Erdle Chair
The Philip J. Erdle Chair in Engineering Science was fully endowed by gifts to ARDI from Carolyn Knies Erdle and the International Education Foundation in honor of Dr. Philip Erdle (Brig Gen, USAF, Retired).
Philip J. Erdle
General Erdle was a career Air Force officer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. A native of Bethlehem, PA, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy and entered the fledgling U.S. Air Force. General Erdle was a command pilot, flying dozens of aircraft throughout his Air Force career, most notably the F-84, F-100, and T-33. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and his doctorate from the University of Colorado.
Having miraculously survived a horrific crash in an F-84, his Air Force career put him on a path to a new passion and began a lifetime of support to the newly formed U.S. Air Force Academy. General Erdle was among the first academic cadre instructors when the U.S. Air Force Academy opened its doors at its permanent location in Colorado Springs. He spent the remainder of his military career at the Academy, which notably included a return to flying status.
General Erdle’s career at the Academy was truly remarkable and diverse in his impact on the Air Force’s future leaders – mechanics instructor, baseball coach, NCAA representative, and Vice Dean of Faculty. He was the youngest colonel in the Air Force when he was appointed the Academy’s 13th Permanent Professor. He served as the Permanent Professor of Engineering Sciences (1964-1965) and subsequently as the Permanent Professor for the newly designated Department of Engineering Mechanics (1965-1973). He also served as the 6th Vice Dean of the Faculty (1973-1979) and held the title of Permanent Professor Emeritus. Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1979, General Erdle worked for the Bechtel Corporation, establishing an educational system in Jubail, Saudi Arabia for the Bechtel operation. While with Bechtel, he managed numerous education and construction contracts that helped transform the educational system of Saudi Arabia.
Upon returning to Colorado, he founded the International Education Foundation, mentoring small, minority owned businesses in a first-of-its-kind business incubator in Colorado Springs. In 1984, General Erdle co-founded the Academy Research and Development Institute (ARDI), establishing and managing endowed professorial chairs for the Air Force Academy. He later served as ARDI President and CEO. General Erdle and ARDI have been major supporters of the Dean of Faculty and the Air Force Academy mission for more than a quarter of a century. In recognition of his contributions, General Erdle was named an honorary member of the USAFA Association of Graduates and was also a recipient of the Superintendent’s Award for Distinguished Service to the United States Air Force and the Air Force Academy. In 2002, the Philip J. Erdle Chair in Engineering Science was designated in his honor. He was a visionary leader for the Air Force Academy academic program.
General Erdle passed away in May, 2013, at the age of 82. He was devoted to his wife of 61 years, Carolyn, and his five children and 15 grandchildren. He was always quick with a joke and generous to a fault, always eager to help those less fortunate than he. He is missed dearly by his family and friends, and by the thousands of Air Force Academy cadets and officers whose lives he touched.
Current Distinguished Visiting Professor
Mr. Andrew Sivess
Professor
Mr. Andrew Sivess
Andrew Sivess is a Colorado native, and completed his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Throughout college he was drawn towards applied mathematics and structural analysis, and his Masters Thesis covered a novel method of formulating finite element stiffness matrices, using Chebyshev polynomials. Following graduate school, he worked on launch vehicles where he made significant contributions to many missions, as well as the qualification of tank and engine systems. Subsequently, he went on to lead a structural analysis team dedicated to the development of a reentry heatshield, where he pioneered a rapid method for assessing multiple reentry profiles. Eventually, his interests turned towards space vehicles, where he was fortunate to work with mechanical and systems engineers in the design, assembly, test, and integration of satellites. Currently, his industry focus is leading teams through independent verification and validation of launch and space vehicles.
He’s honored and thrilled to be part of the ARDI Foundation legacy at the U.S. Air Force Academy. During his tenure as the Erdle Chair, he hopes to inspire Cadets to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities at the Academy.