52nd GRADUATING CLASS OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY VOL. 50 ISSUE 21 MAY 26, 2010 2 GRADUATION 2010 May 26, 2010 Class of 2010: America is in your hands now By Lt. Gen. Mike Gould endurance ... about what it takes to be Most importantly, as you depart Academy Superintendent a leader of character! the Academy, I encourage you to As we look back and recognize all remember the love and pride you feel To the Academy Class of 2010… you have achieved, we should also around you today from family and Congratulations! This is your day. look forward to the future — to recog- friends, classmates and teammates, This is a day you will remember nize all you will accomplish in the from the faculty and staff who for the rest of your lives. Each one of coming years. supported you — and from me, Paula you has spent the last four, some of I’m not going to guarantee an easy and the entire senior staff. We are, you five, years learning, training, future. We are a nation at war. We are indeed, proud of each and every one of preparing and giving everything engaged in a global ideological you! you’ve got and more to be here with struggle against some of the most Now, as you leave Colorado your classmates to finally celebrate this dangerous and unpredictable enemies Springs, and look in your rearview day together. Today your persistence this nation has ever faced. This is not mirror, I encourage you to remember and selfless dedication over the years the Cold War into which I was the people of this community who has meaning, because on this day you commissioned. But someone has to hosted you and supported you from can say, “I am a second lieutenant in raise their hand and say, “Send me.” day one. They are your sponsor fami- the United States Air Force.” This is And each one of you has selflessly lies, the fans who cheered you on at the day you join the long blue line as a done that today. sporting events and the strangers who military officer. At the Air Force Academy you ate, gave you a pat on the back when you sibility of protecting and defending the You are the 52nd class to graduate, slept and breathed what it takes and were around town in uniform. The Constitution of the United States and and it’s a special honor for Paula and what it means to be a leader of char- wonderful people of Colorado Springs the American people. From what I’ve me to share this experience with you. acter. Now it’s time to live it. From welcomed you with open arms on in- witnessed with this special class, I am Over the years, you have learned about today forward, you will demonstrate processing day and they celebrate with confident the American people are in the Air Force — its history, traditions, the unique responsibilities you are you now as you graduate. good hands. Congratulations, 2010! great personalities, evolution and our now charged with and demonstrate We expect great things from you future. But, just as importantly, you how and why the world relies on the in the years to come. The well-being of learned about yourselves ... about your judgment and integrity of the U.S. our nation is in your hands. For today, strength ... your commitment ... your military’s officer corps. you take on the extraordinary respon- To responsibly inform and educate the Academy community and the public about the Air Force Academy Lt. Gen. Mike Gould — AOG congratulates Class of 2010 Academy Superintendent Lt. Col. Brett Ashworth — By William “T.”Thompson, Esq. ‘73 Integrity First, Service Before Self and Director of Public Affairs 2nd Lt. Meredith Kirchoff — President and CEO, Excellence in All We Do. You will Association of Graduates Chief of Internal Information now take your place as a member of [email protected] this impressive group. Staff Sgt. Don Branum — NCOIC of Internal Information To the Class of 2010, I want to The world into which you are [email protected] extend my enthusiastic congratula- graduating is a challenging one. The Butch Wehry — Senior Staff Writer tions on behalf of the Association of country is in two wars, and we are [email protected] Ann Patton — Staff Writer Graduates and welcome you as besieged by the threat of terrorism. [email protected] members of the Long Blue Line. You Yet, the leadership training you have Denise Navoy — Graphic Designer are the 52nd class to graduate and we received and the values you have The Academy Spirit is published by Colorado Springs are proud to have you take your place accepted gives our country the Military Newspaper Group, a private firm in no way con- nected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written among the 42,000 graduates who have highest confidence in your abilities to contract with the U.S. Air Force Academy. This civilian gone before you. We know that it has protect and persevere. enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publica- tion for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of taken four demanding years of your Let me recognize your vision and the Academy Spirit are not necessarily the official views life, but you are now well-equipped to commitment to stay involved and of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. serve your country with great distinc- connected to the institution through The appearance of advertising in this publication, tion. your Project Twenty Ten initiative. including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Those graduates who have gone You are setting a standard of support Department of the Air Force, or Colorado Springs Military before you have created a noble and of war. Finally, we honor the 174 to the Academy that will be historic Newspaper Group, of the products or services advertised. illustrious heritage of which you Everything advertised in this publication shall be made graduates who have made the ulti- and sustained for years to come. available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to should be rightly proud. Most mate sacrifice and have their names Thank you for joining with the race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital sta- impressively, this legacy has been tus, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other inscribed on the War Memorial. Association of Graduates to support nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. The print- achieved in a short 56 years. In a rela- Our graduates have gone on to the many cadet programs that you er reserves the right to reject any advertisements. tively brief period of time, the have had an opportunity to experi- Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by achieve great heights — literally! In the U.S. Air Force Academy Directorate of Public Affairs. Academy has become one of our fact, 39 graduates have become astro- ence: the leadership and character The editor reserves the right to edit articles to conform country’s premier institutions and nauts and one, until very recently, programs, the conferences and to Air Force policy and Associated Press style. All pho- tos are U.S. Air Force photos unless otherwise indicated. you are about to become a part of that held the record for the longest walk symposiums, intramurals and cadet Send submissions to: HQ USAFA/PAI, 2304 Cadet rich tradition. in space. We have won numerous clubs and the foreign travel and Let me share with you some of post-graduate academic awards, language immersion programs, to Submissions the attributes of the graduate commu- including Marshall, Fulbright and mention just a few. You have clearly Drive, Suite 3100, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840- nity you are about to join. We have Rhodes scholarships. understood and taken on the respon- 5016 or deliver to Suite 3100 in Harmon Hall. Deadline for free classified ads on a space-available graduated more than 42,000 officers Academy graduates are doctors, sibility to reach back by giving back basis is noon every Tuesday for that week’s publication who have become leaders of character lawyers, business leaders and entre- to the cadets that will follow you. You date. Paid classified advertising is accepted by the pub- all over our great country. More than lisher at 329-5236. The number to call for display adver- preneurs. They are members of the are helping to ensure that they enjoy tising is 634-5905. 535 have become general officers, clergy, teachers, college presidents, a better opportunity than you have Deadline for all stories is noon Friday, one week including 30 four-star generals and prior to the desired publication date. Refer questions to and aviation professionals. Our grad- enjoyed, just as prior grads have the Academy Spirit editor at 333-8823. three Air Force chiefs of staff. uates have served as political leaders ensured that you have had opportuni- The Academy Spirit also accepts story Our graduates are true war ties that didn’t exist when we were submissions by fax at 333-4094 or by e-mail: pa.news- at all levels in the country, including paper@ usafa.af.mil. heroes who have won Medals of Congress. And they have served in cadets. Honor and numerous Distinguished the highest appointed positions of The AOG is proud to welcome Flying Crosses and Silver Stars. We our national government. you as members of the Long Blue are proud that two of the three Air Yes, Air Force Academy graduates Line and we stand ready to assist you Cover Photo by Staff Sgt.