U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost became the Academy's 10th dean of faculty in a transfer of command ceremony in Arnold Hall Ballroom, June 25.
"I will always remember why we're here and that is to support our cadets," Armacost said to the crowd of more than 300 guests, staff and cadets. "I pledge a continuous commitment to each and every one of you."
As the dean, Armacost will command the 700-member dean of faculty mission element and oversee the annual design and instruction of more than 500 undergraduate courses for 4,000 cadets in 31 academic disciplines. He will also direct the operation of five support staff agencies and faculty resources involving more than $350 million.
"It's a big job, a very tough job, a very demanding job but we know you'll do it very, very well," said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould. Gould presided over the ceremony.
Armacost's educational background includes a doctorate in operations research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern University. Before taking over as the dean, he was the head and permanent professor of the Academy's management department.
Armacost's prior assignments included his chief analyst at Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base. As an operations research analyst, he's been involved in significant studies for the Joint Staff at the Pentagon; Air Combat Command at Langley AFB, Va.; Air Mobility Command at Scott AFB, Ill.; and the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Texas. His early career, which began in 1989 at Hanscom AFB, Mass., included his role as program manager for projects with the White House Communications Agency and the Marine Corps Intelligence Center in Quantico, Va.
Armacost takes over for Brig. Gen. Dana Born, who has served as the dean since October 2004. After leaving the Academy, Born will head to Massachusetts to serve as a Kennedy School of Government faculty member at Harvard University.
"Dana took over in a time of scrutiny and repaired the image of the Academy" Gould said. "She did it through outreach and telling the story of all the good things we do here. Dana helped make sure we do all the right things to develop character and leadership here at the Academy."
Gould wished the Armacost and Born families well as they begin a new phase of their lives.
"When one great Air Force leader steps aside, another is ready to take their place," he said.
Born, a 1983 Academy graduate, officially retired from the Air Force June 25, 34 years after starting her Air Force career as a cadet.