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ASSISTANT/ ASSOCIATE/ PROFESSOR

Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide
Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)/ ENS, ENP, ENG ENY, and ENV

Summary

This is a Tenure Track position. Academic tenure is based upon performance and approval of the faculty and may be considered after the initial or subsequent 3-year appointment period. Selectee may be offered initial appointment with tenure if their academic credentials warrant the action.

Performs Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/ Professor duties in the Graduate School of Engineering and Management at AFIT.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/05/2026 to 06/30/2026
Salary
$75,469 to - $209,600 per year

Salary may be pro-rated, refer to the "Conditions of Employment" for more details

Pay scale & grade
AD 22 - 24
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - 3 years; May be extended or made indefinite
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
AFMC-12871200-AFIT-9X-KDB
Control number
856638800

Duties

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Applicants are strongly encouraged to select AD-22 as the lowest grade they are willing to accept to be eligible for AD 22-23-24 certificate.


Performs the following faculty duties in the Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology:

Teaching

Teaches students in graduate courses, including the associated duties of enforcing classroom standards, preparing course materials according to published course descriptions, and providing extra instruction outside of normal class hours for students who require it. Teaching includes all activities by a faculty member within the formal academic degree programs of the Institute. Teaching contributes to the efforts of students to acquire intellectual skills, to extend knowledge and understanding, or to develop attitudes and habits that foster continuing growth. The diversity of teaching activities includes classroom lectures, laboratory and project course supervision and teaching, program and course development, development of pedagogical materials, supervision of doctoral and master's students, and related activities outside the classroom. Excellence in teaching draws continuously upon the teacher's ability as a scholar in the discipline. Provides well-organized instruction to facilitate, assess, and continuously improve student learning. Counsels and evaluates assigned students, providing student assessment and motivation.


Research: Scholarly activities and professional accomplishments.
Initiates and conducts a program of research in the field of specialization, which contributes to the body of knowledge. Pursues professional development through membership in professional societies and participation in conferences or other appropriate activities to maintain professional and academic currency in area of specialization. Research is defined as inquiry undertaken to establish facts, develop principles, or illuminate or answer questions within an area of intellectual pursuit through the systematic collection of evidence that can be subjected to replication, verification, or critical evaluation by persons other than the original researcher. Research activity is expected to result in peer-reviewed journal publications, invited or reviewed conference presentations and proceedings, research grants, review papers, monographs, and seminar and colloquium presentations. Faculty members are expected, over their careers, to establish and sustain sponsored research, to include funding sufficient to support their scholarly activities.


Service and Administration
Service is defined as contributions and activities that promote the general welfare of the Institute, the academic discipline, the Department of War, and society at large. Graduate faculty members provide advice and counsel to improve the quality of educational programs. Faculty members serve internally through various departmental, School and Institute committees. They are active in School governance, assume administrative duties within the Department, and mentor junior faculty members. Service includes displaying a collegial spirit of cooperation and contribution to the affairs of the Department, the School, and the Institute. Faculty serve their respective disciplines by refereeing journal articles, conference papers and grant proposals, organizing professional conferences or sessions, as members of editorial boards, as officers of professional societies, and as members of national and/or international review boards and committees. Faculty contribute to the overall mission of the U.S. Air Force and Department of War by providing expert consultation, serving on advisory boards, and facilitating technology transfer.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
  • Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays. Shift work and emergency overtime may be required.
  • Employee must maintain current certifications.
  • Selectee may be subject to serve a one-year trial period.
  • Candidates are not required to have active-duty service or veterans' preference to be referred and considered. All qualified candidates who meet the recruitment assessment criteria will be referred to the selecting official.
  • The selected candidate will be subject to a security investigation leading to successful completion of a background investigation with a favorable adjudication. The selectee's failure to meet this requirement will be grounds for termination.
  • Essential qualities expected of every faculty member include the personal attributes of integrity, industry, cooperation, initiative, and breadth of intellectual interests.
  • Travel by military or commercial transportation to gather ideas for improving the curriculum, establish research contacts and agreements, conduct research, and present results of research may be required.
  • Initial appointment is under Schedule A appointing authority, Excepted Appointment Not-to-Exceed 3-years. The appointment cannot be converted to a permanent tenure in the competitive service.
  • At the time of the expiration of the initial appointment an employee who adequately demonstrates professional competence can be extended in increments up to 3 years or for an indefinite period.
  • An initial appointment can be allowed to expire for an employee who does not adequately demonstrate professional competence.
  • Current Federal employees on a permanent or indefinite appointment will be required to have a minimum of 3-day break in service if selected.
  • This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. This is an Administratively Determined position in the excepted service.
  • Recruitment and/or retention incentives may or may not be used.
  • Permanent Change in Station (PCS) cost is not authorized.
  • This position may require drug testing and the candidate may be subject to passing a drug test upon selection.
  • Incumbent may be required to travel by commercial or military conveyance (or other means of travel) to perform temporary duty.
  • Additional duties supporting the academic and administrative aspects of a military school can be assigned by school and/or university leaders.
  • The civilian faculty period is 12 months for the first two years. After the first two years, a shorter period of a 10-month salary is normal and an additional 2 months of salary is possible through faculty-obtained research funding.

Qualifications

This is a Tenure track position:
Academic tenure is based upon performance and approval of the faculty and may be considered after the initial or subsequent 3-year period. Selectee may be offered an initial appointment with tenure if their academic credentials warrant such an action.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to select AD-22 as the lowest grade they are willing to accept to be eligible for AD 22-23-24 certificate.

