Academy dean of faculty receives honorary fellowship to elite operations research organization

Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost, dean of faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy, speaks to cadets at the Academy. Armacost was elected in September to be one of only a dozen educators in the U.S. year selected to receive an honorary fellowship to the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, also known as INFORMS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Darcie Ibidapo)

Story by Ray Bowden, Oct. 17, 2018

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — An elite research organization selected the dean of faculty at the Air Force Academy to be an honorary member of their organization.

Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost is one of only a dozen educators in the U.S. this year to receive the honorary title to the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, also known as INFORMS.

INFORMS is a leading professional society in the operations research discipline. The organization’s president, Nicholas Hall, notified Armacost Sept. 25 and said the recognition is the result of Armacost’s substantial contributions to education and public service.

“It’s an title given to a very select group of [INFORMS] members, limited to about 2 percent of the membership – about 12,000,” Hall said. “It is a distinctive and lifetime honor.”

Armacost said he’s humbled by the recognition.

“This means so much to me,” he said. “My selection to the board would not be possible if not for our incredible operations research staff and faculty, who partner with INFORMS and other organizations to provide our cadets with opportunities to really make a difference when it comes to solving research problems.”

According to the INFORMS website, honorary INFORMS fellows are examples of outstanding lifetime achievement in operations research and the management sciences. Fellows demonstrate exceptional accomplishments and make significant contributions to the advancement of operations research.

“Within the numerous communities of INFORMS, the Military Applications Society has always been one of the strongest and most active,” Hall said. “INFORMS is honored to recognize the leadership of Brig. Gen. Armacost.”

Four academic departments at the Academy support the school’s interdisciplinary operations research program: computer and cyber sciences, economics and geosciences, management and mathematical sciences.

Armacost and the other elected fellows have been invited to the INFORMS-sponsored Fellows Luncheon and Ceremony, Nov. 15, in Phoenix.