February 17th-19th, 2010 - United States Air Force Academy

THE 17TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM 

Guardians of Trust: Leaders in the Modern Era 

THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY 

CENTER FOR CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 

February 17th-19th, 2010

2 

Changing Lives…One Person at a Time 

The best leaders tell great stories—to illustrate, to inform, to share. At NCLS we orient leaders to see themselves and their world differently, to see 

opportunities for character and leadership development, to emerge from being great people to being great leaders whose decisions and actions will 

shape a better future. 

A Look Back 

Sixteenth Annual 

Answering the Nation’s Call: 

Our Legacy in the Making 

Artwork by Chris Hureau 

Eleventh Annual 

Teamwork: Working Together to 

Achieve Excellence 


Sixth Annual 

Integrity First: 

Courage, Competence, 

& Commitment 

Fifteenth Annual 

Impassioned Citizenship: 

Can One Make a Difference? 


Tenth Annual 

Moral Courage and Servant 

Leadership in Modern Times 


Fifth Annual 

Excellence in All We Do: 

Personally and 

Professionally 

Fourteenth Annual 

All Created Equal— 

Human Dignity & Respect 


Ninth Annual 

Undaunted Leadership: Unassailable 

Integrity, Increasing Service, 

Uncompromising Excellence 


Fourth Annual 

Service Before Self 

Third Annual 

Integrity in 

the Profession of Arms 

Thirteenth Annual 

Courage in the Face of Adversity 

Eighth Annual 

Integrity First: Recollection, 

Inspiration & Aspiration 


Second Annual 

Strength Through Diversity 

Twelfth Annual 

Leading Positive Change: Raising 

the Standard of Excellence 


Seventh Annual 

Service Before Self: 

Heroes, Hymns and Hardiness 


First Annual 

Women in Leadership

Special Thanks 

The Superintendent, Faculty, Staff, and Cadet Wing of the US Air Force Academy would like to thank the following groups for their 

generous support: 

The US Air Force Academy 

Association of Graduates (AOG) 

USAF Academy Class of ‘59 

Association of Graduates 

USAFA Class of ‘73 Volunteers 

10th Communications Squadron 

10th Force Support Squadron 

10th ABW Transportation 

10th Security Forces Squadron 

USAFA Public Affairs 

USAFA Protocol 

USAFA Strategic Communications 

Fairchild Hall Facility & Audiovisual Support 

Rampart Lodge Staff 

Stacey Newland, Database Design & Support 

Carolyn Dull, Sharepoint Support 


Flagship Sponsor 


The support of the following organizations and individuals who graciously gave of their time helped make the 17th Annual National 

Character & Leadership Symposium possible: 

Arnold Hall Facility & Audiovisual Support 

Multimedia 

DenMar Services, Inc., Motion Media Creation & Delivery 

USAFA Admissions 

The US Air Force Academy Band and Jazz Band 

Falcon Club & Staff 

Mitchell Hall & Staff 

USAFA Training Devices 

USAFA Visitors Center 

USAFA Cadet Honor Guard 

In the Stairwell, USAFA Cadet Singers 

Permanent Party & Cadet Speaker Escorts 

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4 

Quick-Reference Schedule 

Speaker/Event Day Time Venue 

Berkowitz Fri 9:20 am L-1 

Fri 10:40 am L-1 

Billick Fri 8:00 am Ballroom 

Fri 10:40 am F-1 

Birdine Fri 10:40 am L-2 

Fri 1:00 pm L-2 

Birdwell Fri 8:00 am H-2 

Fri 9:20 am H-2 

Borba Fri 8:00 am D-2 (Panel) 

Bowden Thurs 12:15 pm H-1 

Fri 8:00 am H-1 

Butler Fri 10:40 am Theater 

Callahan Thurs 9:30 am H-1 

Fri 8:00 am L-5 

Cicere Fri 9:20 am D-2 (Panel) 

Fri 1:00 pm F-1 (Panel) 

Clark, A. Thurs 7:30 pm H-1 

Fri 9:20 am Banquet 

Clark, D. Fri 10:40 am Ballroom 

Fri 1:00 pm H-2 

Closing Ceremony Fri 5:00 pm Theater 

Donley Fri 8:00 am Theater 

D’Souza Fri 9:20 am Theater 

Everett Thurs 1:30 pm F-1 

Fri 8:00 am Banquet 

Foster Thurs 10:30 am L-5 

Fri 9:20 am L-5 

Greitens Fri 9:20 am F-1 

Fri 1:00 pm Theater 

Hayden Thurs 7:30 pm Theater 

Fri 8:00 am F-1 

Hesselbein Fri 9:20 am L-2 

Identity Development Panel Fri 8:00 am D-2 

Kauvar Thurs 10:30 am L-1 

Fri 8:00 am L-4 

Fri 9:20 am L-4 

Lasorda Thurs 7:30 pm F-1 

LeBoeuf Thurs 9:30 am L-1 

Fri 8:00 am D-2 (Panel) 

