United States Air Force Academy
to Take Flight
to Take Flight
United States Air Force Academy
to Take Flight
United States Air Force Academy
Our Mission
We are steadfast in our commitment to support and fortify academic excellence at the United States Air Force Academy by providing perpetually endowed academic chairs. Our efforts are designed to provide the greatest minds in our Country with real-world challenges and insights, exposing them to diverse perspectives and ideas that enrich their already world-class education.
Supporting Excellence
ARDI facilitates the Air Force Academy’s recruitment of the most talented, accomplished, and notable leaders within their respective fields. We strive to be a financial stronghold that provides the resources the Air Force Academy needs to attract a talented roster of visionary leaders to hold seats in various visiting professorship positions within each academic department.
A Message to You
The Academy Research and Development Institute was founded in 1984 by Air Force Brigadier General Philip J. Erdle, Major General William Lyon, and the Honorable William E. Simon. Today, ARDI supports the Air Force Academy in line with its founders’ singular and increasingly important vision: to enhance and fortify the academic preparation of Academy cadets to serve the nation, in uniform and throughout their lives. Endowed academic chairs are a tangible manifestation of excellence in education. Each one is created by a distinctive and enduring gift—a gift that reflects in perpetuity the generous vision of its donor and the power of knowledge that vision underwrites. The exceptionally qualified and committed professors chosen to serve as Chairs offer Academy faculty and cadets uniquely valuable opportunities that preserve and advance the Academy’s world-renowned tradition of excellence. We know of no better way to contribute to the academic preeminence and relevance of an institution whose graduates continue to lead in our Air Force and Space Force. All funds entrusted to ARDI are carefully stewarded, whether to enhance cadet research and education, or to endow an academic chair for this and every future generation educated at the Academy. Our sole aim is to enhanceeducation excellence for tomorrow’s young Air and Space Force leaders. Please join us in our mission!
Chris Miller
Chief Executive Officer,
Academy Research & Development Institute
“The Academic Excellence Foundation”
Learn More About ARDI
Explore the purpose of ARDI and discover how funds from ARDI have been instrumental in the achieving academic excellence and leadership for the United States Air Force Academy. To discover more information about individual chairs with academic departments, please visit our page dedicated to the endowed chairs.
Interested in Donating to ARDI?
Donating to ARDI allows you to be a part of the important mission of the Air Force Academy to educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers of character motivated to lead the U.S. Air Force and Space Force in service to our nation.
ARDI strongly supports the preservation of the tradition of excellence that the United States Air Force Academy is known for not only in the United States, but throughout the world. This world-class reputation is our cause, and the ARDI Foundation seeks to uphold the vision and mission of its founders.
Every dollar entrusted to ARDI works for the benefit of ongoing excellence in education. Every contribution made to ARDI helps to ensure the success and excellence of not only our cadets and leaders today, but also the success and excellence of future generations to attend the Academy.