RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: 01-01643
		INDEX CODE 131.01
	 	COUNSEL:  NONE

	 	HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His record, to include an Officer Selection Brief (OSB) reflecting his Master’s Degree in Computer Science, rather than his Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management, be considered for promotion by a Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2000A Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board.

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THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The omission of his Master’s Degree in Computer Science from his OSB resulted in an inaccurate representation of his depth and breadth of knowledge and experience.

The applicant states that the omission prevented the selection board from understanding his versatility and ability to successfully and efficiently work some of the most complex and tenacious issues facing the Air Force today and in the future.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a letter from the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and a copy of his OSB.

Applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is currently serving on active duty in the grade of major.

The applicant was considered and not selected for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by the CY00A Lt Col board.

Applicant’s academic history follows:

  Degree      Specialty                      School          Year

 Bachelor   Economics                     Univ of Maryland   1981
 Master     Computer Science              Univ of Maryland   1985
 Master     Business Admn & Mgmt          Oklahoma City Univ 1989
 Master     Policy Analysis               RAND Grad School   1998
 Doctorate  Business Admn/Mgmt & Finance  RAND Grad School   1999

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief, Officer Promotion and Appointment Branch, AFPC/DPPPOO, reviewed the application and states that officers eligible for promotion consideration are provided an Officer Preselection Brief (OPB) and an instruction sheet approximately 100 days prior to the board convening date.  In the applicant’s case, he would have received an OPB the end of August and the education data would have reflected his Ph.D. in Business Administration/Management, Finance completed in 1999, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management.  The instruction sheet advised him that this area only holds two occurrences.  In addition, it also covers instances where degrees may have been displaced or dropped from an OSB and advises officers to contact AFIT to obtain a letter detailing academic history/credentials, which can be used as an attachment to a letter to the board president.  The applicant could have followed the same procedures.  The applicant has not provided any documentation to show what action he took or who he contacted to correct this discrepancy.  Furthermore, there is no clear evidence that the lack of his degree in computer science negatively impacted his promotion opportunity.  If the applicant believe his advanced degree was relevant to the process, he could have provided this information by letter to the board.  They have verified the applicant elected not to exercise this entitlement.  Therefore, they recommend denial of his request.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

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APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant reviewed the Air Force evaluation and states that AFPC/DPPPOO’s discussion regarding the instructions provided with his OPB are misleading and incomplete.  The instructions recommending officers contact AFIT to obtain a letter detailing their academic history/credentials were specifically aimed at officers who were currently enrolled in an AFIT program.  At the time, he was not.  In addition, AFIT’s restrictive policies prevented implementation of a reasonable solution.  He did make reasonable efforts to ensure his records were correct prior to the board.  Upon reviewing his OPB, he contacted AFIT many times to explore the possibility of adding a third entry to the Academic Education selection to reflect his Master’s Degree in computer science, substituting the Master’s Degree in computer science for his Master’s Degree in business administration, or getting a letter from AFIT detailing his academic history/credentials.  He considered sending a letter to the board stating the omission; however, it was the opinion of his rating official that sending a letter without corroboration by AFIT probably would not carry the weight intended, so he decided against it.  The fact that his OSB was not modified and that he did not send a letter to the board does not mean that reasonable diligence was not exercised.  The repeated phone calls to AFIT exploring alternative solutions to inform the board of the omitted degree was reasonable diligence.  Furthermore, the fact that his efforts were unsuccessful due to AFIT’s restrictive policies should not be interpreted as a lack of reasonable diligence.  While it is not definitive that the lack of the computer science degree caused his nonselection, it is certainly reasonable to think that, just as multiple Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs) in a consideree’s record is viewed favorably, a diversity in a consideree’s education would also be viewed favorably, especially if it includes degrees in difficult fields of technical expertise that the Air Force desperately needs.  In addition, an advanced degree in a high technical field sorely needed by the Air Force, rather than a Master’s Degree in the same field as his Ph.D., could have altered the selection board’s decision.

The applicant’s complete response is attached at Exhibit E.

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.	The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.	The application was timely filed.

3.	Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.  At the time the applicant was considered for promotion by the CY00A Lt Col board, his Officer Selection Brief (OSB) listed his Doctorate Degree in Business Administration/Management and Finance and his Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management.  It appears that the applicant attempted to have the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) update his records to reflect his Master’s Degree in Computer Science; however, AFIT apparently would not add his computer science degree because it is their policy to only list the two most recently earned degrees and the degree was not one of his two most recently earned degrees.  In view of the above and since Air Force policy does not prevent the requested relief, we believe the applicant should be granted the relief requested.  In addition, we recommend his corrected record be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board for the CY00A Lt Col board.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, to include an Officer Selection Brief (OSB) reflecting his Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, rather than his Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Oklahoma State University, be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2000A Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 2 November 2001, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	            Panel Chair
	            Member
	            Member

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended.  The following documentary evidence was considered:

   	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 Jun 01, w/atchs.
  	Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
  	Exhibit C.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPOO, dated 24 Jul 01.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MIBR, dated 10 Aug 01.
  	Exhibit E.  Letter, Applicant, undated, w/atchs.

		 

AFBCMR 01-01643

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

	Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

	The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating APPLICANT, to include an Officer Selection Brief (OSB) reflecting his Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, rather than his Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Oklahoma State University, be considered for promotion to the grade of lieutenant colonel by Special Selection Board (SSB) for the Calendar Year 2000A Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board.