The AFIT Foundation

The AFIT Foundation is a private organization founded in 1986. It is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation, incorporated in the State of Ohio for the purpose of furthering the goals of the Air Force Institute of Technology. The Foundation consists of a Board of Trustees and the Association of Graduates. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Foundation. The Foundation is a non-federal entity within the context of the DoD Joint Ethics Regulation (JER). Section 1-224.

The Mission of the AFIT Foundation is to support the goals of AFIT. Functions performed by the foundation to perform this mission include:

  • Maintenance of a current AFIT resident school registry of alumni.
  • Informing the Association of Graduates (AOG), former faculty, and friends everywhere of the mission, status, goals, and achievements of AFIT; and of its roles in the community, the Air Force, and in defense-related education.
  • Recognition of AFIT alumni.
  • Maintenance of an AFIT AOG web site.
  • Assistance and encouragement of activities for local alumni.
  • Maintenance and investment of donated and honorary award funds, endowments, and AOG dues.
  • Compliance with tax requirements and maintenance of financial records.
Motivated by concerns regarding involvement of Air Force active duty and civilian personnel in the management of private, non-profit organizations, the members of the Association of Graduates voted in 1989 to merge with the Foundation. Managerial functions are performed by the Foundation Board, which must include representation from the AOG. Members of the Board of Trustees are elected by the Board, and may be AFIT graduates, former faculty, or friends of AFIT with a strong interest and commitment to the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Message from the President of the AFIT Foundation

The ICARUS MEMORIAL PROJECT

The AFIT Foundation initiated, commissioned, and funded, through contributions, the construction of a memorial to graduates of the Air Force Institute of Technology from the US Air Force and US Army Air Corps who lost their lives while in service to our country. Upon completion, the monument was offered as a gift to the Department of the Air Force and, under the provisions of Title 10, United States Code, Section 2601, accepted. While originally planned for the circle at the center of the AFIT complex, the Foundation board determined that a location at the Air Force museum would be appropriate, and would enable the statue to viewed by larger numbers. Accordingly, when delivered, the Icarus memorial was installed in the atrium of the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson where it, together with a plaque recognizing the major contributors, may be viewed.


In addition to managing the funds of the Association of Graduates and of the Foundation, the Board of Trustees also maintains and administers a number of special funds that have been created by graduates and friends of AFIT. These are:
  • The Memorial Fund
  • The AFIT Endowment Fund
  • The Graduate Management Research Fund