[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


IN RECOGNITION OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF UNITED STATES 
                           AIR FORCE ACADEMY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG LAMBORN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2014

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 60th 
Anniversary of the creation of United States Air Force Academy on 1 
April 1954, and offer remarks to honor this youngest of our nation's 
service academies. Birthed in the minds of visionary post Army Air 
Corps leaders and the Eisenhower Administration, the Air Force Academy 
has become the most forward looking military institution and premiere 
Aerospace Military Academy imaginable during the second half of the 
20th Century. Residing in the bedrock of the Colorado Rocky Mountains 
the United States Air Force Academy has fueled the heart, mind, and 
winning spirit of the U.S. Air Force by providing leaders who flew 
higher than its inspiring surrounding peaks.
   Since its inception the U.S. Air Force Academy has produced over 
forty-six thousand young men and women officers and superior senior 
leaders across the span of six decades. These leaders provided the 
backbone of our Aerospace warriors, including the first Air Force ace 
from the Vietnam War, Captain Steve Ritchie and the first USAFA 
graduate to be given the Medal of Honor, Captain Lance Sijan. Since 
that era one hundred and eighty one graduates have given their lives in 
defense of our Nation. The lifeblood of the USAF leadership has flowed 
from the Academy over the decades, with contributions of 598 General 
officers and five Air Force Chiefs of Staff. As the premier academy to 
explore the final frontier of space the Academy has produced 38 
Astronaut Graduates and continues to produce numerous strategic leaders 
in the military space arena.
   The Air Force Academy has a longstanding tradition of producing both 
highly qualified and committed military officers combined with superbly 
educated college graduates from its halls of academic excellence. Over 
the years the Academy produced 37 Rhodes Scholars and the institution 
continues to be highly ranked in national college reviews such as 
Forbes and US News and World Report over more than three decades. Over 
the years the institution has scored in the top 100 of American 
colleges in numerous ranking publications. In college athletics USAFA 
competes in 17 NCAA sports conferences and continually performs 
extremely well in its various divisions. The Air Force Academy has won 
the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy on the gridiron 18 times, far 
surpassing the other Service Academies and brining national publicity 
to this Colorado institution.
   Since its inception the United States Air Force Academy has 
continually trained, educated, and inspired young men and women to 
become leaders of character with the motivation to serve as Air Force 
career officers. It continues into its sixth decade of institutional 
defense contributions to the Nation by providing a unique blend of 
academic curriculum, military training, and leadership and physical 
development. This institution has become a historical wellspring of Air 
Force military leadership which will continue to develop future 
generations to defend our precious United States of America. Mr. 
Speaker, I am very proud to recognize our USAFA landmark as it 
contributes to the security of our democracy from its position anchored 
in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies.

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