'Hero of Deer Creek' flies with Thunderbirds

Tech. Sgt. Robbin Bailon gives Dr. David Benke a preflight briefing on aircrew flight equipment at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., before his "Hometown Hero" incentive flight with Lt. Col. Derek Routt of the Thunderbirds U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron May 23, 2010. Dr. Benke, a native of San Antonio, took down an active shooter at Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, Colo., in February. Sergeant Bailon is an AFE technician with the Thunderbirds and a native of Kaneohe, Hawaii. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

'Hero of Deer Creek' flies with Thunderbirds

Tech. Sgt. Robbin Bailon fits Dr. David Benke into a pressurized flight suit at May 23, 2010, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Dr. Benke received a "Hometown Hero" incentive flight with Thunderbirds U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron pilot Lt. Col. Derek Routt for tackling an active shooter at Deer Creek Middle School in February. Sergeant Bailon is an aircrew flight equipment technician with the Thunderbirds and a native of Kaneohe, Hawaii. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Thunderbirds arrive at Peterson AFB

Tech. Sgt. Eric Albers performs a post-flight check on Thunderbird 1 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., May 23, 2010. Sergeant Albers is a maintenance NCO with the Thunderbirds U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron and a native of Breese, Ill. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Class of '10 selects Heiser Award winners

Col. Neal Rappaport, an associate professor with the Air Force Academy's Department of Economics and Geosciences, received one of two Heiser Awards in a ceremony at the Academy May 6, 2010. The award is named for Professor Emeritus Dr. William Heiser and is the only faculty award selected by the graduating class of cadets.

Cadet candidates roll out for TX

A team of cadet candidates goes on the offensive during mobile urban operations training in Jacks Valley as part of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School's 2010 Transition Exercise May 13, 2010. The exercise, which serves as the pinnacle of cadet candidates' military training, took place May 12-15. (U.S. Air Force photo/Johnny Wilson)

Cadet candidates roll out for TX

Cadet Candidate Abby McCaffrey crouches in a defensive fighting position during the 2010 Air Force Academy Preparatory School Transition Exercise in Jacks Valley May 13, 2010. The transition exercise, or TX, is the last event for cadet candidates before graduation from the Prep School. (U.S. Air Force photo/Johnny Wilson)

Cadet candidates graduate from Prep School

Cadet Candidate Julianne Germain ascends the "Stairway to Heaven" during the final phase of Academy Preparatory School training May 15, 2010. Nearly 200 cadet candidates graduated from the Prep School in a ceremony May 18, and nearly 190 received appointments to the Air Force Academy Class of 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Astronauts touch down at Air Force Academy

From left: Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenberger, Col. Jim Dutton and Navy Capt. Alan Poindexter talk with Air Force football head coach Troy Calhoun during a "NASA victory tour" visit to the Academy May 18, 2010. The three astronauts were part of the crew for the Space Shuttle Atlantis' STS-131 mission to the International Space Station in April. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Shuttle pilot speaks at Astro Department dining-out

Cadets 1st Class Katie Thompson and Berkley Davis laugh as they watch a cadet-made video lampooning Department of Astronautics faculty members during an Astronautics Department dining-out at the Air Force Academy May 7, 2010. Cadets Thompson and Davis were Madam and Mister Vice for the annual event, which featured STS-131 pilot and 1991 Academy graduate Col. Jim Dutton as guest speaker. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Shuttle pilot speaks at Astro Department dining-out

Dr. Gary Yale and his wife, Debbie, talk to Col. Jim Dutton during social hour at a Department of Astronautics dining-out in the Air Force Academy's Falcon Club May 7, 2010. Colonel Dutton, a 1991 Academy graduate, was Space Shuttle Discovery's pilot for the STS-131 mission to the International Space Station in April. Dr. Yale is an assistant professor with the Academy's Department of Systems Engineering. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Academy superintendent goes onstage for NPR's 'Wait, Wait ...'

Lt. Gen. Michael Gould interacts with the host, judge and panel of NPR's "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" comedy news quiz May 6, 2010. General Gould, the Air Force Academy superintendent, correctly answered two of three questions about Eton College in England to win a prize for Dan Condon of Boulder, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Johnny Wilson)

Cadet research benefits Falcon Stadium

Cadets 1st Class Caleb Becker (left) and Ben Saunders discuss field conditions with Mike Wehrmann, Falcon Stadium manager. Here, the three examine a cross section of the artificial turf on the field. The cadets? research project found that the heating system that mitigates ice from the field before game time only needs to be turned on for 24 hours as opposed to a week before a cold weather game.

