Purdue’s Public health master’s serves Air Force, Space Force through educational services agreement
Purdue and the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM), part of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) 711th Human Performance Wing (711 HPW), have signed an educational services agreement under which Purdue will provide U.S. Air Force and Space Force officers with a variety of learning opportunities, including Purdue’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program.
Purdue’s Master of Public Health degree will be available to officers who are part of the Air Force’s Residency in Aerospace Medicine (RAM) program. During the partnership agreement signing in October, leaders also discussed exploring research opportunities, faculty exchanges, and other areas of mutual interest.
The agreement was signed on Purdue’s flagship campus by Dimitrios Peroulis, Purdue senior vice president for partnerships and online, Aaron Bowman, interim dean of Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS), Melanie Lazarus, dean of the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, and Col. David Navel, program director, Air Force Residency in Aerospace Medicine.
“At Purdue, we value military-related partnerships, and we think deeply about matching our strength programs to unique missions within the military,” Peroulis said. “National security and defense are top priorities for the university, and we are intentionally working toward becoming the top national security and defense university in the country. This agreement is another step in that direction.”
The U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, a premier institute for education and worldwide consultation in aerospace and operational medicine, is one of two mission units that comprises the Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing. Also known as the “schoolhouse,” USAFSAM is home to more than 220 globally recognized experts in public health, aerospace medicine and operational medicine, and trains approximately 5,000 students each year. The AFRL is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force.
“At USAFSAM, we research, educate, consult and lead the Department of the Air Force with integrated operational medical capability development,” Lazarus said. “We aim to provide our students with the best possible educational opportunities, and one way we do that is by securing partnerships with top-notch academic institutions. This agreement with Purdue is a win-win for both organizations.”
While at Purdue, leaders from USAFSAM also engaged with campus units including Purdue’s Military Family Research Institute and the university’s Defense Civilian Training Corps program. In addition, they met with Chancellor Frank Dooley and other representatives from Purdue Global.
“Purdue’s college of HHS is excited to take this first step towards a growing partnership with USAFSAM via our accredited MPH program in the Department of Public Health led by Professor Randy Hubach,” Bowman said. “Aligned with our Health of the Forces initiative, HHS enthusiastically celebrates this new partnership and the future educational and research opportunities it heralds.”
The agreement with the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine is among the latest partnerships between Purdue and a Department of Defense organization, including the Air Force Materiel Command and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Purdue Global also announced an academic partnership with USAFSAM earlier this year.
Photo caption:
Seated (L-R) Aaron Bowman, interim dean Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences, and Melanie Lazarus, dean U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. Standing (L-R) Ellen Gundlach, Judah Harris, Cody Mullen, Dana Truesdell, Col. David Navel, Dimitrios Peroulis, Lt. Col. Dawn Grant, Senior Master Sgt. Manuel Carrillo, Justeen Kincaid, Jason Herndon, and Amy Sharpe.