Academy gets Air Force excellence award for 2010 - 2011 Published Dec. 21, 2015 By Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force selected the Air Force Academy as the recipient of the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award for meritorious service during 2010 and 2011. According to Air Force awards documents received by the Academy this month, the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council Awards and Decorations Branch selected the Academy for the award due to its exceptionally meritorious service from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2011. Achievements noted in the documents that garnered the Academy the award were institutional excellence in producing officers of character; graduating more than 2,000 cadets during the award period; and the improvements in securing federal funds to improve its infrastructure. The Academy's athletic program was also noted for achieving success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association, according to the award documents. The award certificate was signed by the commander of the Air Force Personnel Center, Maj. Gen. Margaret Poore, and the director of the Air Force Review Boards Agency, R. Philip Deavel on Nov. 26, 2012.