Lineage. Established as Army Air Forces Institute of Technology on 15 Dec 1945. Redesignated as: Air Force Institute of Technology on 26 Sep 1947; United States Air Force Institute of Technology on 16 Jun 1948. Discontinued on 28 Aug 1948. Consolidated (28 Feb 1979) with the unit designated as United States Air Force Institute of Technology, and organized, on 28 Aug 1948, and subsequently redesignated: Headquarters, United States Air Force Institute of Technology, on 1 Apr 1950; Headquarters, Institute of Technology, United States Air Force, on 1 Sep 1955; Headquarters, Air Force Institute of Technology, on 16 Apr 1956; Institute of Technology on 1 Jul 1959; Air Force Institute of Technology on 1 Jan 1962; Headquarters, Air Force Institute of Technology, 18 Feb 1997.
Assignments. Air Technical Service (later, Air Materiel) Command, 15 Dec 1945-28 Aug 1948. Air Materiel Command, 28 Aug 1948; Air University, 1 Apr 1950-.
Stations. Wright Field (later, Wright-Patterson AFB), OH, 15 Dec 1945-28 Aug 1948. Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 28 Aug 1948-.
Components. Although technically, AFIT has had only one component assigned, it has had numerous detachments and four named activities formed within its own resources.
Institute: National Security Space Institute: 1 Apr 2016-.
Schools: Systems Acquisitions School, 18 Feb 1997-1 Jul 2001.
Detachments: Det 1, Syracuse University, NY: 10 Apr-2 Jul 1951 and 2 Jul 1959-1 Jul 1960; Det 2, Yale University, CT: 5 Jul 1951-1 Jul 1960; Det 3, Army Language School, Monterey, CA: 1 Jul 1954-31 Dec 1959; Det 4, Bloomington, IN: 1 Mar 1955-12 Jul 1957 and University of Indiana: 1 Jul 1959-1 Jul 1960; Det 5, Malmstrom AFB, MT: 30 Jul 1962-unkn; Det 6, Ellsworth AFB, SD : 1 Feb 1963-unkn. Det 7, Minot AFB, ND: 8 May 1963-unkn. Det 8, Whiteman AFB, MO, 8 Jul 1963-unkn. Det 9, F.E. Warren AFB, WY: 6 Jan 1964-unkn. Det 10, Fort Lee, VA: 8 Jul 1963-1 Apr 1966 and 1 Jul 1976-unkn. Det 11, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH: 8 Jul 1965-8 Apr 1968 and Monterey, CA: 1 Jul 1976-1 Oct 1993. Det 12, Grand Forks AFB, ND: 1 Oct 1965-unkn. Named Activities: Civil Engineering School (later, School of Civil Engineering and Services; School of Engineering; Civil Engineer and Services School; Civil Engineer School): 8 Apr 1968-. Graduate School of Logistics and Acquisition Management: 24 Aug 1993- 10 Jul 2000. School of Logistics (later, School of Systems and Logistics): 1 Aug 1962-. School of Engineering (later, Graduate School of Engineering; Graduate School of Engineering and Management): 23 Jul 1956-. School of Strategic Force Studies: 16 Jan 2017-.