Fri 10:40 am L-4 

Lindsay Fri 9:20 am Ballroom 

Fri 1:00 pm Ballroom 

Speaker/Event Day Time Venue 

Marr Fri 9:20 am D-2 (Panel) 


McCone Fri 8:00 am D-2 (Panel) 

McElhiney Wed 12:00 pm Mitchell Hall 

Thurs 9:30 am L-4 

Fri 1:00 pm L-4 

Melvill Thurs 12:15 pm F-1 

Fri 10:40 am H-1 

Fri 1:00 pm L-1 

Opening Ceremony Thurs 8:30 am F-1 

Rainville Thurs 10:30 am L-4 

Fri 8:00 am L-1 

Fri 10:40 am H-2 

Registre Thurs 9:30 am L-2 

Fri 8:00 am L-2 

Fri 9:20 am H-1 

Rigsby Wed 7:30 pm F-1 

Roberts Ridge Panel Fri 9:20 am D-2 

Fri 1:00 pm F-1 

Scott, D. Thurs 10:30 am F-1 

Scott, L. Fri 1:00 pm Banquet 

Self Thurs 12:15 pm Theater 

Fri 9:20 am D-2 (Panel) 


Sisterhood Thurs 10:30 am L-2 

Deakin & Hern Fri 10:40 am L-5 

Fri 1:00 pm L-5 

Thomas Fri 10:40 am D-2 

Fri 1:00 pm D-2 

Trainor Fri 8:00 am D-2 (Panel) 

Tressel Wed 7:30 pm Theater 

Thurs 9:30 am F-1 

Vance Fri 9:20 am D-2 (Panel) 


Weinstein Fri 10:40 am Banquet 

Wilson Fri 1:00 pm H-1 

Zweifel Thurs 9:30 am L-5 

Thurs 1:30 pm H-1 

Theater, Ballroom and Banquet Room are located in Arnold Hall 

F-1, H-1, H-2, D-2, L-1, L-2, L-4, and L-5 

are located in Fairchild Hall

Master Schedule 

Thurs Feb 18 

Fri Feb 19 

Arnold Hall 

Theater 

Arnold 

Hall 

Ballroom 

Arnold Hall 

Banquet 

Room 

Location 

F-1 H-1 H-2 D-2 L-1 L-2 L-4 L-5 

12 00 – 1 15 Kickoff to the Cadet Wing (Mitchell Hall - Keynote Speaker: McElhiney) 

7 30 

Tressel 

(‘59 Lecture) 

Rigsby 

8 30 Arnold Hall Ballroom & Fairchild Hall Falcon Center: Speaker Receptions 

5 30 – 8 00 Breakfast - Students: Mitchell Hall (5:30-8:00) / Visiting Speakers & Professionals: Falcon Club (6:00 - 8:00 am) 

8 30 – 9 20 

Opening 

Ceremony 

9 30 – 10 20 Tressel Callahan LeBoeuf Registre McElhiney Zweifel 

10 30 – 11 20 D. Scott Kauvar Sisterhood Rainville Foster 

11 35 – 12 00 Mitchell Hall: Lunch 

12 15 – 1 15 

Self 

(Moral Courage 

Lecture) 

Melvill Bowden 

1 30 – 2 30 Everett Zweifel 

2 30 – 5 30 USAFA Chapel and Visitor Center Tours (Bus will depart the Fairchild bus stop at 2:45) / Free Time 

5 30 Symposium Dinner (Service Dress / Business Attire): Arnold Hall Ballroom 

7 30 

Hayden 

(‘74 / Wakin Award) 

SECAF Lecture 

Lasorda A. Clark 

8 30 Arnold Hall Ballroom & Fairchild Hall Falcon Center: Speaker Receptions 

5 30 – 7 30 Breakfast - Students: Mitchell Hall (5:30-8:30) / Visiting Speakers & Professionals: Falcon Club (6:00 - 7:30 am) 

8 00 – 9 00 

Donley 

(‘73 Lecture) 

