11 added to Academy's Class of 2013

  • Published
  • By John Van Winkle
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Eleven newly commissioned second lieutenants joined the Long Blue Line at the Academy's summer graduation and commissioning ceremony Aug. 2 in the Arnold Hall ballroom.

The ceremony brings the Class of 2013's total graduates to 1,035, inlcluding 10 international graduates and five officers who commissioned into other branches of service, said Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost, the Academy's dean of the faculty.

"This is our mission right here ... to graduate cadets," said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould. To the graduates, he added, "We know that you're ready for the challenges and opportunities that await you."

Graduating at the Aug. 2 ceremony were:

- Tory Camron Brown of Portland, Ore.
- Kirsten Bunecke of Colorado Springs
- Nicholas Edward Espinoza of San Antonio
- Ryan Andrew Fattal of Seal Beach, Calif.
- Michael Anthony Fisk of Palmer Lake, Colo.
- Zachary William Hoeffner of Albany, N.Y.
- Alex Michael Jessop of Toledo, Ohio.
- Megan Christine Lavelle of San Diego
- Thomas Christopher Popp of Bowie, Md.
- Jacob Thomas Spiering of Goldsboro, Md.
- Scott David Wooden of Williamsburg, Va.

The latest Academy graduates will scatter to their initial duty assignments. Two will work in space operations, one will be a scientist, one an engineer, one a finance officer and six are off to pilot training.

Retired Gen. Kevin P. Chilton was the guest speaker for the ceremony. He is a 1976 Air Force Academy distinguished graduate, who last served as the commander of U.S. Strategic Command before retiring in 2011.

"You're incredibly well-prepared to go on as a second lieutenant in today's Air Force," he said. "You don't know it all, but don't stop learning; keep studying and continue to learn."

The new graduates also received a gift from their legacy class, the Class of 1963. Two members of the class spoke to the graduates, reflecting on how Air Force and Academy values have remained a constant source of strength in all of their own combat and non-combat experiences. They then presented the graduates with their first gold bars.

After receiving their diplomas, the graduates took the oath of office and pinned on their new rank with the help of family members.

This latest graduation ceremony brings the Air Force Academy's total number of graduates to 46,039 since the first graduating class in 1959.