Dau Midwest Region and Air Force Institute of Technology School of Systems and Logistics sign strategic partnership agreement

Defense AT&L, Nov-Dec, 2007 by Bernadette M. Crumb

KETTERING, Ohio -- Carl D. Hayden, acting dean, Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Midwest Region in Kettering, Ohio, and Air Force Col. Diana J. Schulz, dean, Air Force Institute of Technology School of Systems and Logistics (AFIT/LS), signed a memorandum of understanding on Aug. 17, 2007, at the DAU Midwest campus in Kettering, Ohio. Under the terms of the MOU, the Defense Acquisition University and AFIT/LS agree to work collaboratively in order to provide educational opportunities for the currently enrolled and potential acquisition, technology, and logistics (AT & L) students of each institution.

The MOU validates the spirit of cooperation and collaboration between AFIT/LS and DAU Midwest, and it provides improved learning support and knowledge management to the overall AT & L community AFIT/LS and DAU Midwest will share training resources and best practices; collaborate on development of course topics and course content; and participate jointly as instructors, panel members, and guest speakers in the two organizations. Most importantly, AFIT/LS instructors will become certified to teach the DAU CON 120 Mission Ready Contracting Officer (MRCO) course, allowing more MRCO classes to be taught to Air Force AT & L workforce personnel.

The Air Force Institute of Technology School of Systems and Logistics (AFIT/LS) provides DoD managers with high-quality continuing education in a variety of functional management areas including contracting, acquisition, quantitative, logistics and sustainment, financial, and engineering management in various disciplines. The AFIT/LS faculty is a unique combination of over 80 Air Force, Army, and Navy officers, and DoD civilians who combine extensive practical field experience with academic expertise and a driving desire to provide whatever education, consulting, research, and other academic support requirements customers need.

DAU Midwest Region, Kettering, Ohio, serves the 12 surrounding Midwest states and has a number of strategic partnership agreements and learning organization agreements within the area's academic communities. Strategic partnership agreements have been made with the following institutions: Bellevue University, Central Michigan University, Cuyahoga Community College, DeVry University, Eastern Michigan University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Lawrence Technological University, National-Lewis University, Park University, Sinclair Community College, Webster University, Wilberforce University, Wright State University, University of Dayton, and University of Missouri-Rolla. Learning organization agreements have been made with the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management (DISAM) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, as well as with a cooperative of several federal and DoD AT & L organizations in the Scott Air Force Base and St. Louis Gateway area.

Crumb is with DAU Midwest Region.