Board of Visitors meets with Academy officials

The Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors traveled to the Academy Sept. 15, 2012, to learn more about ongoing missions and concerns. Pictured are, left to right: Dr. Thomas McKiernan, Fletcher Wiley, Alfredo Sandoval, Board Chair Ambassador Susan Schwab, retired Lt. Gen. Dick Jameson, Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones and Robin Hayes. Not pictured are retired Maj. Gen. Marcelite Harris, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.). (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Academy to observe Hispanic Heritage Month

A mariachi band plays at a Hispanic Heritage Month luncheon at the Air Force Academy Sept. 15, 2011. The 2012 Hispanic Heritage Month lucheon is scheduled for noon to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Arnold Hall Ballroom. Tickets cost $10 and must be purchased by Sept. 24.

Music director reflects on 30 years at Academy

Dr. Joe Galema conducts the Cadet Chorale and Colorado Springs Philharmonic's performance of Handel's "Messiah" in the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel Dec. 2, 2011. Galema, the Cadet Chapel's music director and organist, started working at the Academy in September 1982. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Academy observes AF's 65th birthday

Airmen 1st Class Christen Neel (right) and Nicholas Marthaler (center) fold the American flag during a retreat ceremony honoring the Air Force birthday at the Air Force Academy's 10th Air Base Wing Headquarters Sept. 18, 2012. Neel is a surgical technician with the 10th Medical Group. Marthaler is a cyberspace systems operator with the 10th Communications Squadron. Also pictured, second from left, is Tech. Sgt. Bianca Meehan, the flag detail NCO in charge. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Academy observes AF's 65th birthday

Tech. Sgt. Bianca Meehan (center) secures the American flag during a retreat ceremony at the Air Force Academy's 10th Air Base Wing Headquarters Sept. 18, 2012. The ceremony was held to honor the Air Force's 65th birthday. Meehan, the NCO in charge of the flag detail, is the NCO in charge of clinical dietetics for the 10th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. Also comprising the detail were Airmen 1st Class Christen Neel (right) and Nicholas Marthaler (not pictured). (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Academy firefighter to receive national award

Elaine Perkins, right, takes the baton from Stacey Billapando during the World Firefighter Combat Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Nov. 16, 2011. Perkins, a native of Honolulu and station captain for Fire Station 3 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., was named the 2011 National Image, Inc., Meritorious Service Award winner. Billapando is a firefighter with the Colorado Springs Fire Department. Perkins, Billapando, Andrea Caraway and Senior Airman Jessica Condon comprised the now-retired Fire Fembots team, which set a world record time for women's relay in 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Van Winkle)