New Cadet Wing commander glad he stayed

Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Andrew VanTimmeren stands at attention during the Cadet Wing's noon meal formation Jan. 10, 2010. Cadet VanTimmeren succeeded Cadet 1st Class Nathan Dial in a change-of-command ceremony in Mitchell Hall Jan. 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ann Patton)

New Cadet Wing commander glad he stayed

Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Andrew VanTimmeren observes a pass in review during a Cadet Wing noon meal formation Jan. 10, 2010, at the Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Cadet VanTimmeren succeeded Cadet 1st Class Nathan Dial as Cadet Wing commander for the Spring 2010 semester. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ann Patton)

Cadets launch 'Roswell II'

Air Force Academy cadets with the Academy's Space Club watch a weather balloon shortly after launch from the Stillman Parade Field Jan. 10, 2010. The balloon reached an altitude of approximately 85,000 feet before landing southeast of Colorado Springs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Cadets launch 'Roswell II'

Air Force Academy Cadets with the Academy's Space Club watch as their balloon, dubbed "Roswell II," takes off from the Academy's Stillman Parade Field Jan. 10, 2010. The balloon launch is part of an experiment in which cadets tracked the balloon and retrieved photos from a digital camera in the balloon's payload. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Cadets launch 'Roswell II'

Air Force Academy Cadet 2nd Class Kyle Tomaszewski braces a weather balloon as it inflates on the Academy's Stillman Parade Field Jan. 10, 2010. Cadet Tomaszewski is assigned to Cadet Squadron 40 and was one of 12 Academy Space Club cadets who launched the balloon, dubbed "Roswell II." (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Cadets launch 'Roswell II'

Air Force Academy Cadet 4th Class Shane Bruski (bottom right) talks with Cadets 3rd Class Jordan Wittman (left) and Logan Brandt while inflating a weather balloon at Stillman Parade Field Jan. 10, 2010. The cadets, all members of the Academy's Space Club, named the experiment "Roswell II." Cadets Bruski, Wittman and Brandt are assigned to Cadet Squadrons 32, 30 and 18, respectively. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

USAFA 2009 in Review

Air Force Academy Cadet 4th Class Kyle Fitle checks his temperature using a disposable thermometer during Basic Cadet Training at the Academy's Jacks Valley July 13, 2009. The cadet population was screened for influenza-like symptoms after more than 150 cadets were diagnosed with the H1N1 flu virus. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Ahlschwede)

Practice makes perfect!

Air Force Academy Cadets 4th Class Cole Patten and Colton Steen practice throwing rifles during Cadet Honor Guard practice in the Academy's Honor Court Jan. 4, 2010. The rifles are covered to protect them from scrapes or other damage. Freshman cadets on the Cadet Honor Guard learn basic drill, leadership and teamwork skills, while upperclassmen serve as a training cadre and perform ceremonial and funeral honors for the Cadet Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Cadets move into new digs

Air Force Academy Cadet 4th Class Daniel Gregory organizes books and folders while moving into his new dormitory in the Academy's Vandenberg Hall Jan. 4, 2010. The dormitory renovations are part of the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron's Academy-wide "Fix USAFA" initiative.

Cadets move into new digs

Air Force Academy Cadet 4th Class Lee Bussey digs into a trunk while unpacking in his new dormitory in the Academy's Vandenberg Hall Jan. 4, 2010. Cadet Bussey and his roommates, Cadets 4th Class Daniel Gregory and David Dunkel, are among approximately 450 cadets who recently moved into new dorms. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Wings of Blue competes at national contest

Cadet 1st Class Stephan Azab packs his parachute after a jump during the U.S. Parachuting Association's National Collegiate Parachuting Championships in Rosharon, Texas, Dec. 29. Cadet Azab is a member of the Air Force Academy's Wings of Blue parachute team. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Van Winkle)

Wings of Blue competes at national contest

A Wings of Blue team member approaches a landing zone during U.S. Parachuting Association's National Collegiate Parachuting Championships in Rosharon, Texas, Dec. 29. Jumps on the first day of the four-day event focused on spot accuracy. Wings of Blue is the Air Force Academy's competitive parachuting team and the Air Force's premier jump team. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Van Winkle)

