In this article, The AFIT Foundation is recognizing Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Jim Berke.

Lt. Col Berke received his MS in Electrical Engineering (Electro-Optics) from the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology in 1980. He joined the military because of an ardent desire to serve his country. After serving in the Air Force for 21 years, Lt. Col Berke worked as a Director of Program Management for Lockheed Martin and a Senior Program Manager for GE before retiring as a High School Physics Teacher at Liberty Hill High School.

t. Col Berke’s time at AFIT taught him skills that supported him throughout his various jobs. His favorite memory during his time at AFIT was working on his thesis. He realized later in his career how much knowledge he retained from his program and is incredibly grateful for the education he was able to receive. When asked about what advice he would give to those entering the military, Lt. Col Berke writes, “Give it your best with courage, commitment, and character. Don’t worry about things outside your control and always focus on your current job as your top priority.” Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel Berke!