Alt Spring Break

Cadets working on the Houston project had the unique opportunity to meet Gene Kranz, seated, 2nd from left, the retired director of NASA featured in the movie Apollo 13.

2011 Joint Women's Leadership Symposium

Lt. Col. Nicole Malachowski takes part in a work/life balance panel during the second day of the 2011 Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium in San Diego, March 16. Lieutenant Colonel Malachowski is a 1996 graduate of the Air Force Academy and was the first female Air Force Thunderbird pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Meredith Kirchoff)

Cadet Life

Air Force Academy cadets march during a noon meal formation on the Terrazzo March 15, 2011. Military formations and inspections are a routine part of life for cadets, in addition to athletics and academics. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Air Force cops advise Afghan airmen on base security

Master Sgt. Irwin Sealy trains an Afghan air force security forces airman on close combat tactics with an M-16 rifle March 7, 2011. Sergeant Sealy, a security forces adviser with the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, is deployed from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace)

AF civil engineer visits Academy

Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers speaks with Col. Rick LoCastro, Russ Hume and Col. Gregory Seely during a visit to the Air Force Academy's solar array March 4, 2011. The array is scheduled to generate its first megawatt of power in March and ramp up to its full 6MW capacity by the end of April. General Byers is the Air Force Civil Engineer and graduate of the University of Kentucky. Colonel LoCastro is the Academy's 10th Air Base Wing commander. Colonel Seely is the director of Installation and Mission Support, and Mr. Hume is an engineer with the A7 directorate. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bill Evans)

Defense secretary challenges cadets to lead 21st-century Air Force

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates addresses cadets in Arnold Hall Theater at the Air Force Academy March 4, 2011. Secretary Gates was also a guest instructor for two political science courses later that day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

AFA's enlisted Airmen go 'back to basics'

Enlisted Airmen assigned to the Air Force Academy march out of the Terrazzo after a retreat ceremony March 3, 2011. The formation included Airmen from the Academy's A-staff, the Headquarters Section, the Dean of Faculty mission element and the Academy Chapel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

AFA's enlisted Airmen go 'back to basics'

Master Sgt. Greg Meinert, left, and other Airmen assigned to the Air Force Academy observe retreat during a ceremony in the Academy's Terrazzo March 3, 2011. Sergeant Meinert, the Headquarters Section first sergeant, served as guidon bearer for the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

AFA's enlisted Airmen go 'back to basics'

Airman 1st Class Geovaney Miramontes, center, and other enlisted Airmen assigned to the Air Force Academy prepare to observe retreat on the Terrazzo March 3, 2011. Airman Miramontes is a customer service technician with the Academy's Financial Management Directorate. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

AFA's enlisted Airmen go 'back to basics'

A group of the Air Force Academy's enlisted Airmen prepares to march to the Air Garden to observe retreat in the Terrazzo March 3, 2011. Academy Command Chief Master Sgt. Todd Salzman marched the flight, with Master Sgt. Greg Meinert, the Headquarters Section first sergeant, serving as guidon bearer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Interfaith panelists discuss views of the divine

Jay Patel and Rochelle Richards-Burks discuss similarities between Hinduism and Paganism during a break in an interfaith panel discussion at the Air Force Academy's Oasis lounge March 2, 2011. Mr. Patel, the Hindu panelist, is vice president of development for the Colorado Springs Independent. Mrs. Richards-Burks, the Pagan panelist, is the founder of the Rocky Mountain Witch Hat Society. Also pictured, right, is Cadet 4th Class Jennifer Carr of Cadet Squadron 06. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Interfaith panelists discuss views of divinity

Rochelle Richards-Burks discusses Pagan views of the divine during an interfaith discussion panel at the Air Force Academy's Oasis lounge March 2, 2011. Mrs. Richards-Burks joined Chaplain (Maj.) Peter Fischer and Jay Patel to discuss Christian, Hindu and Pagan views of the divine. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Interfaith panelists discuss views of the divine