Academy cadet on the road to Oxford

Cadet 1st Class Brittany Morreale is one of 32 Rhodes Scholars nationwide for 2009 and the 36th Air Force Academy cadet to receive the award. Cadet Morreale is a physics major with a minor in Japanese and will work toward a master's degree in physics at Oxford University after she graduates from the Academy. She is a native of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)

Cadet Squadron 23 repeats as Commandant's Challenge champs

Cadet Squadron 23 cadets celebrate their second-straight victory in the Commandant's Challenge at the Air Force Academy's Clune Arena Nov. 24, 2009. CS23 also shared first place in the "Falcon Feud" military knowledge competition with CS40. (U.S. Air Force photo/Johnny Wilson)

Cadet Squadron 23 repeats as Commandant's Challenge champs

Cadet 3rd Class Alex Gegen does pull-ups during the physical exercise portion of the Commandant's Challenge in the Academy's Clune Arena Nov. 22, 2009. Cadet Gegen is assigned to Cadet Squadron 29. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Cadet Squadron 23 repeats as Commandant's Challenge champs

Cadet 3rd Class Nicholas Manning and Cadet 4th Class Kenneth Tona treat Cadet 3th Class Edward Artz for shock after Cadet Artz suffered a simulated shrapnel wound Nov. 22, 2009. The field exercise portion of the Commandant's Challenge included Self-Aid Buddy Care, land navigation, marksmanship and other military skills they'll need when they're deployed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Senior cadet awarded Marshall Scholarship

Cadet 1st Class Austin McKinney was named a Marshall Scholarship winner for 2010. Cadet McKinney, a Michigan native, is the U.S. Air Force Academy's 11th Marshall Scholar and the top-ranked cadet in the Class of 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Academy flying team wins safety competition

Cadet 1st Class John Rice and Cadet 2nd Class Daniel Gidasi make final preparations before a navigation competition as part of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association District I Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Oct. 7, 2009. The Academy took first place in the competition, which ran Oct. 3-11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Life-saving cadets receive commendation medals

Brig. Gen. Samuel Cox poses for a photo with Cadets 2nd Class Bryan Koenig, Derrick Rowe and Alan Foote after presenting the cadets with Air Force Commendation Medals in Mitchell Hall Monday.The cadets, along with Cadet 1st Class Benjamin Garoutte, swam to the aid of three Panamanians at risk of drowning during a cultural immersion trip to Panama City in June. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bill Evans)

Falcon defensive lineman to be featured on CBS College Sports

Cadet 1st Class Ben Garland, seen here in his 2008-2009 yearbook photo, will be featured on CBS College Sports Network's "Inside Academy Football," scheduled to air Oct. 9 from 5-5:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. CBS-C will also carry the Air Force-TCU game, scheduled to kick off Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m. MST. American Forces Network TV will simulcast the CBS-C coverage to viewers overseas. (U.S. Air Force photo courtesy of Cadet Wing Media)

Air Force senior named MWC co-golfer of month

Air Force senior Tom Whitney, pictured here at the U.S. Air Force Academy's Eisenhower Golf Course Sept. 19, 2009, was named the Mountain West Conference Men's co-golfer of the month for September. Whitney tied for third place at the William H. Tucker Invitational and the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, shooting 6-under-par and 5-under-par respectively. (U.S. Air Force photo/J. Rachel Spencer)

Soccer: Falcons blank Army 1-0 in OT

Freshman Zane Dydasco dribbles the ball upfield during the Air Force-Army soccer match at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Sept. 19, 2009. Dydasco scored the first goal of his career 2:16 into overtime to give the Falcons a 1-0 victory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)

Football: Defense carries Falcons to 26-14 victory over Aztecs

Sophomore defensive back Anthony Wright tackles Aztecs wide receiver Vincent Brown during the Falcons' 26-14 win over San Diego State at Falcon Stadium, Colo., Sept. 26, 2009. Wright had three solo tackles and a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachel Boettcher)

Football: Defense carries Falcons to 26-14 victory over Aztecs

Falcons freshman outside linebacker Alex Means sacks Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley during the Falcons' 26-14 win over San Diego State at Falcon Stadium, Colo., Sept. 26, 2009. The Falcons defense sacked Lindley three times and intercepted him four times in Air Force's 26-14 victory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)