AFIT dean to represent Air Force for National Public Service honor Published Feb. 2, 2015 By John Scaggs 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Air Force officials announced in late January that the Air Force Institute of Technology's Dean, Graduate School of Engineering and Management, is the Air Force's nominee for the 2015 National Public Service award. Dr. Adedeji Badiru will represent the service for this year's award, which honors individuals who make outstanding contributions and whose accomplishments can be viewed as models of public service within and outside the work environment. This follows Badiru's selection in August 2014 as the Air Education and Training Command - one of 10 Air Force major commands - winner of the National Public Service award. Among the accomplishments cited in Badiru's nomination: > Under Badiru's leadership, the graduate school implemented a strategic focus on research and academic programs that effected significant improvements in program performance, visibility and engagement, along with faculty and student recognition that led to major advancements in addressing critical Air Force and Department of Defense needs. > Within 45 days on the job, created a Thesis Processing Center to facilitate centralized service > Instituted conversion to electronic theses and dissertations > Started a faculty research fellowship program to facilitate dean-direct mentoring > Reorganized library reporting line to enhance personnel resource utilization and improve morale > Started AFIT Staff Development Program to complement the Faculty Development Program > Instituted international networking reception for international officers and allies at AFIT Badiru came to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in October 2006 after six years at the University of Tennessee where he served as the Department of Industrial and Information Engineering department head. From October 2006 through September 2013, Badiru was the department head, Department of Systems and Engineering Management at AFIT before assuming his current position. While Badiru's biography includes more than 50 items under the 'Awards and Recognition' section, he said that being the Air Force nominee ranks as the highest in all the professional accolades he has received over the years. "The Air Force is a key element of the overall national defense of the United States," Badiru said. "To be selected to represent the Air Force means a lot to me with respect to the teamwork that made it happen. "What is even more special to me is the fact that I am an immigrant, who has integrated fully into the Air Force organization,' he continued. "This is a demonstration that the organization embraces all cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities in advancing the national mission." Based on his selection to represent the Air Force, Badiru added that he is further motivated to mentor other colleagues and coworkers on the value and benefits of service to the general public. "Working together collectively outside our normal professional domains, we can bring positive impacts to the community, which then paves the way for us to be better positioned to execute Air Force missions effectively," Badiru said. "In this regard, I recollect an African adage: 'If you want to go fast, you go alone; but if you want to go far, you go together.' Going together is what public service is all about. This is very important to me and I feel enriched by the honor of being selected as the Air Force nominee for the 2015 National Public Service award." According to the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) public Web site, the National Academy of Public Administration along with ASPA established the National Public Service awards to recognize individuals who have been willing to take risks to achieve change, made a profound difference to improve to service to the public, achieved substantial savings in government operations, developed a cadre of other government leaders, and contributed to the communities in which they live. An ASPA and NAPA committee will review all the nominations and select the final award recipients. The date for the committee's announcement is to be determined.