Dr. Darryl K. Ahner

Dr. Darryl Ahner graduated from Lehighton Area High School in 1986 and then continued his education at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he graduated with a B. S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1990. During his Army career, Dr. Arner served at numerous stateside bases and an international assignment as a Company Commander in Bahrain. Dr. Arner returned to West Point to teach twice – once as an Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences and later when he was assigned as an Associate Professor and Course Director. His third assignment to West Point was as the Assistant Professor and Director of the Army Research Lab Mathematical Science Center.

Prior to retiring from the US Army in 2012, Dr. Arner completed two Master’s degrees – one in Applied Mathematics and a second in Operations Research and Statistics. In 2005 he completed all requirements for his PhD in Systems Engineering from Boston University. In 2010, Dr. Arner began a 13-year affiliation with the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. He began his time at AFIT by serving as the Assistant Professor in the Center for Operational Analysis and then, for five years between 2011-2016, as the Director of the Center for Operational Analysis.

After his retirement from the US Army, Dr Arner continued his association with AFIT where he served as Director, Office of the Secretary of Defense Scientific Test and Analysis Techniques Center of Excellence and then Dean for Research of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Graduate School of Engineering and Management. As Dean, he had primary responsibility for the management of a $30 million research program. Dr. Arner has written over 70 technical articles and made over 100 technical presentations to professional organizations and faculty members. His military decorations include two Legion of Merit awards and he has been honored by AFIT and the Secretary of Defense for exceptional accomplishments and service. In July 2023, Dr. Arner left AFIT after years of outstanding work in engineering, analysis and teaching. He accepted a position as the Dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science at Wright State University.

Dr. Arner has been married to his wife Sheila for 32 years. They have four children – sons Joshua and Jeremy and daughters Kristen and Kathleen. They currently reside in Beaver Creek, Ohio.