3 added to Air Force Academy's Class of '15

  • Published
  • By John Van Winkle
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Three officers were added to the Long Blue Line Dec. 16 at the Air Force Academy's fall graduation and commissioning ceremony.

The newly minted 2nd Lts. are Joshua Burdge of Manteca, California; Mark Suges of Halton City, Texas; and Lindsay Ebel of Highlands Ranch.

Burdge earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science. 

"I'm very excited, it's been a long time coming," said Burdge, who attended the Northwestern Preparatory School at Camp Paivika, California, before earning a spot at the Air Force Academy. This added an extra year to his path to becoming an Air Force Officer, and put him on a five-year path, he joked. His first assignment will be Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, to begin pilot training.

The next newest member of the Long Blue Line is Mark Suges, of Haltom City, Texas, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management. Suges said his first assignment will be to Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, to begin pilot training.

The third newest member of the Air Force Academy's Long Blue Line of graduates is Lindsay Ebel, of Highlands Ranch, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management. "I can't even begin to describe how I feel graduating today. It's just amazing," she said. Ebel's first assignment will be Travis Air Force Base, California, to be a personnel officer. 


After receiving their diplomas, the Academy's newest graduates were given the oath of office by Brig. Gen. Stephen Williams, Commandant of Cadets. Family members and coaches were on hand to pin 2nd Lieutenant bars on each of the graduates. The new rank was provided by the Legacy Class, the Class of 1965, represented by retired Brig. Gen. Robert Giffen.

These three lieutenants bring the Class of 2015 to a total of 850 graduates and the Air Force Academy to a total of 47,900 graduates since the Class of 1959, the first graduating class.