Billick Everett Hayden Bowden Birdwell 

9 20 – 10 20 D’Souza Lindsay A. Clark Greitens Registre Birdwell 

Identity 

Dev Panel 

Roberts 

Ridge Panel 

Rainville Registre Kauvar Callahan 

Berkowitz Hesselbein Kauvar Foster 

10 40 – 11 40 Butler D. Clark Weinstein Billick Melvill Rainville Thomas Berkowitz Birdine LeBoeuf Sisterhood 

12 00 – 12 40 Mitchell Hall: Lunch 

1 00 – 2 00 Greitens Lindsay L. Scott 

2 30 – 4 30 

5 00 – 6 00 Closing 

Ceremony 

Roberts 

Ridge 

Panel 

Wilson D. Clark Thomas Melvill Birdine McElhiney Sisterhood 

Student Breakout Sessions in Squadrons / Faculty & Staff Breakout Sessions in Workcenters / 

Student Consortium: Arnold Hall Ballroom 

The National Character and Leadership Symposium event guide is published by LT Litho, a private firm in no way connected with the US Air Force, under 

exclusive written contract with the US Air Force Academy. Contents of the event guide, as well as the words and presentation materials of the speakers, are 

not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the US government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force. Written content is 

edited, prepared and provided to the publisher by the US Air Force Academy Center for Character & Leadership Development. The CCLD reserves the right 

to edit biographical and lecture information to conform to local and Air Force policy. 

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g u a r d i a n s o f t r u s t : L e a d e r s i n t h e m o d e r n e r a 

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Speake rs 

Keynote Speaker 

* Denotes Keynote 

Presentation 

Dr. Marvin Berkowitz 

Co-Director, Center for Character and Citizenship, University of Missouri-St. Louis 

Dr. Berkowitz, a developmental psychologist, is the inaugural Sanford N. McDonnell Endowed 

Professor of Character Education and Co-Director of the Center for Character and Citizenship at the 

University of Missouri-St. Louis. Before arriving at UMSL, he was the inaugural Ambassador H.H. 

Coors Professor of Character Development at USAFA (1999), and Professor of Psychology (1979- 

1999) at Marquette University. His research interests include character education, moral development, 

adolescent development, and risk-taking. He is author of Parenting for Good (2005) and more than 100 

book chapters, monographs, and journal articles. He is a board member of the Character Education 

Partnership and founding co-editor of the Journal for Research in Character Education. In 2006 he 

received the Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Character Education 

Partnership. 

“Leading Schools of Character” - Schools, whether at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary 

level, have always been obligated to positively impact the character development of students. The most 

central influence on whether they do so effectively is the school leader. However, many school leaders 

are not trained for this task. It has always been a challenging task, but is even more difficult in the 

modern era due to outside negative influences (many of them exacerbated by technological advances), 

large schools, and declining public support for education as a social force. This session will focus on 

both the challenges in leading schools of character and what can be done about them. 

Friday, 9:20 am, L-1 


CoaCh Brian BilliCk 

Former NFL Head Coach, TV Sports Analyst 

An expert motivator, NFL coach, and strategist, for over 30 years Brian Billick has demonstrated an 

exceptional ability to take individual players to their highest potential while keeping his teams unified and 

focused. From 1999-2007, Billick served as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, a new franchise 

with some of the youngest players in NFL history. In his first year as head coach, Billick guided the 

Ravens to their first non-losing season. In 2000, he led the Ravens to a decisive 34-7 Super Bowl XXXV 

victory over the New York Giants. Currently an analyst for FOX TV Sports and a contributor to the 

NFL Network, Billick shares his methods for bringing teams together to focus on achieving common 

goals. Author of several books including Competitive Leadership: Twelve Principles for Success (with Dr. James 

A. Peterson/May 2001) and More Than A Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL (with 

Michael MacCambridge/September 2009), Billick’s engaging presentations challenge us all to strive for a 

“we” environment that holds everyone on a team accountable in the pursuit of victory. 

“Competitive Leadership” - We live in a society in which individual achievement is the predominant 

measure of success. As children in school and adults at work, our performance is evaluated individually. 

But in order for organizations to successfully compete, employees must work seamlessly as a team. So 

how do people of an “I” culture let go of an inherent self-interest that permeates the business culture? 

Perhaps lessons can be drawn from professional sports, where effective teamwork is the only way to win. 

After coaching collegiate and professional football teams for more than 30 years, Billick is a master at 

building winning teams. 

