AFRL officer bound for Harvard

  • Published
  • By Capt. Michael LaSorda
  • Air Force Research Laboratory
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  1st Lt. Curtis Christensen, who works at the Air Force Research Laboratory Directed  Energy Directorate's Satellite Assessment Center, was recently accepted to Harvard Business School to pursue a master of business administration degree starting this fall.

The United States Air Force Academy is sponsoring Christensen's degree as part of its Faculty Pipeline program. After earning his MBA, he will return to the academy to teach cadets economics and finance. He is expected to be a role-model officer for future air and space leaders.

Founded in 1908, Harvard Business  School is one of the oldest and most prestigious business schools in the world. With a selection rate of roughly 10 percent, Harvard  valuates candidates based on their leadership, analytical aptitude and engagement within the community.

Harvard is also offering Christensen a scholarship worth approximately $80,000 to cover tuition over the two-year program based on his past acedemic success. Christensen graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in systems engineering management and will complete a master's degree in economics from the University of New Mexico this summer.

"I am excited for this opportunity and am truly blessed to have such a wonderful support group of colleagues, mentors, commanders and friends that have given me both inspiration and encouragement," said Christensen. "I have had tremendous help from so many people along this journey and I attribute all my success to them."

As the financial management officer for the Satellite Assessment Center, Christensen is responsible for four contracts totaling $63 million. His work led to significant improvements in contracting efficiency, and enabled AFRL to pursue critical space situational awareness research supporting the U.S. Strategic Command, Air Force Space Command, Department of Defense and other national agencies.

"Curtis is a true leader and his drive will be an acquisition gamechanger," said Maj. James Thomas, chief of the Satellite Assessment Center. "He operates with a selftaught
expertise far exceeding his rank, and has had a positive impact on our mission effectiveness. Given his commitment to self-improvement and developing his whole person, I am not surprised to hear that he is accepted to Harvard Business School."

Christensen said his well-rounded résumé was the key to his acceptance into the Academy Faculty Pipeline and Harvard. A past NCAA Division I athlete at the academy. He regularly earns a 100 percent on his physical fitness assessment.

As a physical training leader, he coached the 13 military members in his branch to a 97.1 percent average on the assessment.

"Curtis is the poster child for Air Force junior officers and embodies the Air Force core values in every way," said Thomas. "He's writing the book on how to hit the ground running in an Air Force career."