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Former permanent professors return to AFA for Heritage to Horizons Assembly

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Retired permanent professors and deans of the faculty returned to the Air Force Academy for the biennial "Heritage to Horizons" Education Assembly Aug. 26-27.

The event marked the largest gathering of retired permanent professors in the Academy's history, with permanent professors who represented a combined 335 years of service including several professors who served during the Academy's formative years in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The retired professors joined the current faculty to honor past accomplishments and plan for future successes.

"For if we see any further, it is because we stand on the shoulders of giants," said Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. Dana Born in her opening remarks, quoting Sir Isaac Newton. She added, "We are trying to build upon your great legacy."

After an initial welcome by Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould and other senior leaders from each of the five mission elements, the returning permanent professors gathered in Harmon Hall and Fairchild Hall for panel discussions concerning two recent endeavors here: accreditation and FALCON Flight, a review of curricula across the Academy.

Between panels, the retired professors visited their former classrooms and laboratories. They spoke with current faculty members and cadets to assess curricula, core requirements and the challenges facing future expeditionary Air Force officers.

"The zest and enthusiasm for the Air Force Academy and our country is apparent at each level of the Academy," said retired Brig. Gen. Malham Wakin, the permanent professor for philosophy and fine arts from 1964-1995.

This year's assembly coincided with the presentation of the Academy's 2009 Thomas D. White National Defense Award Aug. 26 and a historic milestone for the Center for Character and Leadership Development Aug. 27: the investiture of the first CCLD permanent professor, Col. Joseph Sanders III.

The retired professors caught up with former colleagues at a "Back to School" reception hosted by the Dean at the Heritage House the evening of Aug. 26. During the reception, retired Col. Richard Hughes was promoted to brigadier general in recognition of his distinguished service as a permanent professor. General Hughes continues to contribute to the Academy mission by serving as the Transformation Chair.

The educators addressed FALCON Flight Aug. 27 and offered their insight and expertise. At the concluding session, retired Brig. Gen. Ruben Cubero, a former dean of the faculty, expressed the visitors' appreciation for the "deep concern shown towards the retired permanent professor corps and the Dean of Faculty's continuous efforts to keep us informed and engaged." Retired Brig. Gen. Orwyn Sampson concurred, calling his experience excellent.

This gathering of former and current Academy permanent professors fulfills the vision Academy leaders expressed four years ago: that the assembly become a recurring biennial gathering for the betterment of the cadets, the faculty, the Academy and ultimately the Air Force and the United States.

PERMANENT PROFESSOR ATTENDEES

Name Department and Tenure
Mrs. Roger Bate Astronautics, 1962-73
Col. Thomas Bowie English, 1999-2003
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Philip Caine Commandant Military Instruction, 1981-92
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Ruben Cubero Foreign Languages, 1984-1991, and dean, 1991-98
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Philip Erdle Engineering Mechanics, 1964-79
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Cary Fisher Engineering Mechanics, 1977-2005
Col. Kenneth Fleming Economics, 1982-88
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Jesse Gatlin Jr. English, 1966-77
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Richard Hughes Behavioral Science and Leadership, 1987-95
Brig. Gen. Rita Jordan Management, 1998-2008
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Alan Klayton Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1988-2008
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Richard Lee Law, 1988-97
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Daniel Litwhiler Mathematics, 1986-2006
Col. John May Physics, 1980-87
Col. Joseph Monroe Computer Science, 1979-87
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Gunther Mueller Foreign Language, 1981-2008
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Carl Reddel History, 1982-99
Mrs. Ronald D. Reed Biology, 1993-2005
Lt. Gen. and Mrs. Ervin Rokke Political Science, 1976-83, and dean, 1983-86
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Orwyn Sampson Biology, 1980-92
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Jack Shuttleworth English, 1977-99
Brig. Gen. David Swint Civil Engineering, 1982-2000
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Malham Wakin Philosophy and Fine Arts, 1964-95
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. John Williams Behavioral Science and Leadership, 1976-86
Brig. Gen. James Woody Management, 1982-97