Friday, 8:00 am, Arnold Hall Ballroom 

Friday, 10:40 am, F-1*

Steve BirDine 

Author, Diversity Educator 

Speake rs 

Steve Birdine is a diversity educator, motivator, and risk taker. He has given keynote addresses and 

facilitated workshops and seminars at over 100 institutions, conferences, and businesses nationally. His 

passion for academic excellence, student motivation, diversity education, and leadership development 

has led him to be an inspiration and to seek innovation in dealing with longstanding historical issues 

impacting people of color. This Chicago native earned two degrees from the University of Illinois at 

Urbana-Champaign before embarking on a fifteen-year career as a higher education administrator. His 

personal honors include a four-year listing in Ebony Magazine (2002-2005) as “One of America’s 100+ 

Most Influential African-Americans.” 

“Taking Responsibility For Our Own Success” - This holistic, empowering, powerful, humorous, 

insightful, motivational and thought-provoking presentation takes a much-needed open and honest 

look at issues impacting leaders. Issues addressed include leadership development, motivation, personal 

excellence, diversity, unity, male-female relationships, discipline, goal setting, respect and other issues 

impacting lives on a daily basis. 


Friday, 1:00 pm, L-2 

lieutenant Colonel Brian BirDwell, uniteD StateS arMy (retireD) 

Survivor, Terror Attack on the Pentagon 

Lieutenant Colonel Birdwell is a survivor of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. 

After American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, just feet away from his second floor office, 

Birdwell was thrown to the ground and engulfed in flames. Of the burns that consumed 60 percent of 

his body, nearly half were third-degree burns. After enduring more than 30 operations and months of 

hospitalization and multiple skin grafts, Birdwell has made a miraculous recovery. He was awarded the 

Purple Heart for wounds received on that day. The Birdwells give a more detailed account of the events 

of 9/11 and the days following the attack in their book Refined by Fire. Birdwell and his wife, Mel, have 

one son, Matt, and one fabulous golden retriever, Hayley. They now reside in Granbury, Texas. 

“Refined By Fire” - Although every American was deeply affected by the events of September 11, 

2001, Birdwell experienced the attack at the Pentagon firsthand. As he relives those tragic moments of 

trauma suffered, the listener will witness how his life was transformed. 

Friday, 8:00 am, H-2 


2 0 1 0 — u n i t e d s t a t e s a i r f o r c e a c a d e m y 7


8 

Speake rs 



Presentation 

Dr. MiChele BorBa 

Educational Psychologist, Author 

Dr. Borba is an educational psychologist who offers research-driven advice on building strong character 

and moral intelligence. Her expertise is culled from a career of working with over one million parents, 

organizations, educators, and children. An NBC Today Show contributor, she appears regularly on talk 

shows including Dr. Phil, and news networks. A recipient of the National Educator Award, Borba is 

the author of 22 books including Building Moral Intelligence. Her latest release is The Big Book of Parenting 

Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries. She is an advisory board member 

for Parents magazine, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Character Education Partnerships. She 

authored the proposal “Ending School Violence” (SB1667) passed into law in 2002. 

Member of the Identity Development Panel 

Friday, 8:00 am, D-2 

Mark BowDen 

Author, Black Hawk Down 

Mark Bowden, an Atlantic Monthly national correspondent, is an author, journalist, screenwriter, and 

teacher. His book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War (1999) – an international bestseller that spent 

more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list – was a finalist for the National Book Award. 

Bowden is also the author of the award-winning Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World’s Greatest Outlaw 

(2001), which tells the story of the hunt for Colombian cocaine billionaire Pablo Escobar, as well as 

Doctor Dealer (1987), Bringing the Heat (1994), Our Finest Day (2002), and Finders Keepers (2002). Bowden 

contributes regularly to major American magazines. He is also an adjunct professor at Loyola College of 

Maryland where he teaches creative writing and journalism. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1951, Bowden 

grew up in Illinois, New York, and Maryland. He graduated from Loyola College of Maryland in 1973 

with a BA in English Literature. He lives in southeastern Pennsylvania. 

“War in Modern Literature” - Bowden will discuss how the success of Black Hawk Down and other 

recent books about war have restored the subject to its rightful place in American literature. 