Commanders and Commandants. Maj Lawrence D. Ely, 15 Dec 1945 (acting); Col Donald J. Keirn, 1 Feb 1946 (acting); Brig Gen Mervin E. Gross, 1 May 1946; Maj Gen Benjamin W. Chidlaw, 18 Oct 1946 (acting); Brig Gen Edgar P. Sorenson, 3 Jan 1947 (acting), 7 Feb 1947-28 Aug 1948. Brig Gen Edgar P. Sorenson, 28 Aug 1948; Maj Gen Laurence C. Craigie, 3 Sep 1948; Maj Gen Grandison Gardner, 19 Jan 1950; Brig Gen Leighton I. Davis, 20 Jan 1951; Maj Gen Ralph P. Swofford Jr., 1 Oct 1951; Maj Gen Julius K. Lacey, 1 Nov 1955; Col John Tyler, c. 13 Aug 1957 (acting); Maj Gen Cecil E. Combs, by 23 Sep 1957; Col John A McCann, 21 Apr 1964 (acting); Maj Gen Cecil E. Combs, 26 Nov 1964; Maj Gen Victor R. Haugen, 1 Sep 1965; Maj Gen Ernest A. Pinson, 1 Nov 1967; Maj Gen Frank J. Simokaitis, 20 Feb 1973; Maj Gen Gerald E. Cooke, 27 Apr 1978; Maj Gen Stuart H. Sherman Jr., 1 Sep 1980; Maj Gen Herbert L. Emanuel, 13 Sep 1982; Maj Gen James T. Callaghan, 1 Jun 1983; Brig Gen Richard J. Toner, 1 Aug 1986; Brig Gen Stuart R. Boyd, 24 Jul 1987; Col Frederick C. Bauer, 1 May 1991; Col David C. Whitlock, c. Mar 1992; Col Joseph P. Koz, Feb 1993; Col Bennie J. Wilson, Dec 1994; Col Ronald D. Townsend, 1 Jan 1995; Col John H. Russell, 27 Mar 1997; Col George K. Haritos, 29 Apr 1999; Col Thomas S. Kelso, 28 Jun 2001; Col Michael L. Heil, 20 Jul 2001; Brig Gen David W. Eidsaune, 11 Feb 2003; Brig Gen Mark T. Matthews, 5 Jul 2005; Brig Gen Paula G. Thornhill, 3 Oct 2006; Col Barry S. Mines, 31 Jul 2009 (acting); Brig Gen Walter D. Givhan, 6 Oct 2009; Dr. Todd I Stewart, 8 May 2012-.
Operations. A miscellaneous unit, the institute was in the process of being organizationally formed, manned, and equipped for technical education operations from 15 Dec 1945-2 Sep 1946. It provided university level education in specific technological disciplines in support of Army Air Forces (later, USAF) and War Department (later, Department of Defense) requirements, Sep 1946-Aug 1948. In Aug 1948, a new institute replaced the original. The new institute absorbed the resources of the original institute and continued the mission of providing university level education in specific technological disciplines until 1 Apr 1950. From 1 Apr 1950, and continuing through Jun 1959, the institute’s headquarters component provided administrative duties and logistical support while the establishment continued the technical education programs. When the headquarters component’s existence ended on 1 Jul 1959, the institute continued the technical education programs and administered and directed both resident graduate and continuing education programs at Wright-Patterson AFB. It also administered and directed programs in more standard disciplines at civilian universities, colleges, industrial firms and medical centers throughout the nation. On 28 Feb 1979, the Air Force officially consolidated the original Air Force Institute of Technology, which discontinued on 28 Aug 1948, and the newer Air Force Institute of Technology, organized on 28 Aug 1948, combining the history and lineage of the two organizations. AFIT provided doctoral and master’s degree programs in defense-focused advanced scientific, engineering, and management programs through its Graduate School of Engineering and defense-focused education Management and the Civilian Institution Program (CIP) and conducted Air Force related graduate research in its centers of excellence. In addition, AFIT also offers a number of graduate certificate programs in various technical areas. AFIT a large number of professional continuing education courses, workshops, and seminars to meet Air Force requirements in scientific, technological, logistical, managerial, and other professional areas, designated by AU and HQ Air Force through in-residence, on-site, and distance learning courses and programs. Its seven research centers of excellence, working with AFIT faculty and students, conducts invaluable defense-related original scientific, engineering, and management research
Service Streamers. None
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1963-31 Dec 1964; 1 Jan 1971-31 Dec 1972; 1 Jan 1975-31 Dec 1976; 27 Apr 1978-17 Nov 1979. Air Force Organizational Excellence Awards: 1 Jun 1986-31 May 1988; 1 Jul 1992-30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1996-31 May 1998; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2002; 1 Jul 2004-30 Jun 2006; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2009; 1 Jul 2009-30 Jun 2010; 1 Jul 2010-30 Jun 2012; 1 Jul 2012-30 Jun 2014; 1 Jul 2014-30 Jun 2015; 1 Jul 2015-30 Jun 2017.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, Commanders, Operations, and Honors through 22 May 2019.
Supersedes statement prepared on 15 Oct 2009
Emblem. Approved on 22 Nov 1949; latest rendering, 16 Jan 2019.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.