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)