Thursday, 12:15 pm, H-1* 

Friday, 8:00 am, H-1


Speake rs 

General GeorGe lee Butler, uniteD StateS air ForCe (retireD) 

Former Commander, United States Strategic Command 

General Butler graduated from the US Air Force Academy and received his commission in 1961. After 

graduation, he attended pilot training and amassed more than 3,000 flying hours over the course of his 

career which included a combat tour in Vietnam. He was later selected to study in France as an Olmsted 

Scholar – an experience that proved incredibly influential in his life. He returned to his alma mater as a 

political science instructor and air officer commanding. His active duty career culminated with command 

of Strategic Air Command and eventually US Strategic Command where he served as chief warplanner 

and nuclear advisor to the president. After retirement, Butler founded the Second Chance Foundation, 

an organization dedicated to reducing the dangers posed by nuclear weapons. The events of September 

11, 2001 had a profound impact on the focus of foreign policy and national security and, subsequently, 

the mission of the foundation. He suspended the foundation’s operations around that time, but 

continues to engage privately on nuclear matters. 

“An Unlikely Guardian” - When an introverted, underweight Army brat saw an Air Force Academy 

poster in his high school counselor’s office, no one could have predicted he would go on not only to 

graduate from the premier air institute, but to rise to the top of the nation’s nuclear force. General Butler 

will tell the tale of his military career from its less-than-charmed beginnings through the pinnacle of 

command for US Strategic Command and offer insight on the lessons from USAFA – and personal 

qualities they honed – that carried him all the way. 

Friday, 10:40 am, Arnold Hall Theater* 

Dr. DaviD Callahan 

Author, The Cheating Culture 

Dr. Callahan is author of The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead. He is also 

co-founder of Demos, a New York-based think tank where he is now a Senior Fellow. His numerous 

articles in newspapers and magazines have been published in such places as The New York Times, The 

Washington Post, USA Today, and The American Prospect. Callahan has also been a frequent commentator 

on television programs, appearing on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and radio talk shows across the United 

States. He is a graduate of Hampshire College and holds a PhD in Politics from Princeton University. 

“Beyond the Cheating Culture” - Powerful economic and cultural forces have been undermining 

professional and personal ethics in the United States. But individuals can stand up to this cheating 

culture and join growing efforts to reform institutions and create a more ethical society. 

Thursday, 9:30 am, H-1 




10 

Speake rs 

Keynote Panel Member 



Presentation 

lieutenant Colonel ChriS CiCere, uniteD StateS air ForCe (retireD) 

AC-130 Gunship, Mission Commander 

Former AC-130 Gunship Mission Commander Christopher M. Cicere is a 1983 graduate of the United 

States Air Force Academy where he was a four-time letter winner in lacrosse. He spent most his 25-year 

Air Force career in special operations as an instructor navigator and fire control officer on the AC-130H 

Spectre Gunship. During his time in gunships, he flew missions over El Salvador, Somalia (Operation 

United Shield), and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). While in Afghanistan, Cicere served 

as the operations center gunship mission commander during Operation Anaconda, the largest ground 

operation since the Gulf War. He is a joint specialty officer, having served at United States Southern 

Command and Special Operations Command. He retired in the summer of 2008 and is currently 

working in the Department of Athletics at the US Air Force Academy. 

Member of the Roberts Ridge Panel 


Friday, 1:00 pm, F-1* 

Dr. annette Clark 

Interim Dean, Associate Professor of Law, Seattle University School of Law 

Dr. Clark is Interim Dean and Associate Professor of Law at Seattle University School of Law. She 

earned her BS summa cum laude from Washington State University, an MD with Honors from the 

University of Washington School of Medicine, and a JD summa cum laude (first in class) from Seattle 

University School of Law. Clark writes and consults in the areas of medical liability and bioethics and 

is a frequent national and local lecturer on bioethics-related topics. Her scholarship operates at the 

interface of healthcare, law, and health policy, with a particular emphasis on end-of-life issues. She has 

published articles in the New York University Law Review, the Georgetown Law Journal, and the Tulane Law 

Review, among others. She received the Seattle Journal for Social Justice Faculty Award in 2005, the 

Dean’s Medal in 2006, the Outstanding Faculty Award in December 2007, and was the 2008-09 James B. 

McGoldrick, SJ, Fellow, which is awarded to the Seattle University faculty member or administrator who 

best exemplifies commitment to students and to the values of a Jesuit education. Clark teaches courses 

in medical liability, bioethics and the law, and civil procedure. 

“Bioethics for the 21st Century” - One of the greatest challenges we face in today’s society is that 

medicine and science are advancing much more quickly than our ability to anticipate the new questions 

and challenges that those scientific advances will bring. What role does each of us play and what 

responsibility do we have as societal decisions are made on such bioethics issues as assisted death, 

abortion, rationing of healthcare, assisted reproduction, stem cell, and other human-subject research? 

