WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Provost and Chief Academic Officer (CAO), Dr. Heidi Ries, retired after 26 years of civil service on July 23, 2026. Ries’s journey at AFIT began in 1999 as associate dean for research in AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management (GSEM). From 2005-2019, she served as dean for research in AFIT’s GSEM until being promoted to her current role as provost and CAO in 2019. In 2013, she was appointed as professor of physics and served as interim dean of AFIT’s GSEM.
During the ceremony, Ries was presented with the Air Force civilian Outstanding Career Service Award. This award recognizes outstanding career service meriting recognition at the time of retirement. This award recognized her distinguished performance promoting the establishment of research centers and achieving more than an 800% increase in external funding during her service as dean for research in GSEM and as AFIT’s chief research officer.
Additional accomplishments included providing seamless leadership and continuity as interim dean of GSEM.. For seven years as provost and CAO, she led AFIT’s first strategy and academic councils and oversaw dialogue and alignment across AFIT. Additionally, she oversaw the successful Air Force Cyber Technical Center of Excellence (AF CyTCoE) and the Digital Innovation and Integration Center of Excellence (DIICE), advancing the Air Force’s technological and academic edge.
In 2008, Ries received the Air Force Meritorious Service Award and was recognized by the Dayton Daily News as one of the region’s Ten Top Women in 2009. Additional awards in 2011 included the Air Force civilian Department of Defense Women's History Month Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Role Model Award and the National Latina Distinguished Service Award. She received the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 2013, and was the 2022 inductee into The Ohio State University at Marion Alumni Hall of Fame.
Ries is a member of the Team Chair Corps of the Higher Learning Commission and volunteers as a member and previous chair of the Engineering and Science Foundation of the Dayton Board of Trustees. In retirement, she is looking forward to continuing her volunteer work, gardening and playing piano.
Dr. Gilbert ‘Bert’ Peterson, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of computer science, AFIT GSEM will serve as AFIT’s interim provost and CAO.
About AFIT
As part of Air University’s broader mission to educate and develop joint warfighters, AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management (GSEM) provides in-residence and distance learning graduate degrees and certificates in engineering, applied science, mathematics and management. GSEM provides its students with several significant advantages: a more personalized educational experience, academic programs with a defense-related focus, and research on high-priority defense problems.
AFIT is located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. AFIT’s mission is to educate defense professionals to innovatively accomplish the deterrence and warfighting missions of the USAF and USSF. AFIT’s vision is to lead defense-focused education, research and consultation to accelerate military superiority across all domains and is accomplished through operationally relevant advanced academic education, research, and professional continuing education. For more information, please visit the AFIT webpage https://www.afit.edu/ or contact GSEM outreach at AFIT.EN.Outreach@us.af.mil.