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Brigadier General
John P. Wittry
Permanent Professor 1971–1982
Vice Dean of the Faculty 1978–1984
B.S., Saint Louis University
M.S., Air Force Institute of Technology
Professional Degree, University of Michigan
Jack Wittry, the Academy’s 28th Permanent Professor, was born in 1929 in Aurora, Illinois. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from St. Louis University, Missouri, in 1951 and was a Distinguished Graduate of their AFROTC program. He worked for McDonnel Aircraft Corporation until he was called to active duty later in 1951. He was assigned as an Aircraft Project Engineer and Assistant Chief of the Liaison Aircraft Section, Weapons Systems Division, Wright Air Development Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. In 1955 he entered the Air Force Institute of Technology, WPAFB, and graduated with a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1956. Jack was then assigned as an Aircraft Project Engineer, Weapons Systems Nuclear Powered Aircraft Project Office, Air Research and Development Command, still at WPAFB. From 1958 to 1960 he was an Advanced Propulsion Technologist, Research and Analysis Branch, Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Office, Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, DC, responsible for developing advanced technology for space satellite nuclear power. During this assignment, he authored two chapters in the book Nuclear Flight. He then entered graduate school at the University of Michigan and earned a Professional Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in 1962. From 1962 to 1963, Jack was an Instructor in the Department of Mechanics at the Air Force Academy. In 1962 he transferred to the Department of Astronautics and progressed from Assistant Professor to Tenure Associate Professor while developing what is now the Astronautics Laboratory. From 1969 to mid-1970, he was the Deputy Head of the newly named Department of Astronautics and Computer Science. The following year he spent as the Chief of the Surveillance Systems Branch, Deputy for Operations, HQ Seventh AF, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam. Returning to the Academy, Jack was appointed Department Head in 1972 and Permanent Professor in 1973. He developed the first computer science course for the core curriculum, chaired the Second Class Academic Review Committee, chaired the Cadet Summer Research Program, and chaired an ad hoc committee that developed specifications for academy-wide computer resources. From 1978 to 1984 he was Chairman of the Engineering Division and Vice Dean of the Faculty. During this time, he took a sabbatical leave of absence to the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, CA, to develop courses in astronautics and space operations as well as teach courses in aeronautics. He also attended the Wharton School Effective Executive Program at the University of Pennsylvania, University Park. As Vice Dean, Jack led the formation of the Department of Computer Science and the successful re-accreditation effort for all six engineering majors. In 1984 Jack was promoted to brigadier general and retired from the USAF.
Upon retirement, Jack became the Academic Dean at the California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, serving until 1992. From 1993 to 1996 he was President of the Board of Directors and General Manager at the Oakmont Golf Club, Santa Rosa, CA.