Jay Patel discusses the Hindu view of the divine during an interfaith panel discussion at the Air Force Academy's Oasis lounge March 2, 2011. Mr. Patel, the vice president for development at the Colorado Springs Independent, was raised in the Hindu tradition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Call it: 'All in good fun'

Cadet 4th Class Mercedes Dexter shows off her handiwork during 100s Night weekend at the Air Force Academy Feb. 16, 2011. While the Class of 2011 enjoys the weekend off base, the freshman class redecorates the seniors' dorm rooms. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Call it: 'All in good fun'

Air Force Academy cadets dig into "Mitch's Mountain" during a 100s Night dining-in in Mitchell Hall Feb. 16, 2011. The dessert is made from different flavors of ice cream plus nuts, whipped cream and cake. Cadets received their first duty station assignments during the event, which is approximately 100 days out from Graduation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Call it: 'All in good fun'

Cadet 1st Class Stevie Puentes finds out her first duty station during a 100s Night dining-in in Mitchell Hall at the Air Force Academy Feb. 16, 2011. Cadet Puentes is assigned to Cadet Squadron 05 and will stay at the Academy for a year after graduation as a diversity recruiter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Air Base Wing welcomes 1st command chief

Chief Master Sgt. David Staton, a native of Gentry, Ark., is the first 10th Air Base Wing command chief master sergeant. Chief Staton's background includes several tours of duty as both a military training instructor and a first sergeant. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Engineering without borders

Second Lt. David Pool poses with members of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda Dec. 31, 2009. Research by Lieutenant Pool, a 2010 graduate of the Air Force Academy, formed the basis of a new engineering class taught at the Academy by Maj. John Christ. (courtesy photo/The Mango Tree Project)

Blue Steel reaches out to America's youth through music

Cadet 2nd Class Joshua Eubank performs alongside members of youth symphonies from Colorado Springs, Colo., and Pasadena, Calif., during a concert with the Air Force Academy Band's Blue Steel ensemble at the Air Force Academy's Arnold Hall Theater Feb. 20, 2011. Cadet Eubank is a Cadet Orchestra club officer and is assigned to Cadet Squadron 30. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Blue Steel reaches out to America's youth through music

Cellists from the Pasadena Youth Orchestra participate in a concert with the Air Force Academy Band's Blue Steel ensemble Feb. 20, 2011, in the Academy's Arnold Hall Theater. This was the seventh such concert featuring Blue Steel and members of youth symphonies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

NCLS 2011

Dr. Adis Vila speaks about the challenges that inspired her to succeed and strengthened her character during a discussion at the Air Force Academy's National Character and Leadership Symposium Feb. 24, 2011. Dr. Vila, the Academy's chief diversity officer, is a native of Cuba and a White House Fellow. (U.S. Air Force photo/Robin Cresswell)

NCLS 2011

Sara Bordo talks about her experiences as a woman professional during a presentation at the Air Force Academy's National Character and Leadership Symposium Feb. 24, 2011. Ms. Bordo is the founder and CEO of Women Rising and a contributor to the White House Council for Women and Girls. (U.S. Air Force photo/Robin Cresswell)

NCLS 2011

Retired Col. George "Bud" Day speaks during a Medal of Honor panel discussion at the Air Force Academy's National Character and Leadership Symposium Feb. 24, 2011. Colonel Day was a command pilot and prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. Sitting on the panel along with Colonel Day were retired Col. Leo Thorsness and Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

NCLS 2011

Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta talks with Cadet 1st Class Laura Sturdevant, right, after his keynote speech at the Air Force Academy's National Character and Leadership Symposium Feb. 24, 2011. Sergeant Giunta, the first living servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War, received the medal for heroic actions in Afghanistan Oct. 25, 2007. Cadet Sturdevant is assigned to Cadet Squadron 39; also pictured are Cadets 4th Class Reynaldo Toledo and Jessica Adams of CS 19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)