Recent grads to highlight Falcon Heritage Forum

  • Published
  • By Maj. Michele Johnson
  • Center for Character and Leadership Development
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  More than 40 recent Academy graduates from the classes of 2006-2009 are set to participate in the Falcon Heritage Forum April 14-16.

The three-day event, hosted by the Center for Character Leadership and Development and themed, "Officers of Character: Lieutenants in Action," offers cadets a chance to interact directly with veterans from various backgrounds.

"We're proud to bring these graduates back to share their experiences with cadets," said CCLD Director Col. John Norton. "They are our most recent additions to the Long Blue Line, and they are leaders in our nation's current efforts in the Global War on Terrorism. We're especially delighted to have them spend most of their time directly with cadets."

The returning lieutenants represent more than 20 Air Force specialties such as acquisitions, bioenvironmental engineering, space and missiles, security forces and pilots of both manned and remotely piloted aircraft.

At least nine of the returning graduates already have deployed experience. Additionally, two Class of 2007 alumni -- 1st Lts. Steve Klenke and Austin Buck -- earned Bronze Stars during recent deployments in support of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lieutenant Klenke is a logistics readiness officer at Peterson Air Force Base, and Lieutenant Buck is a civil engineer assigned to Shaw AFB, N.C.

In order to maximize the interaction for both cadets and graduates, the Cadet Wing and CCLD staff will present 16 panels of guest speakers the evening of April 14. In addition, cadets can hear directly from individual lieutenants during presentations after lunch Thursday and April 16 in their squadron assembly rooms, followed by an "AFSC Crosstalk" in the Fairchild Hall Exemplar Hallway designed to allow cadets to speak with lieutenants about their specific career fields.

When originally conceived, the forum began as a small gathering of interested cadets and veterans. Since then, it has matured into a major twice-yearly event spanning three to four days, bringing veterans from all around the world to inform and inspire the entire Cadet Wing.

See the event program for a breakdown of speakers-to-venues and biographical data. For a complete schedule or more information, contact the CCLD at 333-4904 or visit the Falcon Heritage Forum Web site.

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
April 14, 7 p.m. -- "Lieutenants in Action" Panels in Arnold Hall Theater, Arnold Hall Ballroom, Arnold Hall Banquet Room and Fairchild Hall auditoriums F1, D1, D2, H1, H2, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, 2P318, and 2P318.
April 14, 8 p.m. -- Cookie and punch receptions at Fairchild Hall Falcon Center and Arnold Hall Ballroom.
April 15, 12:30 p.m. -- "Lieutenants in Action" discussions in cadet squadrons.
April 15, 1:30 -- 5:30 p.m. -- AFSC Crosstalk, Fairchild Hall Exemplar Hallway.
April 15, 6 p.m. -- Cadet squadron-hosted dinner.
April 16, 12:30 p.m. -- "Lieutenants in Action" discussions in cadet squadrons.