Provost
s the chief academic officer, the Provost, a civilian, oversees the resident and nonresident foreign language program, instructional methodology and technology, curriculum development, and faculty training.
The Provost establishes policy; provides leadership, advice, and guidance on foreign language training for the DLIFLC; and represents the Institute on external academic councils and committees. The Provost
has operational control of the Language Schools, Curriculum Development, Faculty Development, evaluation and Standardization, and the Academic Affairs Directorate.
Dr. Donald C. Fischer, Jr.
Dr. Fischer was born in Columbus, Ohio. He is a graduate of Ohio State University with a B.S. in Education, majoring in Chemistry and Physics teaching with a minor in Mathematics teaching. He holds a Master
of Science degree in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology's School of Systems and Logistics. His thesis involved a comparison of various exponential smoothing techniques with the
use of moving averages to predict repair parts demand.
He holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff College where he developed a FORTRAN simulation comparing costs and potential savings of changes to Army automotive
maintenance doctrine.
Dr. Fischer completed doctoral work at the University of New Mexico in 2004 in the field of Organizational Learning and Instructional Technologies with a major in Distance Learning and a minor in German
Studies. His dissertation work compared the use of distance modalities to face-to-face interviews in conducting foreign language speaking proficiency testing.
Dr. Fischer worked at the University of New Mexico after retiring from the Army in 1993. He served as Executive Director of Albuquerque's Teach and Learn Network, the city's cable-based Educational 'Access
Channel. He managed the equipping and placing in operation of a satellite system connecting the eight colleges of the Hispanic Educational Telecommunications System and the connecting of the schools and
districts of the Northern New Mexico Network for Rural Education. Both systems enabled the provision of K-12 and post-secondary educational opportunity to under-served populations.
Dr. Fischer's work at the University of New Mexico also included managing the University's participation in two US Department of Education grants involving the conduct of professional development workshops
on using multimedia in schools on the Navajo reservation to create standards-based learning activities. This work further involved the creation of the Navajo Education Technology Consortium website containing
high-value multimedia learning activities for use by teachers everywhere.
Dr. Fischer served as Commandant of the Defense Language Institute from 1989-1993, a period of emphasis on the integration of computer technology into language learning, the development of the video
teletraining system, support of the Special Forces language program, support of combat operations in Panama, Iraq, Somalia, and the Balkans, and implementing changes brought about by the political changes in
Europe and the resulting shift in priorities to Asia and the Middle East.
Prior to assuming duties as Commandant, Dr. Fischer's career focused on military logistics. He served in the Pentagon in the then Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics Office and is holder of the Army General
Staff badge, as VII Corps G4, as 2nd Corps Support Command Material Officer and in Vietnam as an Engineer Equipment Officer.
He commanded units at every level from lieutenant to colonel. Commands included a missile detachment, an engineer company, a special weapons depot, a materiel management center, a missile support battalion,
and a division support command.
Dr. Fischer's military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.