Wings of Blue wins national championship, drops into bowls

Jumpers link up in an attempt to break a three-point, 32-way collegiate sequential record during a parachuting competition in Eloy, Ariz. The Air Force Wings of Blue Parachute Team won several medals in the event, held Dec. 28, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012, capturing the collegiate championship. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Mike Love)

Wings of Blue wins national championship, drops into bowls

Parachutists with the Air Force Wings of Blue Parachute Competition Team attempt to set a three-point, 32-way college record during a jump competition over Eloy, Ariz. Wings of Blue teams won multiple medals at the competition, held Dec. 28, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Mike Love)

Why building Falcon Circle was 'right thing to do'

Rev. Dr. David Oringderff speaks with Lt. Gen. Mike Gould during a dedication ceremony for the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel Falcon Circle May 3, 2011. Oringderff is the executive director of the Sacred Well Congregation and represented the Earth-Centered Spirituality community during a religious respect conference at the Academy in November 2010. Gould is the Academy superintendent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Academy adds 4 to Class of 2011

Air Force Academy Athletics Director Dr. Hans Mueh delivers the commencement address at a graduation ceremony for four Class of 2011 graduates in Arnold Hall Dec. 14, 2011. Mueh, a 1966 Academy graduate, delivered the commencement in lieu of Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, who could not attend. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Academy adds 4 to Class of 2011

Cadets 1st Class Braylon Gurnell, Patrick Hennessey, Alexander Hess and Kenneth Lamendola swear their oaths of office during a graduation ceremony at the Air Force Academy Dec. 14, 2011. The four are the final additions to the Academy's Class of 2011, which now numbers 1,035. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

AFA superintendent invited into Order of the Sword

Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, right, embraces his wife, Paula, during a ceremony at the Falcon Club the morning of Dec. 13, 2011. The ceremony was billed as an enlisted call, but was instead an invitation by the Academy's enlisted corps to induct Gould, the Academy superintendent, into the Order of the Sword. (U.S. Air Force photo/Elizabeth Andrews)

Colorado Springs university leaders discuss U.S. education efforts

Clockwise from center: Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould talks with John Gould and Schuyler Foerster before a panel discussion at Colorado College Dec. 8, 2011, on education in the United States. John Gould is Colorado College's associate professor of political science. Foerster is president of the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, which organized the event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Colorado Springs university leaders discuss U.S. education efforts

Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, second from left, discusses the state of higher education in the United States during a panel at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo., Dec. 8, 2011. The Colorado Springs World Affairs Council organized the panel, which also included (from left): Dr. Pam Shockley-Zalabak, chancellor of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs; World Affairs Council President Schuyler Foerster, Colorado College President Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler and Dr. Bruce Harmon, dean of engineering at the southern campus of Colorado Technical University. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Academy builds vision for women's mentoring

Capt. Carla Stephany shares her table's ideas with the larger group during the Air Force Academy's women's mentoring initiative at the Milazzo Center Nov. 30, 2011. The purpose of the meeting was to set up a vision for implementing and assessing a women's mentoring program at the Academy. Stephany is a clinical social worker at the Academy's Peak Performance Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Elizabeth Andrews)

In the Stairwell

The cadet group In the Stairwell is scheduled to perform at a holiday reception Friday, Dec. 9, 2011 in the White House. The group was formed in 2004 and was just recently made an official cadet club. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

Volunteers lay wreaths at Academy Cemetery

Airman 1st Class Katrina Barrios places wreaths on graves in the Academy Cemetery Dec. 2, 2011. The Academy received 950 wreaths from Wreaths Across America for the wreath-laying ceremony, which was the first of its kind here. Barrios is assigned to the 10th Surgical Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan)

Volunteers lay wreaths at Academy Cemetery

Maj. Jason Harris brushes snow off a grave during a wreath laying at the Air Force Academy Cemetery Dec. 2, 2011. The ceremony was the first of its kind for the Academy Cemetery, according to Academy Mortuary Affairs officials. Harris is an instructor with the Academy's Department of Military and Strategic Studies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan)

Volunteers lay wreaths at Academy Cemetery

Master Sgt. Jerald Custance takes a wreath from a box during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Air Force Academy Cemetery Dec. 2, 2011. Wreaths Across America donated 950 wreaths to the Air Force Academy for placement at the cemetery, marking the first time such an event has taken place. Custance is the Academy Military Training NCO for Cadet Squadron 08. (U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan)

Volunteers lay wreaths at Academy Cemetery

Airmen attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Air Force Academy Cemetery Dec. 2, 2011. The Airmen volunteered to place 950 wreaths donated by Wreaths Across America onto grave sites at the cemetery. The ceremony was the first of its kind held at the Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan)

Radio evolution

KAFA started in the early 70s and has continued to evolve from playing records to full automation capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration)

On the air

Cadet 3rd Class Cody Nelson, or DJ Sparky, plays tunes for listeners on 97.7 KAFA, the Academy's radio station. DJ Sparky is one of 24 cadets and five permanent party volunteer DJs who fill time on KAFA's airwaves. KAFA started in the early 70s and has continued to evolve from playing records to full automation capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

Academy civilian receives valor award

Leslie Johnson, right, poses for a photograph with her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, near the Air Force Academy's Cadet Chapel Nov. 16, 2011. Johnson received a Command Civilian Award for Valor from Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould for placing herself in harm's way to rescue a 21-year-old resident of Colorado Springs, Colo., on Aug. 10. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Academy civilian receives valor award

Leslie Johnson, right, receives a Command Civilian Award for Valor from Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould during a senior staff meeting Nov. 16, 2011. Johnson risked her own safety to help a 21-year-old Colorado Springs, Colo., woman get away from an ex-boyfriend allegedly intent on killing her. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Air power on display

Airmen with the 58th Rescue Squadron disembark from an HH-60 Pave Hawk during a combat search and rescue demonstration at the Air Force Academy Nov. 4, 2011. The 58th, based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., is a geographically separated unit that reports to the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Air power on display

Cadet 4th Class Joseph Knutson and other cadets check out an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter at the Air Force Academy Nov. 4, 2011, after a combat search and rescue demonstration conducted by Airmen with the 58th Rescue Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 58th is a geographically separated unit of the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB, Ga. Knutson is assigned to Cadet Squadron 30. (U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan)

Air power on display

An HH-60 Pave Hawk gunner provides overwatch during a combat search and rescue demonstration at the Air Force Academy Nov. 4, 2011. The Pave Hawk crew is assigned to the 58th Rescue Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan)

Air power on display

Airmen with the 58th Rescue Squadron secure the area beneath an HH-60 Pave Hawk during a combat search and rescue demonstration at the Air Force Academy Nov. 4, 2011. The 58th, based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., is a geographically separated unit that reports to the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Liz Copan)

Academy shines at latest Assembly showcase

Cadet 2nd Class Craig Nowadly facilitates a discussion at the Air Force Academy-hosted Academy Assembly Oct. 19, 2011. The Academy Assembly is a cadet-organized and cadet-run conference held in conjunction with Columbia University's American Assembly. Students from other colleges visited the Academy as delegates, and a handful of speakers addressed topics related to this year's theme, "Power and Influence: Global Dynamics in the 21st Century." Nowadly is assigned to Cadet Squadron 34. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Academy shines at latest Assembly showcase

Peter Brookes speaks at the Academy Assembly, an annual event sponsored by the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Oct. 19, 2011. Brookes is the senior fellow in national security affairs at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)