Michael Bozzi, an adjunct faculty member in the MBA program and the Director of the MBA Office of Student Services, has been selected as the Honorary Commander for the Connecticut Air National Guard’s 103rd Maintenance Group.

He is the first civilian to receive the appointment. During his three-year tenure, he will share his leadership knowledge and expertise with the 250-member maintenance group, attend many of their social functions, and go on a training flight to learn more about their work.

“This is truly the honor of a lifetime,’’ Bozzi said. “We have so many UConn alumni and students who are in the Guard. I’m happy to share my knowledge with them on topics that will be helpful.’’

“In exchange, I will certainly develop a broader view of leadership, a deeper understanding of how the military works, and I will be better equipped to engage our students who are veterans or currently serving in the military,’’ he said.

Bozzi Nominated by Air National Guard Colonel

Bozzi was nominated for the honorary commander position by Col. Paul Fiasconaro, who took the professor’s Managing Organizations (MENT5138) course in the spring. Fiasconaro, who commands the 103rd Maintenance Group, dubbed the Flying Yankees, found the coursework extremely beneficial.

“His teaching style and discussions resonated with me. They were interesting and engaging. He makes you want to learn more,’’ said Fiasconaro, who has two master’s degrees from other institutions and is completing a project management certificate at UConn. He described Bozzi as among the best educators he’s met.

Bozzi was sworn in on June 8 in front of 700 people at the unit’s Family Day, which gave him a chance to meet the servicemembers and their families. The civilian-military partnership is designed to build stronger community connections and give leaders the opportunity to engage more deeply with the service men and women.

Bozzi recently delivered a presentation on leadership to the servicemembers, whose backgrounds range from corporate executives to recent high school graduates.

He spoke about the five basic principles of leadership and how it is relevant to all of them.

“In the Guard, everyone is a leader,’’ Bozzi said. “Certainly there is a chain of command, but every person must be progressive and forward thinking.’’

The presentation offered something for service members at all levels, Fiasconaro said, and centered around the need to always keep in mind the problem that you’re trying to solve. Many service members stayed to talk with Bozzi and mentioned how much they enjoyed the program.

Some members of the unit are preparing to deploy to Africa, and Bozzi will teach them about anxiety and stress mitigation prior to their departure.

‘Who We Are and What We Do’

Fiasconaro said the Guard is eager to increase knowledge of “who we are and what we do,’’ among the civilian community. “This type of connection brings in a second look from the outside and a partnership that is mutually beneficial,’’ he said.

Fiasconaro, who will soon be retiring from the military and returning to civilian work, said there are many parallels between the two entities.

“The similarities between the military and business are significant,’’ he said. “Both operate within structured hierarchies, rely heavily on strong leadership, and demand strategic thinking to achieve their objectives.’’