WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --
The Air Force Institute of Technology and the AFIT Foundation and Association of Graduates selected five graduates to receive recognition for their outstanding career achievements in a ceremony June 19.
Lt. Gen. Linda S. Hurry, commander, Air Force Materiel Command, and AFIT alumnus, was the featured speaker and noted the impacts of AFIT education on developing Department of the Air Force leaders across the mission.
"It is a privilege to recognize these exceptional leaders,” said Hurry. “Their continued excellence and steadfast dedication to Department of War missions demonstrate the profound and lasting impact AFIT alumni have on our national security."
Dr. Walter Jones, former AFIT chancellor, gave closing remarks.
The Awards
2025 AFIT Distinguished Alumni Award
This award is the highest honor bestowed upon an AFIT alumnus and recognizes the alumni that have distinguished themselves through high levels of career achievement. For the 2025 award call, two nominees were recognized: (Ret). Col David E. Walker, Ph.D. and Orval Powell.
(Ret.) Col. David E. Walker, Ph.D., SES (Doctor of Philosophy in Aeronautical Engineering, 1994)
- Exceptional leadership and lifelong dedication to advancing science and technology for the United States Air Force and United States Navy
- Distinguished 26-year active-duty career as a master navigator, accumulating in over 2,700 flight hours in 65 aircraft types, and his subsequent rise to the Senior Executive Service
- Pivotal role as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology and Engineering, where he guided the Air Force's more than$2 billion annual S&T program, provided critical counsel to Congress and senior leaders, and functionally managed over 14,000 scientists and engineers
- Visionary advocacy for attritable aircraft and hypersonic technologies, which established the technical and programmatic foundations for the nation's current collaborative combat aircraft and hypersonic vehicle programs
- Impactful service as Director of Technology for the Office of Naval Research, where he directed a $3.2 billion portfolio and a 4,000-person workforce to execute the U.S. Navy's S&T strategy, and for his leadership within the NATO Science and Technology Board
- Led efforts as Executive Director of the Wright Brothers Institute to accelerate innovation and technology commercialization for the Air Force Research Laboratory, cementing his legacy as a transformative leader
Orval Powell (Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, 1999)
- Pioneering hypersonic advancement making transformational contributions at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) by advancing scramjet engine and hypersonic systems development leading to the X-51A flight demonstration
- Revolutionizing test capabilities by redesigning a scramjet test facility for the Hypersonic Technology (HyTech) Program enabling critical hypersonic vehicle advancements.
- Innovating sustainable propulsion by introducing a novel chemical mechanism for nitrous oxide-based propulsion which is now foundational in sustainable spaceflight and alternative fuels research
- Leading responsive space capabilities as the initial program manager for Rapid Response Space Works where creating a full-spectrum space launch capability
- Shaping modern systems engineering by implementing company-wide systems engineering processes at Millennium Engineering and driving adoption of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) across major programs at Axient and Astrion
- Driving dual-use innovation for multi-million-dollar independent R&D programs integrating digital engineering, AI/ML, and autonomous systems, resulting in multiple invention disclosures and patents
- Mentoring future aerospace leaders at the U.S. Air Force Academy as a faculty member where he guided accreditation, curriculum, and cadet research, influencing a generation of leaders. His commitment is further demonstrated through leadership roles in AIAA, including Propulsion and Energy Group Director
International Alumni Award
Established in 2019, this award recognizes international alumni that have distinguished themselves through exceptional career achievement. For the 2025 award call, one nominee was recognized: (Ret). Maj. Gen. Moataz M. Salah, Ph.D.
(Ret.) Maj. Gen. Moataz M. Salah, Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering 2000)
- Provided over three decades of outstanding contributions as a military officer and professor in electrical and communications engineering
- Distinguished academic leadership, including service as Head of the Electronics and Communications Engineering Department at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT)
- Made significant research contributions to wireless communication systems and coding theory, including extensive publications on OFDM, CDMA, and MIMO systems
- Exemplary mentorship displayed in supervising numerous masters and doctoral theses and cultivating a new generation of engineers with both theoretical and practical expertise
- Advanced engineering education through curriculum development, quality accreditation initiatives, and the establishment of innovative technical laboratories
Young Alumni Award
This award was established in 2019 to recognize alumni that have made outstanding contributions in their career within 10 years of graduating from AFIT. The award recognizes the exceptional professional accomplishments of the recipients in their professional life, community affairs and support of the advancement and continued excellence of AFIT. For the 2025 award call, two nominees were recognized: Col. Brian Bohan, Ph.D., received the ‘Military Young Alumni award’ and Wyatt Rabe received the ‘Civilian Young Alumni’ award.
Col. Brian Bohan, Ph.D. (Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, 2011; Doctor of Philosophy in Aeronautical Engineering, 2018)
- Handpicked by Air Force senior leaders to establish the Experimentation Division of the Integrated Capabilities Command, the Air Force Chief of Staff’s number one priority, and selected for promotion to Colonel
- Recognized as the 2024 A5/7 Field Grade Officer of the Year and a Top 5 finalist for the Department of the Air Force FGO of the Year
- Led the team earning the General Bernard P. Randolph Engineering Team of the Year award for designing, building, and operating the first turbine engine produced by Air Force personnel
- Appointed Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power and recipient of the ASME International Dilip R. Ballal Early Career Engineer of the Year award
- Holder of two patents with two more pending, and has published 46 technical documents, demonstrating significant contributions to aerospace engineering
- Distinguished himself as an Assistant Professor at AFIT, consistently ranking in the top 5% of faculty, while bringing recognition to the institute as executive chair of the Dayton-Cincinnati Aerospace Sciences Symposium
- Demonstrated a profound commitment to community service, packing over 272,000 meals for charity and volunteering over 6,500 professional photos to support local high school programs
Wyatt Rabe (Master of Science in Materials Science, 2023)
- Lead engineer over 22 subject matter experts for four critical Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) components
- Advanced vital weapon system components from qualification to early manufacturing
- Provided cross-functional support to other program sections, including the Test Equipment Section the Command and Launch Branch