Officials select 36 Airmen for SAASS Published Jan. 6, 2012 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Three dozen Air Force and two sister-service officers have been selected to attend the Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies starting in summer 2012, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced Dec. 19. The 50-week program, located at Maxwell AFB under the auspices of the Air University, is a follow-on school for intermediate level Department of Defense professional military education graduates, said George McKey, AFPC officer development education deputy chief. "SAASS helps develop leaders who are able to develop, evaluate and employ airpower in an ever-changing technological and cultural environment," McKey said. "Those who complete all requirements earn a master of airpower art and science degree." According to McKey, SAASS students develop perspective through study of airpower and warfare theory and history, and develop the ability to conduct logical discourse on airpower through seminar discussions, preparation of publication-quality documents, examination of case study, interaction with guest speakers and more. "The SAASS curriculum is intentionally challenging," said McKey. "The program is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which is significant. It is an extremely selective program, and only 5 percent of those eligible will be selected." To be eligible to volunteer, officers must be graduates of a DOD intermediate school, have a master's degree from an accredited school (or an undergraduate degree with a 2.75 or better grade point average), and have fewer than 16 years of total active commissioned service. Applications for the academic year 2013-2014 program will be accepted during summer 2012, so officers interested should begin to gather information and compile their application material, McKey advised. To see the list of this year's selectees, and for more information about officer development opportunities and other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.