Did Greg finish?!
Yes! Well, except for a few little loose ends that will be neatly tied up in the next few weeks. Greg had his dissertation defense yesterday, and it went really well. His committee was so excited about his research that they want him to broaden its applications. This means rewriting a few pages in the introduction and conclusion. So there's that and some paperwork to be turned in and then he will be Doctor! Or Doctor Major? Or Major Doctor?
What was his dissertation about?
Nuclear power plant accident evacuations. It's about a better way of deciding who should evacuate in the case of a radioactive release, particularly in a large-scale disaster like Fukushima. It was a huge undertaking. But worthwhile, and timely. (He has already been out to the NRC a couple of times.)
Isn't three years pretty fast to get a PhD?
Yes. Five to seven years is probably more typical. The Air Force only gives you three years though. The advantage is that the Air Force is giving you your normal salary and benefits besides paying tuition. This means you don't have to dedicate any time working as a research assistant or teaching or competing for grants and fellowships. But three years is still fast. It was especially fast for Greg. Since his Master's is in Engineering Management, it didn't apply to his PhD program. He essentially had to start over and squeeze a master's degree in there too. There was a HUGE learning curve at the beginning. Also, his dissertation required an enormous amount of work and didn't build off research he'd done previously.
So how did he do it?
Greg is a smart guy. And a very hard worker. Perhaps more importantly, he's efficient, organized, and he never procrastinates. He created a plan, set deadlines, and then followed his plan, meeting each deadline.
Greg was also extremely lucky to have an amazing adviser. (A few years ago, back when Leah's husband Chris was finishing his PhD and Greg was thinking about getting his, they impressed on us the importance of Greg having a good adviser. They were right!) Greg's adviser is super smart and super experienced and super well-respected. She knows how to crank students through the system. Greg was in such good hands. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for her.
Most of all, though, this has simply been a miracle. A real, true, undeniable miracle. When I look at what Greg has accomplished on top of everything else we have had going on in our lives, there is only one possible explanation: God.
What is Greg going to do in the Air Force next?
Greg is going to teach at the Air Force Institute of Technology, which is the Air Force's graduate school.
So you're moving to Colorado Springs?!
No. The Air Force Academy is in Colorado Springs, and that's only for undergrads. AFIT is only for graduate students, and it's in Dayton, Ohio at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Greg will teach at AFIT for about three years, and then he'll receive a different assignment ... and we'll pick up and move again. (He will be well-positioned to teach at the Academy, but he is much more interested in doing other things.)
So you're moving back to Dayton?
Not quite. Greg will be working in Dayton. But we decided to live in the north-eastern suburbs of Cincinnati instead. I will write more about how we came to this decision another time. Long story short is that we are going to live close to Greg's brother and family. Greg will have an hour-long commute. But he won't work long hours, and he doesn't have to go up to campus if he doesn't have class or office hours.
When are you moving?
We close on our house here on July 26, and we close on the house in Ohio on July 29. More about the houses another time. Suffice it to say that the PhD isn't the only miracle in our lives.
Wait. Wasn't Mary registered at a Montessori school in Dayton?
Yes. Despite a long wait list, they had even created an opening just for her because of the quality of program she was coming from. But that was when we still assumed we would be living in the Dayton area. (It took a while to realize where we really should live.) So we withdrew her registration. (Which is okay because I had mixed feeling about the school.) Fortunately, we found a wonderful, marvelous Montessori school near the house in Cincinnati. But after many many tears, I decided Mary is going to go to school with David next year.
Are you excited to move?
Madison is a wonderful place to live. We have a good life here. So of course we are very sad to leave. But it doesn't really matter. Fortunately, there are things I look forward to in Ohio, like being near family, seeing old friends, and living in a great community.
What will you miss the most?
Don't get me started! The long autumns, the gourmet chocolates behind our house, the history (and diversity) of European immigrants, fresh cheese curds, the University, Door County, our house, great health care, fun beautiful places to visit, ice fishing (well, the idea of it--not that I ever went), downtown, caring about football, the farmers' markets and CSAs, the small dairy farms, Larry Meiller, Sprecher soda. People. I will miss people. That is always the hardest part, isn't is?
But my very very favorite thing from Wisconsin is Sara.
And she gets to come with us!
