'Hero of Deer Creek' flies with Thunderbirds

Amanda, Sandra, Alec and Marissa Benke watch as the Thunderbirds No. 7 jet taxies toward the runway at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., with Dr. David Benke onboard. The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron gave Dr. Benke a "Hometown Hero" incentive flight for his role in taking down an active shooter at Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, Colo., in February. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

'Hero of Deer Creek' flies with Thunderbirds

Lt. Col. Derek Routt helps Dr. David Benke familiarize himself with the cockpit of the No. 7 Thunderbirds jet, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, on the flightline at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., May 23, 2010. Colonel Routt flew Dr. Benke on a "Hometown Hero" incentive flight as a gesture of gratitude for Dr. Benke's actions taking down an active shooter at Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton, Colo., in February. The Thunderbirds are the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, based at Nellis AFB, Nev. (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)

Airmen renew enlistment oaths at Peterson AFB

Pilots with the Thunderbirds U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron congratulate Airmen on having renewed their oaths of enlistment on the flightline of Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., May 23, 2010. About 25 Airmen from bases in the Colorado Springs area took part in the ceremony. Thunderbirds Commander Lt. Col. Case Cunningham administered the oath. (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.

Class of '10 selects Heiser Award winners

Dr. Kenneth Siegenthaler, a professor with the Air Force Academy's Department of Astronautics, 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. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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)

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)

Academy kicks off Women's History Month

Master Sgt. Angela Zurun examines a Women's History Month display at the Air Force Academy March 4, 2010. The Academy kicked off its month-long observance with a presentation by retired Chief Master Sgt. Linda Matthews and Academy Command Chief Master Sgt. Todd Salzman. Sergeant Zurun is assigned to the 10th Medical Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Academy kicks off Women's History Month

Chief Master Sgt. Todd Salzman speaks about his first encounter with women pilots as an in-flight refueling operator during a Women's History Month kickoff at the Air Force Academy March 4, 2010. Retired Chief Master Sgt. Linda Matthews, a career security forces Airman and previous security manager for Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., also spoke at the event. Chief Salzman is the Academy's command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Academy celebrates annual award winners

The winners of the 2009 Air Force Academy Awards are (left to right): Capt. Michelle Ruehl (company grade officer), Staff Sgt. Michael Clinkscales (NCO), Pamela Batzel (civilian category I), Erich Hoffmann (civilian category II), Senior Master Sgt. Roderick Schwald (first sergeant), Senior Airman Jessica Morehouse (Airman), Master Sgt. Robert Pemberton (senior NCO), Maj. Robert Bonner (Honor Guard officer), Staff Sgt. Michiyo Litynski (Honor Guard NCO), Master Sgt. Lissy Slezak (Honor Guard senior NCO) and Senior Airman Nhan Le (Honor Guard Airman). Not pictured is Keith Butala, the civilian category III winner. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Academy celebrates annual award winners

Attendees at the Air Force Academy Awards Dinner raise their glasses for a toast March 6, 2010. The guest speaker for this year's event at the Falcon Club was retired Maj. Gen. Irving Halter Jr., the Academy's vice superintendent from 2005-2006, was the guest speaker. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

NCLS speakers share perspectives on leadership

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley talks to Air Force Academy cadets about the nature of service in the Arnold Hall Theater Feb. 19, 2010, during the National Character and Leadership Symposium. The secretary was one of 17 keynote speakers for the two-day event; others included veterans of the Battle of Roberts Ridge as well as Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda and former NFL head coach Brian Billick. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

NCLS speakers share perspectives on leadership

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley talks to Air Force Academy cadets about the nature of service in the Arnold Hall Theater Feb. 19, 2010, during the National Character and Leadership Symposium. The secretary was one of 17 keynote speakers for the two-day event; others included veterans of the Battle of Roberts Ridge as well as Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda and former NFL head coach Brian Billick. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Colo. house speaker visits Academy

Chaplain (Capt.) Laserian Nwoga performs an invocation at the Black History Month Luncheon at the U.S. Air Force Academy's Falcon Club Feb. 22, 2010. Colorado Rep. Terrance Carroll, the speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, was the luncheon's guest speaker. Chaplain Nwoga is assigned to the 10th Air Base Wing Chapel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Cadets consider career options during Majors' Night

Capt. Bradly Bucholz talks about the civil engineering major program with Cadet 4th Class Bryan Anderson during Majors' Night at the Air Force Academy Feb. 11, 2010. Captain Bucholz is an instructor with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Cadet Anderson is assigned to Cadet Squadron 13. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Cadets consider career options during Majors' Night

Cadet Candidates Jacob Morin and Morgan Tilong test their piloting skills in a T-6 Texan flight simulator during Majors' Night at the Air Force Academy Feb. 11, 2010. The two are students at the Academy Preparatory School, which prepares students academically, physically and militarily to enter the Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Cadets consider career options during Majors' Night

Maj. Jason Stowe describes the geoscience major to a cadet candidate during Majors' Night at the Air Force Academy Feb. 11, 2010. The geoscience display was one of more than 30 set up to provide undeclared cadets information about available fields of study. Major Stowe is assigned to the Academy's Department of Economics and Geosciences. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Cadets consider career options during Majors' Night

Cadet Candidate Jamil Cooks asks Alice Meyer about the foreign area studies degree program during Majors' Night at the Air Force Academy Feb. 11, 2010. Representatives from each academic department set up displays to provide information on majors to freshmen and undeclared sophomores at the Academy as well as Academy Preparatory School students. Ms. Meyer is a Portugese instructor with the Department of Foreign Languages. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Academy medic earns Bronze Star for deeds in Afghanistan

Capt. Jason Rogers, right, and Maj. Jeff Lewis, left, perform a surgical operation in Afghanistan July 3, 2009. Captain Rogers, a physician assistant with the 10th Medical Group, received a Bronze Star Medal during a 10th Air Base Wing commander?s call Jan. 26, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo)