Falcon Heritage Forum

The Air Force Academy's Fall 2011 Falcon Heritage Forum is scheduled to kick off Sept. 6, 2011, and will reflect on how the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, changed American government and society. (U.S. Air Force image)

Jewish War Veterans Convention

Cadet 2nd Class Jolie Grossman, Cadet Squardron 23, and Protestant Chaplain (Capt.) Shawn Menchion meet retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki, the secretary of Veterans Affairs during the 116th annual Jewish War Veterans Convention in Jacksonville, Fla., Aug. 9-13 (Photo by Christy Turner)

It IS rocket science!

Capt. Uriah Tobey, an instructor in the U.S. Air Force Academy's Astronautics Department, explains the history of FalconLAUNCH, the Academy’s rocket launch program, to a group of high school students July 7. Here, he describes a liquid rocket designed by former Academy Astronautics students. The students are part of a Colorado and Missouri National Guard youth program taking part in a local summer camp designed to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Raymond McCoy)

Cyber Operations

Upperclass Cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy have the opportunity to spend one of their summer sessions in Cyber 256, Basic Cyber Operations, a new course that rounds out the training regimen designed to fit the Air Force mission of fighting and winning in air, space and cyberspace. The course is intended to spark cadets’ interest in pursuing more in-depth work in computer science. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Raymond McCoy)

USAFA "Deployed Ops"

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 2nd Class Erin Doran and USAFA Cadet 1st Class Jordan Wittman work together to expedite the bundling process with U.S. Army Riggers June 18, 2011, in Southwest Asia. Cadets Doran and Wittman are taking part in "Deployed Ops", a summer program that sends Academy cadets to deployed locations to follow officers in different career fields and to gain an understanding of career responsibilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Cadet 1st Class Shaina Thompson)

USAFA "Deployed Ops"

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 2nd Class Keegan Peckham and USAFA Cadet 2nd Class Elliot Unseth prepare the pallets for bundles by stringing them with fastening straps while working with the U.S. Army Riggers detachment June 18, 2011, in Southwest Asia. Cadets Peckham and Unseth are taking part in "Deployed Ops", a summer program that sends Academy cadets to deployed locations to follow officers in different career fields and to gain an understanding of career responsibilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Cadet 1st Class Shaina Thompson)

Cadets learn about CE deployed ops in readiness lab

Cadet 2nd Class Everett Karpauskas assembles framing for a wood structure during the Air Force Academy's Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory in Jacks Valley June 7, 2011. Topics covered during the three-week course also include mixing concrete and asphalt and surveying. Cadet Karpauskas is assigned to Cadet Squadron 14. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ray McCoy)

Cadets learn about CE deployed ops in readiness lab

Cadet 2nd Class Nicholas Espinoza and Navy Midshipman Clinton Spencer conduct a stress test on a concrete beam during the Air Force Academy's Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory June 7, 2011. The beams are designed to withstand a load of approximately 5,100 pounds per square inch. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ray McCoy)

Cadets visit local asphalt plant during field engineering course

Cadet 2nd Class Christopher Twigg studies an informational handout on concrete during a visit to the Rocky Mountain Materials and Asphalt plant in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 10, 2011. The plant produces both concrete and asphalt for construction projects on military bases in the local area, inlcuding the Academy, Peterson Air Force Base and Fort Carson. Cadet Twigg, a member of Cadet Squadron 14, toured the plant with classmates as part of the Academy's Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Cadets visit local asphalt plant during field engineering course

Cadets enrolled in the Air Force Academy's Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory check out a 200-foot-deep sand quarry during a field trip to Rocky Mountain Materials and Asphalt in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 10, 2011. FERL is a three-week summer course required for cadets majoring in civil or bioenvironmental engineering. It is an elective course for cadets majoring in mechanical or electrical engineering. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Cadets visit local asphalt plant during field engineering course

U.S. Military Academy Cadet Jeff Warner examines an asphalt sample during a tour of the Rocky Mountain Materials and Asphalt plant in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 10, 2011. The visit is part of the Air Force Academy's Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory, a three-week summer course required for cadets majoring in civil or bioenvironmental engineering. Cadet Warner is attending the Air Force Academy via an exchange program with West Point. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Cadets visit local asphalt plant during field engineering course

Cadets 2nd Class Anthony Vahling, left, and Ezra Petersen check out a sample of asphalt while touring the Rocky Mountain Materials and Asphalt plant in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 10, 2011. The plant tour is part of the Air Force Academy's Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory, a three-week summer course required for cadets majoring in civil or bioenvironmental engineering. Cadet Vahling, a native of Teutopolis, Ill., is assigned to Cadet Squadron 17. Cadet Petersen, a native of Wichita, Kan., is assigned to Cadet Squadron 10. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)