Air Force Academy holds Independence Day bash

Master Sgt. Tim Allums performs at the Air Force Academy's Independence Day celebration July 4, 2011, at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. Sergeant Allums is a trumpet player with the Air Force Academy Band and a native of Beaumont, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Academy hits switch on 6-MW solar array

Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, third from right, flips a switch to signify the dedication of a 6-megawatt solar array at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 13, 2011. General Gould is the Academy superintendent. Also pictured are 10th Air Base Wing Vice Commander Col. Todd Robison, third from left, and officials from SunPower Corporation and Colorado Springs Utilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

New 'milkstool' design may save dollars, backs

Loadmasters and a crew from the 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron at Sather Air Base, Iraq, load a baggage pallet onto a C-130 Hercules June 3, 2008. Sitting on the C-130's cargo ramp is a "milkstool": a ramp support platform that may, in coming years, be replaced with a more lightweight version designed by Air Force Academy cadets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

Memorial Day 2011

Air Force leaders issued a Memorial Day statement to Airmen and their families May 24, 2011. In this photo, Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould presents Larry and Joyce Brodeur with a flag during the May 17, 2011, funeral service for Maj. David Brodeaur, a 1999 Academy graduate who was killed April 27 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Secretary Donley congratulates new officers at AFA commencement

Cadets celebrate on the ramp leading into Falcon Stadium prior to the Air Force Academy Class of 2011 graduation ceremony May 25, 2011, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Among those in attendance at the graduation ceremony were retired Medal of Honor recipient Col. Bud Day, whose son, Joshua, was among the 1,021 graduates. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Secretary Donley congratulates new officers at AFA commencement

The U.S. Air Force Academy Band performs prior to the start of the Air Force Academy Class of 2011 graduation ceremony May 25, 2011, at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley spoke at the ceremony, in which 1,021 cadets received their diplomas and commissions as second lieutenants. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

AOG President

William "T." Thompson is the president and CEO of the Association of Graduates; a non-profit organization that supports the Air Force Academy and its alumni. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Academy Board names Class of 2011 top grad

Cadet 1st Class Hal Schmidt (center) takes the Air Force Academy superintendent's seat at the invitation of Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould (standing) during a meeting of the Academy Board May 20, 2011. Cadet Schmidt was selected by the Academy Board as the top graduate for the Class of 2011 based on his academic, military and physical fitness accomplishments. Also pictured are, from left: Col. Paul Pirog, permanent professor for the Department of Law; Col. Mark Wells, permanent professor for the Department of History; Brig. Gen. Dana Born, the dean of the faculty; Col. Tamra Rank, the vice superintendent; Brig. Gen. Richard Clark, the commandant of cadets; Dr. Hans Mueh, the director of athletics; Col. John Andrew, permanent professor for the Department of Mathematical Sciences; Col. Neal Barlow, permanent professor for the Department of Aeronautics; and Col. Richard Anderson, the vice commandant. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

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 arrives at the Air Force Academy and meets Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould before addressing the Cadet Wing in Arnold Hall Theater March 4, 2011. (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'

A formation of enlisted Airmen stationed at the Air Force Academy prepares to observe retreat at the Academy March 3, 2011. Chief Master Sgt. Todd Salzman, the Academy's command chief, organized the event to honor Air Force tradition and enlisted professionalism. (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)

Interfaith panelists discuss views of the divine

Chaplain (Maj.) Peter Fischer, left, discusses his views of the divine with a senior cadet during a break in an interfaith discussion panel at the Air Force Academy's Oasis lounge March 2, 2011. Chaplain Fischer is the Academy's senior protestant chaplain. (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 the divine

Chaplain (Maj.) Peter Fischer, left, discusses the Christian view of God during an interfaith discussion panel at the Air Force Academy's Oasis lounge March 2, 2011. Chaplain Fisher is an Anglican minister and the Academy's senior protestant chaplain. Also pictured, right, is Chaplain (Maj.) Joshua Narrowe, a Jewish rabbi and the panel moderator. (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)

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

A guitarist performs at a concert featuring the Air Force Academy Band's Blue Steel group and youth symphony orchestras from Colorado Springs, Colo., and Pasadena, Calif., in the Academy's Arnold Hall Theater Feb. 20, 2011. The concert was the seventh such event featuring Blue Steel and youth symphonies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Blue Steel reaches out to America's youth through music

Tech. Sgt. Julie Bradley belts out a tune during a concert featuring the Air Force Academy Band's Blue Steel and youth orchestras from Colorado Springs, Colo., and Pasadena, Calif. Sergeant Bradley is a vocalist with Blue Steel and a native of Wichita, Kan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Blue Steel reaches out to America's youth through music

Retired Master Sgt. Wayne Wilkinson performs alongside the Air Force Academy Band's Blue Steel ensemble and youth orchestras from Colorado Springs, Colo., and Pasadena, Calif., during a concert at the Academy's Arnold Hall Theater Feb. 20, 2011. Sergeant Wilkinson performed with both the Academy Band and the Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., before retiring. He now lives in Colorado Springs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

NCLS 2011

Retired Col. George "Bud" Day, right, receives a commemorative National Character and Leadership Symposium plaque from his grandson, Cadet 1st Class Josh Day, after the NCLS Medal of Honor panel at the Air Force Academy's Arnold Hall Theater Feb. 24, 2011. Colonel Day was a command pilot and prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. Cadet Day is assigned to Cadet Squadron 21. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

NCLS 2011

Retired Col. Leo Thorsness speaks during the National Character and Leadership Symposium's Medal of Honor panel discussion at the Air Force Academy Feb. 24, 2011. Colonel Thorsness, an F-105 Thunderchief pilot, engaged five MiGs in air-to-air combat, destroying two of them and saving the lives of two American pilots who had ejected from their aircraft. Joining Colonel Thorsness on the Medal of Honor panel were retired Col. George "Bud" Day and Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)