AFIT, NASIC educate new officers

Spokesman Magazine, March, 2006 by Rob Young

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- When young Air Force officers arrive at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center many do not always have the appropriate clearances to immediately begin work in their assigned branches.

Their supervisors must find other tasks for them to do until their security clearances are approved, which can sometimes take up to a year or more.

Dr. Ronald Tuttle, director of the Air Force Institute of Technology Center for Measurement and Signatures Intelligence Studies, worked an agreement between AFIT and NASIC to use the officers, primarily engineers, in the Institute's masters and doctorate programs, now known as the Watson Scholarship Program.

Dr. Tuttle went through this waiting period when he was assigned to NASIC, so he knew there was a need to change the waiting period into productive time.

"Robin Smith, a NASIC Mission Support directorate member, actually came up with the idea in 2004. She and Dr. Tuttle were discussing sending people in the holding area to his MASINT certificate program," said Mr. Lou Molar, another directorate member. "This set the wheels in motion and he presented the idea to the NASIC and AFIT commanders and dean of the Graduate School of Engineering Management."

With no tuition costs to NASIC, this agreement provided a classic win-win situation for both organizations.

The name Watson is synonymous with NASIC. Maj. Gen. Harold E. Watson was commander of NASIC twice in his career and contributed to the formation of the organizational structure and missions that enable NASIC to serve as the nation's air and space intelligence production center. Because of his love for the unit and its people, the program bears his name.

Initially, Watson Scholars were to remain assigned to NASIC while attending AFIT. However, this led to a wide range of administrative problems. Ms. Smith worked with the Air Force Personnel Center to have the officers assigned directly to AFIT with follow-on assignment to NASIC.

Students accepted into the program have 18 months to complete their degrees. After graduation, students return to their assigned NASIC billet or go to another if their course of study benefits that area of expertise.

The scholarship program offers two benefits; AFIT increases the number of qualified applicants to fill available quotas and supervisors at the Center maintain contact with their students to participate in thesis research and planning.

"The Watson Scholars Program granted me the opportunity to expand my technical expertise and advance my personal and professional development through continued education," said 1st Lt. Trevor Warren, a Watson Scholarship program student. "Also, AFIT provided considerable access to state-of-the-art science and technology engineering, as well as the chance to address a multitude of technical challenges still facing the Air Force in the 21st century."

The first graduation under this new program is scheduled for March 23. The two organizations hope to continue this exchange based on the Center's quotas and the officers being assigned to AFIT first.

There is a possibility that smaller numbers of officers will come through the program due to improved clearance procedures. But for the moment, the Watson Scholarship program continues to benefit two organizations at once.

By Rob Young

National Air and Space Intelligence Center Public Affairs