University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder alumnus Peter B. Teets has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the post of Under Secretary of the Air Force, the second highest position in that branch of the military.
Teets, 59, is a native of Denver and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in applied math, a program of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder, in 1963 and 1965, respectively.
"Peter Teets is one of the university's most successful graduates, and we applaud his nomination and confirmation to one of the nation's top defense posts," said ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ President Elizabeth Hoffman. "He has been a great friend and adviser to the university, and I am confident he will serve our nation with honor and dignity."
Teets was nominated to the Air Force position in October by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate on Dec. 8.
He recently retired from a 37-year career in the aerospace industry with Lockheed Martin Corp. He joined the company, then Martin Marietta, as an engineer in flight controls analysis in 1963. He rose through a series of positions, including president of the Astronautics Group in Denver, and ultimately served as the corporation's president and chief operating officer from 1997 to 1999.
Teets is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and of the American Astronautical Society. ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder named him a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 1989 and awarded him an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1990. He was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 1999.
He currently serves on the External Advisory Board to the department of aerospace engineering sciences at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder. He spoke to engineering graduates at the May 2000 Engineering Recognition Ceremony.