Distinguished Academy Grads honored during Founder's Day

  • Published
  • By Amber Baillie
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Two Academy graduates were presented the Association of Graduates' Distinguished Graduate Award April 11 during the Founders Day celebration here.

The recipients for 2014, retired Gen. Kevin Chilton, a 1976 graduate, and Dr. Thomas Eller, a 1961 graduate, were the 14th class of Distinguished Graduates recognized for their distinctive contributions to the Academy, society and the nation.

Since 2001, the Academy and the AOG have recognized exceptional graduates whose accomplishments inspire and enhance the reputation of the Academy.

Chilton, the first U.S. astronaut to rise to the rank of general officer, said he is humbled to receive the award.

"I'm very grateful for the honor as I think about all of the graduates from this school, and the great things many of them have accomplished," he said. "They're just as, if not more, deserving of this award."

During the celebration, Chilton and Eller toured different areas of the Academy, including the Center for Character and Leadership Development construction site and connected with Academy leaders and classmates.

"Founders Day is a good opportunity to reflect on the responsibility, mission and enduring reasons for this institution," Chilton said. "It's important to remember your roots and where you came from. It was a momentous day for our Air Force and certainly for this institution when the president of the United States made the decision that there would be an Air Force Academy unique from the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy."

Chilton said the most important traditions here are those that remind cadets this institution isn't just a university.

"It's when they're reminded that this is a military institution," he said. "It offers them the opportunity to grow mentally, physically, spiritually and as a leader for four years. Anything that happens here that continues to support that tradition is worth preserving."

After graduating with an engineering science degree, Chilton became a test pilot before serving as an astronaut for 11 years.

"I applied because I wondered if I could make it," he said. "After being interviewed, I was sold and wanted to work for NASA badly. I thought, 'This is the perfect blend of science, engineering and flying.' It was an opportunity to do cutting-edge stuff."

Following NASA, Chilton returned to the Air Force. His last assignment was commander of U.S. Strategic Space Command before retiring in 2011. He served 34 years in the Air Force and was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2012.

"I think leaders of character are ethical, serve other people, and lead people to excellence," Chilton said. "I think our core values here capture what every leader should do and be. I think if you live and lead your life by the golden rule and treat people the way you want to be treated, people will line up behind you to go anywhere."

Chilton resides in Colorado Springs and is a member of the Falcon Foundation and AOG Board of Directors. He also teaches a class here in the Astronautics Department every semester.

"It's great being able to spend time with cadets and seeing how excellent they are," he said. "It maintains my faith in this generation that will secure our liberties for the next 30 years."

Eller spent 20 years in the Air Force, serving as a pilot and faculty member at the Academy.

"This day gives us a chance to reflect on the Academy's founding," he said. "It took years to build this place. It's important for us to realize what it took to create the Academy, what they wanted to do with it, and that we're still doing what it needs to do."

Eller flew 891 combat sorties during the Vietnam War and was awarded seven air medals and an Airman's medal for non-combat heroism.

"Integrity is essential for all Airmen," he said. "You must have integrity or the whole system falls apart. A mindset of excellence in everything you do and serving others before yourself makes all the difference in your and others success."

From 1969 to 1981, Eller taught in the Astronautics and Computer Science Department here. After retiring from the Air Force, he taught physics here as a civilian.

"Cadets have a lot more to learn these days," he said. "Look at all that has changed in the world. Back then, we didn't have computers and now every cadet has one. They also have social media to deal with. The breadth of what they have to learn is broader than what I had to learn here."

Being a part of the Academy's third graduating class, Eller said he enjoyed the newness of the Academy.

"Everything was experimental," he said. "We tried out different rules and would march 21 meals a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner."

Eller resides in Woodland Park and is a trustee of the Falcon Foundation. His son, son-in-law and grandson are also Academy graduates.

"I've had an ongoing experience with the school since the day I entered," he said. "If you talk to an Academy graduate, you will know they're the truth, and everything they touch they try to do their best at. That's the pride of graduating from here."