Academy children 'deploy' to Jacks Valley

Benga, a military working dog with the Air Force Academy's 10th Security Forces Squadron, shows off his ability to subdue a suspect as part of a military working dog demonstration during Operation Junior Deployer at the Academy May 1, 2010. Benga and his handler, Staff Sgt. Zerrick Shanks, recently returned from a deployment to the Middle East. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Academy children 'deploy' to Jacks Valley

Tech. Sgt. Pamela Cavit helps Nathan Cooper, age 6, do flips while the two wait in line for lunch during Operation Junior Deployer at the Air Force Academy May 1, 2010. Sergeant Cavit is a readiness manager with the Academy's 10th Force Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Academy children 'deploy' to Jacks Valley

Otis Bartholow boards a bus for "Usafastan" with help from his father, Staff Sgt. Adam Bartholow, as part of Operation Junior Deployer at the Air Force Academy May 1, 2010. Sergeant Bartholow is a command, control, communications, computers and intelligence program manager for the Academy's 10th Communications Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Academy children 'deploy' to Jacks Valley

Fadio Fenner, Blandon Beeler, Luke Ryktarsyk, Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Young, Ethan Gunn and Matthew Mikovits give their all in a tug-o-war contest during Operation Junior Deployer at the Air Force Academy May 1, 2010. The day-long experience was designed to help children understand some of what Airmen go through while deploying. Chief Young is the 10th Force Support Squadron superintendent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Cadets, NSA engage in cyber wargames

Cadet 3rd Class Tyler Schultz and Cadets 1st Class Anthony Blankenberger, Benjamin Bruckman, Jase Garcia and Jesse Lind gather around to watch proceedings during the National Security Agency's 2010 Cyber Defense Exercise at the U.S. Air Force Academy April 22. Cadets in the exercise built a network and had to defend it from NSA aggressor teams' attacks. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Recent grads speak at Falcon Heritage Forum

First Lt. Lindsey Kirchhoff navigates the Ropes Course at the Air Force Academy April 15, 2010. Lieutenant Kirchhoff, a 2007 Academy graduate, returned to talk to cadets about her experience in the operational Air Force as part of the Spring 2010 Falcon Heritage Forum. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bill Evans)

Recent grads speak at Falcon Heritage Forum

Second Lt. Joshua Meents navigates the Ropes Course at the U.S. Air Force Academy April 15, 2010. Lieutenant Meents visited the Academy to speak at the Spring 2010 Falcon Heritage Forum, which was themed, Officers of Character: Lieutenants in Action." He is assigned to the 53rd Electronic Warfare Group, Detachment 1, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bill Evans)

Recent grads speak at Falcon Heritage Forum

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Bob Vasquez, right, talks to 2nd Lt. Garrett Dilley at the Air Force Academy's Ropes Course April 15, 2010. Chief Vasquez is the course director for the Academy's Center for Character Leadership and Development. Lieutenant Dilley is assigned to the 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

'Academy Room' highlights enlisted-cadet relationships

Tech. Sgts. Mitch Retzlaff and John Kershaw review enlisted performance report bullet statements for accuracy and impact during classwork in the Vossler NCO Academy at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., April 26, 2010. NCOs at the U.S. Air Force Academy recently updated the decorations in the Air Force Academy-sponsored room, adding photo montages to highlight the working relationship between the Academy's enlisted corps and cadets. Sergeant Retzlaff is assigned to Peterson's 16th Space Control Squadron; Sergeant Kershaw is assigned to the 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

'Academy Room' highlights enlisted-cadet relationships

Airmen at the Vossler NCO Academy at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., review enlisted performance report bullet statements April 26, 2010. NCOs at the U.S. Air Force Academy recently added new photo montages highlighting the relationship between the Academy's enlisted corps and its cadets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Appointees get large glimpse of Academy life

Ian Anthony of Greenville, S.C., and Greg Hanson of The Villages, Fla., stand in line at the boot and shoe warehouse during Class of 2014 orientation Monday. Orientation introduces appointees to a picture of life at the Academy and allows them to ask questions about the Academy experience. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Appointees get large glimpse of Academy life

Air Force Academy Cadet 4th Class Douglas Johnston of Cadet Squadron 28 helps Trevor Cutler of Mission Viejo, Calif., at the Academy's boot and shoe warehouse during Class of 2014 orientation Monday. Orientation introduces appointees to a picture of life at the Academy and allows them to ask questions about the Academy experience. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)