Air University BOV Concludes Spring Meeting Published June 3, 2015 By Senior Airman William J. Blankenship 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Air University's Board of Visitors met April 2015 at Maxwell Air Force Base for their spring gathering. The Board, comprised of military, business and academic professionals, provides guidance to the Air University Commander and President about the state and direction of the University. The 15 board members are appointed by the Secretary of Defense to provide independent advice on behalf of the government without representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free from conflict of interest. Those members who are not full-time or permanent part-time federal employees are appointed as Special Government Employees (SGE). They serve in a volunteer capacity with no financial compensation for their service to their country. "This year's BOV has significantly shaped the future of Air University as we reinvent education for the Air Force and transform Air University," said Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, Air University Commander and President. This Board meeting was held at Maxwell's Gunter Annex, showcasing enlisted education through the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education, the Air Force Senior NCO Academy and the Community College of the Air Force. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III met briefly with the BOV before a speaking engagement at the SNCOA. Board members were able to sit in on his address to the Air Force's senior enlisted leaders. Much of the discussion from this meeting revolved around the continuation of AU transformation. Air University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Commission on Colleges. In order to maintain AU's accreditation, and stay on par with other prominent universities in the U.S., the BOV offers advice on major changes to the school, both organizationally and academically. "Air University needs to stay connected to the subject matter experts in the civilian sector, and the BOV provides that to us," said Lisa Arnold, the Chief of Advisory Boards at AU. "Our Board members are leaders of major companies and universities around the country and are very knowledgeable about the topics discussed. They provide advice that is documented in the meeting's minutes then there are follow-up discussions about progress during successive meetings." The Board has been meeting since 1946, when General Muir S. Fairchild, the first Air University Commander, established the BOV just 15 days after the University was established. The current AU BOV members are: Dr. Judith Bonner, President, University of Alabama Dr. Ding-Jo Currie, Professor, California State University at Fullerton Dr. Carolyn Dahl, Dean, University of Alabama, retired Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor, Maricopa Community Colleges Dr. Muriel Howard, President, American Association of State Colleges and Universities Dr. Ricardo Romo, President, University of Texas at San Antonio Mr. Norman Augustine, CEO, Lockheed Martin, retired Dr. Benjamin Lambeth, Senior Fellow, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments Mr. Fletcher Wiley, Attorney, Morgan, Lewis & Brockius, LLP Colonel Robert Beasley, USAF, retired, Principle Research Engineer, Georgia Technical Research Institute General Duncan McNabb, USAF, retired, former Commander, U.S. Transportation Command Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, retired, Gerald Murray, Director, Enterprise Sustainment, Lockheed Martin Major General Ronald Sega, USAF, retired, Director, Systems Engineering, Colorado State University General Stephen Lorenz, USAF, retired, President and CEO, U.S. Air Force Academy Endowment Captain Ray Johnson, USAF, retired, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Lockheed Martin, retired