This is an open continuous announcement and will be used to fill vacancies as openings occur. To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit complete applications prior to the established cut-off date(s). Application initial cut-off date is1 March 2026 and every 30 days thereafter. You are encouraged to apply as early as possible. This announcement will remain open until the closing date indicated; however, those who apply after the cut-off date will be considered for referral to the hiring manager only if no selection is made from the initial group or if additional vacancies occur and the initial referral list yielded an insufficient number of candidates. If you make corrections and resubmit your application, the date the application is last submitted will be used to determine those who are considered to have met the cut-off date. This announcement is open until 30 Jun 2026 and may be used to fill like vacancies for 90 days after the closing date.


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Degree
    • An earned doctoral degree in Astronautical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field is required before employment begins (projected for Fall 2026). ENY
    • An earned doctoral degree from an AACSB International accredited institution in logistics, supply chain management, operations management, management information systems, economics, or a closely related discipline (required prior to employment start; projected Fall 2026). ENS
    • An earned doctoral degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related discipline (required prior to employment start; projected Fall 2026). ENG
    • An earned Doctorate degree in System Engineering, or Industrial and Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline with systems engineering/ acquisition experience, or a closely related discipline (required prior to employment start; projected Fall 2026). ENV
    • An earned Doctorate degree in System Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline with a specialty in Human Factors Engineering, Cognitive Systems Engineering, or Human Systems Integration , or a closely related discipline (required prior to employment start; projected Fall 2026). ENV
    • An earned Doctorate (Ph.D. or D.B.A.) in a relevant discipline such as Acquisition Management, Program Management, Business, Systems Engineering, or Public Policy, or a closely related discipline (required prior to employment start; projected Fall 2026). ENV
    • An earned doctoral degree in a wide variety of fields that includes physics, applied physics, engineering physics, nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, nuclear chemistry, chemistry, materials science, materials engineering, laser science, laser engineering, optics, photonics, optical sciences, optical engineering, atmospheric science, meteorology, space physics, space science, or a closely related discipline (required prior to employment start; projected Fall 2026). ENP
  • Commensurate with their intended academic rank, the applicant's record of scholarship must show the ability or potential to (1) conduct and disseminate scholarly research, (2) effectively teach graduate level courses and (3) meet professional and institutional service obligations.
  • Knowledge and expertise of current defense technologies, and where appropriate, defense programs at the national level including political processes, military budgeting priorities, and developing alliances between departments and agencies.
  • Possess the ability to communicate clearly and expertly in both verbal and written forms concerning academic, administrative, and technical subject matters.

At the Assistant Professor Rank: A relevant earned doctoral degree from an accredited academic institution or equivalent experience and professional recognition; demonstrated or presumptive potential for effective teaching, research, consultation, and other scholarly and professional activities.

At the Associate Professor Rank: A relevant earned doctoral degree from an accredited academic institution or an appropriate terminal professional or academic degree; evidence of sustained teaching effectiveness; research, scholarly, creative, and professional activities including publication in appropriately recognized professional journals (normally refereed archival), books, or monographs; discipline-related community service; and normally, no less than 5 years of significant professional experience, normally including a minimum of 3 years of full-time university-level teaching at the rank of Assistant Professor. Academic rank alone does not suffice for promotion to Associate Professor.

At the Full Professor Rank: At the Full Professor Rank: In addition to the criteria for an Associate Professor, an initial appointment to the academic rank of Professor must be based on convincing evidence that the faculty member has a sustained record of excellence in teaching, has produced a significant body of scholarship that is recognized nationally or internationally, and has demonstrated leadership in service to the discipline. The candidate must have a minimum of 10 years of significant professional experience after having earned the doctoral degree. This will normally include no fewer than 6 years of full-time, university-level teaching with a minimum of 3 years at the Associate Professor rank or higher. Alternatively, for those with fewer than 6 years of teaching experience, the requirement is 10 years of significant professional experience with research credentials substantially more than those normally expected of a full Professor.

Applicants will be assessed based on education, evidence of teaching effectiveness, quality of scholarship, and demonstrated service to educational institutions and the discipline commensurate with years in the discipline.

Essential qualities expected of every faculty member include the personal attributes of integrity, industry, cooperation, initiative, enthusiasm, and breadth of intellectual interests.

Education

This position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service. Late applications from veterans will not be accepted for faculty positions. Late applications for veterans only apply when filling positions in the competitive service.

As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information click here.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required by PL 104-134 to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service of at least three (3) calendar days may be required prior to appointment to the position.

Application materials become the property of AFIT and WILL NOT be returned.

Applications submitted under this announcement will be considered ONLY for this vacancy.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Starting September 27, 2025, USAJOBS began restricting all resumes to two pages in length.

Applicants possessing the required qualifications as contained within this announcement will be evaluated and ranked by a Faculty-Rating Panel based on the extent to which their experience and education relate to the requirements of the position and the needs of AFIT. A personal interview and presentation to the faculty may be required of the top applicants.

Applicants will be assessed based on their teaching credentials, scholarship, service, and education. Your application package (curriculum vitae, transcripts, supporting documents, etc.) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully.

An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.

Interested persons should submit a curriculum vitae and a statement of interest that addresses the ways in which the applicant's qualifications meet the requirements of the ad to include evidence of teaching excellence and promise of research productivity. Additional documents are required to complete your application package, please reference the "How to Apply" and "Required Documents" section for more information.

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