at Wright-Patterson AFB). The school provides responsive & relevant continuing education courses to more than 2,000 Air Force & DOD students annually. AFIT has seven research centers funded by a number of federal agencies with interdisciplinary scope and international footprint representing a number of game changing scientific areas for the United States Air Force and the Department of Defense: Autonomy & Navigation Technology Center (ANT) Center for Directed Energy (CDE) Center for Cyberspace Research (CCR) and the Air Force Cyberspace Technical Center of Excellence (CyTCoE) Center for Operational Analysis (COA) Center for Space Research & Assurance (CSRA) Center for Technical Intelligence Studies & Research (CTISR) Scientific Test & Analysis Techniques in Test & Evaluation (STAT T&E) Nuclear Expertise for Advancing Technologies (NEAT) Center Graduate School of Engineering and Management AFIT's Graduate School of Engineering and Management is a graduate-only, research–based institution and the sole degree-granting element of AFIT. The Graduate School focuses on studies and research that are relevant to the Air Force mission as well as the needs of the defense establishment as a whole. AFIT's Aeronautics & Astronautics Department has graduated nine U. S. astronauts including Guy Bluford (PhD 1978), first African-American astronaut. Since graduate degrees were first granted in 1956, AFIT has awarded 19,619 master's and 898 doctor of philosophy degrees. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". Students The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) enrolls over 700 full-time graduate students. The student body consists primarily of Air Force and Space Force officers, but is rounded out by members of the other four U.S. Armed Services, select enlisted Airmen, international students from coalition countries, U.S. Government civilians, and civilians (U.S. citizens) not affiliated with the Government. Selection of officers for graduate education is fully funded by their service and is based upon outstanding professional performance as an officer, promotion potential, and a strong academic background. Admission of non-Government affiliated civilians is based on academic preparation and requires U.S. citizenship. A substantial number of AFIT graduates are assigned to AFRL and NASIC upon graduation from AFIT. Many of the AFIT student thesis projects are influenced directly or indirectly by AFRL, NASIC, NRO and other Air Force and defense agencies. Faculty The faculty body consists of approximately a 50–50 mix of military and civilian members all of whom hold a PhD in their fields. The faculty to student ratio is typically 1 to 5