Class of 2012 Graduation

Cadets in the Air Force Academy's Class of 2012 march into Falcon Stadium to kick off the gradution ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colo. May 23, 2012. An audience of more than 28,000 people attended the ceremony, which featured a commencement address by President Barack Obama and an air show by the Thunderbirds Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Obama to Class of 2012: Your spirit is essence of America

Newly minted second lieutenants toss their hats skyward as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly over Falcon Stadium during the Air Force Academy Class of 2012 graduation ceremony May 23, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colo. A total of 1,073 graduates crossed the stage and received their diplomas from President Barack Obama. (U.S. Air Force photo/Elizabeth Andrews)

Obama to Class of 2012: Your spirit is essence of America

President Barack H. Obama congratulates Cadet 1st Class Madison Chilton during the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Falcon Stadium May 23, 2012. Chilton, the daughter of Mobilization Assistant Brig. Gen. Cathy Chilton, is one of a record 237 women to graduate as part of the Academy's Class of 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Hayhurst named as top Class of 2012 graduate

Cadet 1st Class Dustin Hayhurst poses for a photo during a ceremony recognizing him as the top graduate for the Air Force Academy's Class of 2012 May 18, 2012. Hayhurst, a native of Freeport, Fla., was also named the Air Force's top cadet May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Cadet Wing wraps up 1st Polaris Warrior

A group of cadets from Cadet Squadron 05 apply their self-aid and buddy care knowledge to treat a simulated sucking chest wound during the SABC portion of Polaris Warrior at the Air Force Academy April 28, 2012. CS 05 took fifth place in the event with a score of 64.35. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Cadet Wing wraps up 1st Polaris Warrior

Cadets scale an obstacle at the Air Force Academy's obstacle course April 28, 2012. The obstacle course was one of six compulsory events in Polaris Warrior, an end-of-academic-year challenge testing cadets' military readiness. Cadet Squadron 05 won the obstacle course portion of the event with a total time of 12:05. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Cyber warriors: Cadets shine in NSA competition

Left to right: Cadets 1st Class Kate Lyons of Cadet Squadron 21, Mike Cousins of CS 01 and Geoff Pamerleau of CS 20 participate in the National Security Agency's Cyber Defense Exercise April 17, 2012. The cadets took first place in the competition, beating their counterparts at the other U.S. service academies and two post-graduate teams from the Air Force Institute of Technology. (U.S. Air Force photo/Raymond McCoy)

Ambassadors, leaders: Cadets chosen to work with international businesses in new Academy program

Eleven cadets, shown in this group photo taken April 24, 2012, were recently selected for the Air Force Academy's inaugural Ambassadors of Inclusion program, which will give the cadets experience working for private companies around the world. The program aims to provide cadets with cultural adaptation and self-awareness skills as well as fundamental leadership competencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Capstone UAS project explores land, sea, air possibilities

Cadet 1st Class Tristan Latchu manipulates the controls of the camera onboard a remotely piloted aircraft at the Air Force Academy's Aardvark airfield April 11, 2012. Latchu and three other seniors -- Danny Harold, Amy Abraham and Michael McClain -- built the aircraft to be part of a team of unmanned vehicles that will conduct a search-and-intercept operation at the U.S. Military Academy in early May. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Capstone UAS project explores land, sea, air possibilities

Cadet 1st Class Danny Harold removes a screw from a small remotely piloted aircraft during a preflight check at the Air Force Academy's Aardvark runway April 11, 2012. Harold and three other cadets will travel to West Point in May to conduct a scenario involving unmanned aerial systems along with unmanned surface vehicles designed by Naval Academy midshipmen and unmanned ground vehicles designed by U.S. Military Academy cadets. Harold, an electrical engineering major, is assigned to Cadet Squadron 05. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Cadets, instructors submit next-gen aircraft engine patents

Lt. Col. A.J. Rolling signs a patent application for a hybrid jet-turboprop engine at the Air Force Academy March 19, 2012. Also pictured are five of the cadets and three other instructors involved with the engine design project, part of a senior-year capstone course in aircraft propulsion. Rolling is the director of the Academy's Aeronautics Laboratory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Elizabeth Andrews)

Habitat for Humanity

Cadet 3rd Class Christina Napper, of Cadet Squadron 24, puts the finishing touches on a home for a deserving family March 28, 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

Habitat for Humanity

Cadet 3rd Class Chelsea Renfro, of Cadet Squadron 30, operates a circular saw during the Habitat for Humanity project March 28, 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

Academy takes 1st place at regional cyber competition

Cadet 1st Class Jordan Keefer (bottom left) and Cadet 2nd Class Nathan Hart (bottom right) work in the Air Force Academy's cyberwarfare laboratory March 5, 2012. Keefer and Hart are two of the eight cadets in the Academy's cyberwarfare team, which won a regional competition in Denver March 2-3. Also pictured is Dr. Martin Carlisle, the professor and academics deputy director for the Academy's Computer Science Department. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Professors, STEM club cadets reach out to kids at science carnival

Cadets with the Air Force Academy's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics club help children make paper airplanes at an aeronautics booth during the Cool Science Festival Hands-on Science Carnival Oct. 15, 2011, at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs. Other Academy STEM booths featured models of future aircraft and a solid rocket demonstration. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Cadet cyber team competes on world stage

Clockwise from right: Cadet 2nd Class Josh Christman, Cadet 1st Class Chris Shields, Cadet 2nd Class Nathan Hart and Cadet 1st Class Jordan Keefer discuss how to conduct a string format attack during a cyber competition team meeting in the Air Force Academy's Cyberwarfare Lab Oct. 3, 2011. String format vulnerabilities exist in some software applications written using the C++ programming language and can allow attackers to gain administrative rights on remote systems. Keefer is the team's cadet in charge. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Flood Relief

Cadets 1st Class Cody Main, left and Nathan Timsuren, move furniture into Pierre’s first school house, to get the facility ready to accept visitors, while Cadet 2nd Class Cassandra Hill moves to get out of the doorway to bring more materials into the school house.. (U.S. Air Force Photo/John Van Winkle)

Academy celebrates Hispanic heritage

Cadet 2nd Class Stephannie Hernandez-Ruberte (left) takes part in a cadet panel during the Academy's National Hispanic Heritage Month Luncheon at the Falcon Club Sept. 15, 2011. The event kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through Oct. 15. Hernandez-Roberte is assigned to Cadet Squadron 33. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Mike Kaplan)

Chilton family continues tradition of service

Brig. Gen. Cathy Chilton and her daughter, Cadet 1st Class Madison Chilton, pose for a photo near the Eagle and Fledglings statue at the Air Force Academy Sept. 21, 2011. Madison, a physics major in Cadet Squadron 05, is the fourth generation of her family to serve in the Air Force. General Chilton is the mobilization assistant to the Academy superintendent. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)