AFIT Heritage Symposium promises riveting speaker schedule

  • Published
  • By Bill Hancock
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The Air Force Institute of Technology will host its annual AFIT Heritage Symposium here on Sept. 21 and 22. The symposium will feature several key note speakers representing some of AFIT's most successful graduates.

Scheduled to speak at this year's event is Maj. Gen. David W. Eidsaune. General Eidsaune's current position is director, Strategic Plans, Programs and Analyses at headquarters, Air Force Materiel Command.

AFMC's mission is to conduct research, development, test and evaluation, and provide acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war.

General Eidsaune received a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1987 from AFIT and holds the distinction of also having served as the commandant of AFIT from 2003 to 2005.

The general will draw on his past and current experiences to offer his perspective on AFIT's relevance to the Air Force and Department of Defense.

General Eidsaune earned his commission upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1978. Upon completion of undergraduate pilot training in 1979, he served as an F-111 instructor and evaluator pilot, and F-4, F-111 and F-15 experimental test pilot. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels and served as vice commander of the Aeronautical Systems Center.

General Eidsaune was a principal adviser to the Royal Saudi Air Force during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; and during operation Iraqi Freedom, he served as the principal adviser to the Commanding General, Multi-National Force - Iraq on air component issues. The general is a command pilot with more than 2,700 hours primarily in the F-111, F-4, F-15 and F-16 aircraft.

Other presenting speakers include: Lt. Gen. Allen Peck (commander, Air University), Dr. Guion S. Bluford, Jr. (former NASA astronaut), Dr. Kevin A. Ford (NASA astronaut), and Joseph E. Zeis (Dayton Development Coalition).

To register for the symposium, visit the AFIT Heritage Symposium website at www.afit.edu/symposium.