Director and Chancellor

Summary

The Director and Chancellor serves as the Institute's senior executive leader, providing strategic vision/executive oversight across all academic, operational, and administrative functions of a complex, defense-focused academic institution, driving innovation and mission execution in support of DAF and national security priorities. This senior-level, Administratively Determined (AD), federal civil service position reports directly to the AU Commander and President at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL.

Duties

Articulates long-term vision and strategic advancement plan to guide AFIT. The Director and Chancellor leads and oversees execution of AFITs mission making systematic progress toward achieving the Institutes vision through numerous continual activities include promoting teaching excellence, student success, developing highly-regarded education, research programs, and facilitating value-added consultations that contribute to the advancement of national defense. Ensures AFITs institutional values, culture, policies, academic programs and supporting activities are aligned with, responsive to and supportive of the values, culture, policies, priorities and strategies of the Department of War and the Department of the Air Force, including both the U.S Air Force and U.S Space Force. Ensures AFITs policies, academic programs supporting activities are in compliance with policies, standards and expectations of its academic accrediting bodies, i.e., regional accreditation by Higher Learning Commission program accreditation by ABET. Ensures the safety and security of all of the Institute's programs and activities, including providing for the general welfare and morale of the Institutes faculty, staff, students and administration, including their families. Effectively articulates and advocates AFIT's mission to key stakeholders and influencers, on and off campus, as the lead strategic communicator for the Institute. Advocates for the resources required to effectively, efficiently, affordably and safely execute AFITs mission, including (e.g.) authorities, funding, manpower, supplies, services, contract support and infrastructure. Makes key decisions concerning the allocation and utilization of all resources available for accomplishing AFITs mission. Ensures the safety and security of all of the Institutes programs and activities, including providing for the general welfare and morale of the Institutes faculty, staff, students and administration, including their families. Effectively articulates and advocates AFITs mission to key stakeholders and influencers, on and off campus, as the lead strategic communicator for the Institute. Serves as the Institutes lead for responding to directions and requests from (e.g.) Congress, and senior officials at higher headquarters within the Department of War and the Department of the Air Force. Articulates long-term vision and strategic advancement plan to guide AFIT. The Director and Chancellor leads and oversees execution of AFITs mission making systematic progress toward achieving the Institutes vision. Identifies new opportunities for broader AFIT involvement in DoW and academic communities and opportunities for broader collaboration with AFITs partners and stakeholders in government, academia, business and industry, and the local community. Represents AFIT in high-level meetings throughout government, industry, and the academic community. Exercises a high degree of creativity and innovation in applying sound, mature judgment to develop effective solutions to a wide range of highly complex and unusual, technical, and resource management problems and issues. Collaborates and coordinates with the senior leaders of other organizations located at Wright-Patterson AFB. Supports, defends, and influences program and policy decisions at the highest levels of the Federal government, industry and the broader academic and scientific community.

Qualifications and evaluation

Applicants possessing the required qualifications as contained within this announcement will be evaluated and ranked by a Panel based on the extent to which their experience and education relate to the requirements of the position. The panel will then make a recommendation of those Best Qualified candidates who should be referred to the selecting official, in priority order. Final selection is contingent upon the approval from the Secretary of the Air Force. An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.

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.

How to apply

The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on May 27, 2026.To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12901416To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the application questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Application button at the end of the process.To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: a letter of application (cover letter), curriculum vitae, legible copies of ALL transcripts, statement of teaching, and statement of research interest.PLEASE NOTE: A Graduate degree is required before employment begins, but ALL transcripts must be provided for ALL degrees being pursued or obtained as stated in your curriculum vitae are required.Questions on the position opening or the Department should be directed to Marcia Sanders at email: marcia.sanders@us.af.mil. You can also notify her of your intention to apply.An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.Your Resume (Required) If you submit more than one Resume, only the most recent (latest) will be reviewed to determine your qualifications. The "most recent" is considered the resume with the latest timestamp. For qualification determination your Resume must contain hours worked per week and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your Resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient, and you will not receive consideration for this position. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series, and grade, i.e., GS-0301-09. Current Federal Civilian Employees may list any relevant performance related rating (given within the last three years) and/or incentive awards in your Resume/Curriculum Vitae. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your name, first and last, MUST be included on your resume. orYour Curriculum Vitae: You must submit a curriculum vitae (no length restrictions), and it must contain detailed information in the following areas, as appropriate (Required): Addressing your executive leadership or command level experience. Additional Required Documents (see Required Documents section). Ensure all submitted documents contain your full name. If you are claiming veterans' preference, please provide basic eligibility information in your cover letter. Also include in your application a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) and, if disabled, a completed SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference), along with a letter for federal employment from the Department of Veterans Affairs indicating your service-connected disability rating. IF APPLICABLE: An active-duty military member's statement of service/certification letter will be accepted in lieu of a DD-214. The statement/certification letter can be obtained from your servicing military personnel office and must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate your rank, dates of active-duty service, and type of discharge/character of service (i.e. honorable). Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military separation, if member is on terminal leave, and if applicable, with the appropriate 180-day approved waiver. PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.

Required documents

The following documents are required and must be received by the closing date of the announcement. Letter of application (cover letter) (Required) (Required) Resume: If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume may be submitted in any format. For qualifications determinations your resume must contain hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., hour per week and month/year to month/year or month/year to present). Resumes that do not contain this information may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable. Additional information on resume requirements can be located under "How To Apply". or Curriculum Vitae: You must submit a curriculum vitae (no length restrictions), and it must contain detailed information in the following areas, as appropriate (Required): Addressing your executive leadership or command level experience. Transcripts - 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. (Required) List of three professional references (to include name, complete mailing address and phone number) (Required - may be in Resume or CV) Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your professional work is (Highly Desired) Veterans' preference documents, if applicable (i.e. DD-214, SF-15, Veterans Affairs letter for federal employment) (If applicable) U.S. Equivalency from a Department of Education approved (non-federal) credentialing agency (i.e. AICE, NACES), who will complete a U.S. Standard of Education Conversion for education completed in foreign colleges or universities. (If applicable) Separate Mandatory Qualification Statement (Required) Separate Senior Professional Qualifications statement addressing the following: (Required) Contributions Leadership Professional Stature

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 DoW 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.