Air Force major completes Harvard Ph.D. in three years
This is the one in a series of profiles showcasing some of Harvard’s stellar graduates. Maj. Bradley DeWees knows what it’s like to perform under pressure. DeWees grew up in New Mexico and joined the Air Force Academy after graduating from high school. Neither of his parents attended college and both he and his family were overwhelmed by the college application process. By comparison, the Air Force seemed like the simpler option. “I didn’t know what I was getting into,” DeWees recalled, yet he soon found himself thriving in the highly regimented, meritocratic environment. “Being in that environment has a way to force you to forge really close relationships,” he said. “I found myself excelling and becoming a better person day in and day out — and that was reason enough to stay.” Overcoming his early misgivings, DeWees did, in fact, go on to earn a master’s degee in international security and economic policy from...