U.S. airman to receive doctorate degree at commencement

COLUMBUS – A man who survived a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia will leave The Ohio State University on Sunday (8/29) armed with a doctorate degree in computer science and engineering. Christopher Bohn’s education, paid for by the U.S. Air Force, has prepared him to teach service men and women at Wright Patterson Air Force Base the computer technology essential to their military training.

Bohn, an active duty member of the Air Force since 1993, will soon begin working as a course director teaching the Software Professional Development Program, which is a continuing education program designed to benefit Department of Defense organizations and professionals.

Bohn, of Xenia, Ohio, feels fortunate to have this opportunity. “I’m honored that the Air Force has the faith in me to teach the computer science course,” he said.

In exchange for the Air Force’s funding Bohn’s Ohio State education, he will serve as a course director for at least four years.

He said his motto – “luck is being prepared when the situation comes along” – has helped drive him to become an instructor.

“We have always been very dependent on technology, and our entire dependence on computers is increasing,” he said. “There is a new realm called network centric warfare. The Air Force has recognized that we can have an impact on the way we wage war without requiring as many resources or people as we have done in the past.”

In 1996, he witnessed how important “being prepared” is. While serving as Wing Operations Center shift supervisor for the 4404th Wing (Provisional), Bohn said his feeling of security was shaken to the core when a truck bomb exploded outside of the Khobar Towers housing complex in Saudi Arabia. Bohn survived with numerous cuts caused by broken glass and subsequently was awarded a Purple Heart. However, 19 U.S. personnel died and more than 370 were injured in the attack.

Bohn said previous training on responding to disasters helped them deal with the chaos that the blast caused.

“We wanted to make sure we remained proficient in case something happened,” Bohn said. “If you don’t practice, you are not going to be reliable.”

Bohn, who earned his Ph.D. in three years, is excited to begin the next phase of his career as a course director. “I want to be the best one I can be, and now I am prepared to do it,” he said.