LSUS to celebrate veterans at Nov. 11 program

LSUS to celebrate veterans at Nov. 11 program

Join LSUS as the university celebrates military veterans with a Veterans Day program on Nov. 11.

STRIKEWERX director Russell Mathers, who served 27 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, will deliver the keynote address.

The program will take place at 11 a.m. in the LSUS Collaboratory on the first floor of the Technology Building.

Mathers served in roles as a B-52 pilot, a B-2 pilot, a U.S. Strategic Command nuclear operations planner, and Chief of Combat Plans in U.S. Air Forces, Korea.

He retired from the military as Chief of Staff for the Eighth Air Force before serving five years in federal civil service as executive director of Air Force Global Strike Command/A6 and the Air Force Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Center.

The Midland, Michigan, native has been stationed at Barksdale AFB for 22 years and now serves in a civilian role as STRIKEWERX director, an organization which assists Air Force Global Strike Command solve its most challenging problems by connecting people and resources across government, business, and academia.

Mathers led a crew that set the world record of six B-52H speed over a closed circuit in 1995 as the bomber averaged 556 miles per hour over the nearly 12-hour flight, showcasing its ability to reach anywhere in the world.

Other distinctions include the General LeMay Award for commanding an "Outstanding Bomber Aircrew" and the General Ira Eaker Award for "Outstanding Airmanship in the Eighth Air Force," both in 1996.

LSUS is a key community partner for both AFGSC and Barksdale AFB, serving as a host site for various events, including the annual Nuclear Triad Symposium.

LSUS students intern and partner with various Air Force entities, which includes the National Security Fellowship.

This past year, LSUS computer science students designed an AI-powered weather app that assists Air Force Global Strike Command enhance its mission planning by better predicting medium-range weather forecasts.