The Georgia Tech community was pleased to host Dr. Thomas F. Christian for an official campus visit on April 20-21. Dr. Christian serves as the Director for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), where he is responsible for managing the basic research investment for the entire United States Air Force, overseeing a $510 million annual investment portfolio. One of AFOSR’s core strategic goals is to identify opportunities for significant scientific advancements and breakthrough research around the world.

Dr. Christian’s visit kicked off at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) with a briefing on various research initiatives in a meeting led by Dr. Stephen Cross, Georgia Tech Executive Vice President for Research and GTRI Director.

“We are proud of our alumnus, Dr. Thomas Christian, for the many important civilian leadership positions he has held in the United States Air Force, including since November 2014 as the Director of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research," said Cross.  “Tom's infectious enthusiasm for high quality scientific and technological pursuit coupled with innovative exploration to translate research results into use is inspirational. We appreciated the time he took to visit us, especially the time he spent with our young investigators.”

Dr. Christian then made several stops around campus, including the Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnologies, the Manufacturing Institute, and the Institute for Materials. The two-day visit also included a briefing with the Georgia Tech School of Aerospace Engineering, led by school chair Dr. Vigor Yang. Dr. Christian received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from the GT Aerospace Engineering School in 1968, 1970, and 1974, respectively. To round out his visit to Georgia Tech, Dr. Christian joined several faculty and staff for a discussion on how to attract graduate students for post-doctorate work at AFOSR, led by Dr. Laurence Jacobs, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering.

Georgia Tech has a long history of supporting AFOSR and the Air Force’s overall mission. In 2014, AFOSR’s 60th anniversary monograph highlighted two Georgia Tech projects: a technology development program on active flow control concepts for future improvements to the C-17’s propulsion system (1988-1995, led by mechanical engineering professor Dr. Ari Glezer), and the development of an environmentally friendly aluminum and ice propelled rocket (2007-2009, collaborative team included aerospace engineering school chair Dr. Vigor Yang). In the last state fiscal year (July 2013 to June 2014), Georgia Tech has conducted more than $206 million of work for the United States Air Force and has won nearly $11 million in contracts from AFOSR since July 2013.

Much of Dr. Christian’s early career was spent in Warner Robins, Ga. In March 2013, he was named associate deputy Assistant Secretary (Science, Technology and Engineering), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, at the Pentagon. In November 2014, he was appointed to the director’s position of the AFOSR. For more information about Dr. Christian or AFOSR, please visit www.afosr.af.mil.