USAFA adds 5 to 'Long Blue Line'

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Heather Stanton
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The U.S. Air Force's Academy added five new graduates to the "Long Blue Line' Wednesday morning during the fall semester graduation and commissioning ceremony in Arnold Hall.

At the ceremony, David Baska, Spencer Boone, Christopher De La Torre, Adetunji Fisayo and Kaleb Jenkins received their diplomas and were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force.

The commencement speaker, Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, spoke to the cadets about the ceremony being the beginning of their career, and what it took to get through the rigors of the Academy.

"Today is a beginning for you, not an end," she said. "Today is the beginning of your Air Force career and we are proud to share it with you. You have committed yourselves to being officers of character and living honorably. Congratulations on your achievements."

Baska graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Humanities and will report to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to serve as a space operations officer before going into acquisitions.

Boone graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences and will report to Vance AFB, Okla., to begin undergraduate pilot training.

De La Torre graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and report to Buckley AFB to serve as a space operations officer before going into acquisitions.

Fisayo graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies and will report to Vance AFB, Okla., to begin undergraduate pilot training.

Jenkins graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and will report to Laughlin AFB, Texas, to begin undergraduate pilot training.

"I am humbled, honored, and ready to be the newest proud member of the Long Blue Line," Fisayo said. "I am thankful for all my instructors, mentors, colleagues, officers and enlisted members alike for the training I have received while at the Air Force Academy. The Academy was without a doubt the most challenging and most rewarding experience I have ever had and I am grateful to have had this opportunity."

These five lieutenants bring the Class of 2013's graduation total to 1,041, and the Air Force Academy's total number of graduates to 46,045 since the first graduating class of 1959.

At the end of the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Gregory Lengyel, Commandant of Cadets, gave his parting words: "Class of 2013, you are dismissed!"