Distinguished Alumni Honored
Mr. Robert. A. K. Mitchell (USA Ret), and Dr. Vincent Russo have been selected as Distinguished Alumni of AFIT.
The new selectees were honored at an awards banquet at the Wright-Patterson Officers Club on 7 October, 2006.
Recognition as Distinguished Alumni of the Air Force Institute of Technology is made for the purpose of honoring graduates who have distinguished themselves through high levels of career achievement.
The objectives of this program of recognition are to motivate current students and graduates to excellence and high expectations through providing examples of superior achievement; to advance the stature of the Institute through calling public attention to achievements of graduates; and to strengthen the Institution through building a sense of continuity between past graduates, current students, and current and retired faculty.
Nominees must be graduates of a resident AFIT degree programs, BS, MS and Ph.D.; a graduate of Pre-accreditation (degree-equivalent) Programs, 1948-1955, BS and MS; or a graduate of the School of Engineering (Signal Corps and Army Air Corps) through 1946. Nominees must also not be currently on active duty with the USAF, or serving as a civilian employee of the Department of the Air Force. So as to enable selection of candidates whose contributions have been both extensive and of lasting significance, candidates are normally not considered until at least twenty years after graduation. Normally, the recognition is of living individuals, with post-humus awards made only in unusual circumstances.
Selections of Distinguished Alumni are made by a Joint Committee of the Faculty of the School of Engineering and Management, AFIT, and the Board of Directors of the AFIT Foundation and Association of Graduates; and are approved by the Commandant, AFIT. Nominations may be submitted by current and former faculty and students and by members of the Association of graduates.
MORE about Dr. Russo.AFIT named its first distinguished alumni in 1979. With the two chosen this year, 29 graduates have now received this prestigious honor. AFIT is proud and honored to have played a part in these most distinguished individuals’ lives.