. Continuing into the 1980's, this revolution led Air Force Chief of Staff Larry D. Welch to charter a new graduate school, the School of Advanced Airpower Studies (SAAS), at Air University in 1988. The first class convened in the summer of 1991 and graduated in June 1992. SAAS was fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1999 and was redesignated the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) in 2002. Since the graduation of its first class, SAASS has produced many of the US Air Force's most influential airpower strategists and future leaders. SAASS is a 50-week, follow-on school for selected graduates of intermediate-level Department of Defense PME schools. SAASS creates warrior-scholars with a superior ability to develop, evaluate, and employ airpower within the complex environment of modern war. Upon completion of all requirements and with faculty recommendation, graduates receive a master of philosophy degree in military strategy. For a select number of graduates, SAASS offers a Doctorate of Philosophy in Military Strategy. SAASS faculty members hold a doctorate or equivalent in their fields of academic expertise, and the SAASS faculty is equally divided between terminally-credentialed field-grade or senior officers and civilian scholars. The depth, breadth, and diversity of their expertise are demonstrated by their wide-ranging and internationally-renowned publications and presentations. What makes UNT's participation in this program such an honor is that SAASS sends the senior officers who have qualified to teach at SAASS to civilian institutions to earn their PhD. UNT is proud to be numbered among the civilian schools that SAASS sends its future faculty to earn their terminal degrees.

 
 
Jeremy Reeves, in full dress, giving a talk.
Jeremy Reeves
Jeremy Reeves
Colonel Jeremy Reeves in the U.S. Air Force is serving as an Air War College Fellow at the University of North Texas. He specializes 20th century American military history and is studying under Professor Wawro.

Col Reeves is a command pilot with over 3,400 flight hours, primarily in KC-10 Extender. His twenty-two-year career includes serving as an operations officer and commander of a flying squadron and staff assignments at the Air Force major command and Joint Combatant Command level. Before beginning the PhD program at UNT, he served as the Vice Wing Commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.

A graduate from Texas Tech University, Col Reeves earned masters degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College. Upon completion of the PhD fellowship at UNT, he will join the faculty at the Air War College.
Lt Colonel Drew Roberts, sitting in front of an American flag in full dress for an official Air Force profile photo.
Drew Roberts
Drew Roberts
Lt Colonel Drew Roberts is serving as an Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Fellow at the University of North Texas. He is studying the First World War with Dr. Wawro.

Major Roberts is an Electronic Warfare Officer on the RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint with over 1600 flying hours, including over 400 combat hours. He has flown and deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, AND INHERENT RESOLVE. He also served as an exchange officer with the Royal Air Force for three years, deploying twice in support of Operation SHADER.

Prior to arriving at the University of North Texas, Major Roberts was a Fellow at Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. In this position, he taught leadership and joint warfighting to U.S. Air Force captains and civilian leaders before becoming a student at Air Command and Staff College.

Major Roberts was commissioned into the Air Force at Florida State University through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Intelligence from American Military University and a Masters of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University. He has been selected to join the faculty of Air Command and Staff College following his PhD Fellowship.
Lt Colonel Matt Stampher, sitting in front of an American flag in full dress for an official Air Force profile photo.
Matt Stampher
Matt Stampher
Matt Stampher is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force serving as a School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) Fellow at the University of North Texas. He specializes in Ancient History and is studying under Dr. Fuhrmann.

Lt. Col Stampher is a Senior Pilot and has logged over 2,900 flight ours, including over 600 combat hours, in RQ-4 and C-17 aircraft. He has served in Operations Enduing Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. Additionally, he has served as the Director of Operations for RQ-4 Global Hawk operations in the Pacific Theater.

A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Lt Col Stampher additionally has a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Oklahoma, as well as a Master of Science in Airpower Strategy and Technology Integration and a Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy from Air University. He has been selected to join the faculty of the School for Advanced Air and Space Studies following his PhD Fellowship.
Lt Colonel Matt Dietz standing next to a plane with an open cock pit.
Matt Dietz
Matt Dietz
Matt Dietz is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force currently serving as an Air Force Institute of Technology PhD Fellow at the University of North Texas where he specializes in Modern Air Power, Military Theory and Strategic Thought, and is studying under Dr. Wawro. His dissertation entitled “Hit My Smoke: The History of the US Air Force Airborne Forward Air Controllers” is currently in work to be completed in the summer of 2020.

Lt.- Col. Dietz has logged more than 2,500 flight hours in five different aircraft and has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Additionally, he has served as a NATO staff officer and planner for Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector.

A graduate of Texas A&M University, Lt Col Dietz also has an M.A. in History from Sam Houston State University and a Master’s of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University. Additionally, he has been selected to join the US Air Force Academy’s faculty after completing his PhD Fellowship. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Air Force Commendation Medal (3), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal (1) and two Air Medals. Matt was also the 2014 recipient of the 366th Fighter Wing’s Lance P Sijan Leadership Award.

He has presented several lectures and papers on Air Power and Military Strategy including: “Blame Canada: The Failed Strategy of the Quebec Invasion”, “The Air War in Vietnam,” “Pilots and Protestors: How Vietnam Protests and the Air War in Vietnam Influenced Each Other,” “The Air War in Korea,” “Air Force Bases in Texas: The Training Ground for American Air Power,” “Guided Bomb Diplomacy: American Airpower Diplomacy in the Post-Cold War World,” and “Adopting Air Power: How the US Army Integrated Air Power During World War I.”
Major Mark Buchy
Mark Buchy
Mark Buchy
Major Mark Buchy graduated from the University of Virginia in May of 2002 with a bachelors of arts in Foreign Affairs East Asia and a Minor in History. In 2008 he earned a Master's in Military History World War II graduating Dean's List with honors from American Military University. Major Buchy is attending the University of North Texas to earn a second Masters degree in Military History and successively proceeds to the U.S. Air Force Academy to teach in the history department.

The areas of history that interest him the most include small unit, guerrilla type warfare and instances of operational level mission successes resulting from adaption to circumstance. His thesis focuses on the tactical level changes the U.S. Army reluctantly espoused on the Texas frontier prior to the Civil War.

A staunch advocate of all areas of historical education, Major Buchy endeavors to raise the quality of life of the individuals around him.
2nd Lt F. Jon Nesselhuf in Mess Dress Coat, in front of an American Flag
Jon Nesselhuf
Jon Nesselhuf
2nd Lieutenant F. Jon Nesselhuf graduated from the United States Air Force Academy on 23 May 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in History. A distinguished graduate, Lt. Nesselhuf is attending the University of North Texas to earn a Masters degree in military history courtesy of the US Air Force and the Wolfe Fellowship.

The areas of history than interest him the most include pre-World War II German military history, colonialism, and the history of military thought. His thesis focuses on German General Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck's campaign during World War I against the British in what is now Tanzania. A controversial figure, historians deride Lettow as a misguided underachiever or uphold him as a model of guerilla leadership. Lt. Nesselhuf intends to show the pervasive effect Lettow's educational background and prewar career had on his campaigns. A firm advocate of military education, Lt. Nesselhuf hopes to offer insight for officers preparing to conduct or counter guerrilla warfare.

Upon graduation from UNT, Lt. Nesselhuf will attend intelligence officer training at Goodfellow Air Force Base in sunny San Angelo, Texas. He would one day like to return to the US Air Force Academy and teach military history to aspiring officers.