Thursday, 7:30 pm, H-1* 

Friday, 9:20 am, Arnold Hall Banquet Room


Dan Clark 

Author, Motivational Speaker 

Speake rs 

Dan Clark is CEO of a multi-million dollar consulting firm, an internationally-recognized speaker, 

New York Times bestselling author, university professor, songwriter/recording artist, and award-winning 

athlete who fought his way back from a paralyzing injury that cut short his football career. Clark is the 

author of twenty books on leadership, management, and personal development, and has conducted 

United Nations leadership training in Europe, Asia, and the former Soviet Union. He is also a primary 

contributing author to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and author of Puppies For Sale which was made 

into a film at Paramount Studios. Clark has flown with the Air Force Thunderbirds, skydived with the 

Army Golden Knights, raced automobiles in Germany and dog sleds in the Arctic, and carried the 

Olympic Torch in the 2002 Olympic Games. Achievers North America and Achievers Europe named him 

one of the Top Ten Speakers in the World, and in 2005, he was inducted into the National Speakers 

Hall Of Fame. Clark volunteers his time and talent speaking to US military troops around the world, 

including engagements at West Point, the US Air Force Academy, Air University, Corona, and the World 

“Chiefs” Conference. 

“Leadership: Managing Change, Demanding Execution” - Leadership is not voted on, nor is it about 

power and authority. Leaders earn respect by rising to each occasion to create opportunities for others to 

succeed. They teach correct principles and let their subordinates govern themselves. They remind us we are 

not paid by the hour, but for the value we bring to that hour, determined by how we make others around us 

better, and how we leave our job in better shape than we found it. Leaders measure everything knowing that as 

we increase our frequency of feedback, everybody accepts responsibility to do whatever it takes to succeed. 


Friday, 1:00 pm, H-2 

the honoraBle MiChael Donley 

Secretary of the Air Force 

Michael B. Donley is the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, DC. He is responsible for the affairs 

of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping, and providing 

for the welfare of its more than 334,000 men and women on active duty, 176,000 members of the 

Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, 170,000 civilians, and their families. He also oversees 

the Air Force’s annual budget of more than $110 billion. Donley has 30 years of experience in the 

national security community, including service in the Senate, White House, and the Pentagon. Prior to 

assuming his current position, Donley served as the Director of Administration and Management in 

the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He oversaw organizational and management planning for the 

Department of Defense and all administration, facility, information technology and security matters for 

the Pentagon. Donley served in the US Army from 1972 to 1975 with the XVIIIth Airborne Corps and 

5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), attending the Army’s Intelligence and Airborne Schools and the 

Defense Language Institute. Donley earned both BA and MA degrees in international relations from the 

University of Southern California. He also attended the Senior Executives in National Security program 

at Harvard University. 

Friday, 8:00 am, Arnold Hall Theater* - USAFA Class of 1973 Leadership Lecture 



12 

Speake rs 




Presentation 

DineSh D’Souza 

Author, The Virtue of Prosperity: Finding Values in an Age of Techno Influence 

Dinesh D’Souza has been called one of the “top young public policymakers in the country” by Investor’s 

Business Daily, and the World Affairs Council lists him as one of the nation’s 500 leading authorities on 

international issues. A former policy analyst in the Reagan White House, D’Souza also served as a John 

M. Olin Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and the Robert and Karen Rishwain Fellow at the 

Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College in 

1983. D’Souza’s books have had a major influence on public opinion and public policy. His 1991 book 

Illiberal Education was the first study to publicize the phenomenon of political correctness. The book was 

widely acclaimed and became a New York Times bestseller for 15 weeks. In 1995, D’Souza published The 

End of Racism, which became one of the most controversial books of the time and a national bestseller. 

D’Souza’s 1997 book Ronald Reagan: How an Ordinary Man Became an Extraordinary Leader was the first 

book to make the case for Reagan’s intellectual and political importance. In 2000, D’Souza published 

The Virtue of Prosperity: Finding Values in an Age of Techno Influence, which explores the social and moral 

implications of wealth. In 2002 he published his New York Times bestseller What’s So Great About America 

which was critically acclaimed for its thoughtful patriotism. The Enemy at Home, published in 2006, stirred 

up a furious debate both on the left and the right; even so, it became a national bestseller. 

“What’s So Great About America: Why America is Loved, Why America is Hated” - America 

is simultaneously the most loved nation in the world and also the most hated. Not only is anti- 

Americanism evident in Europe, Asia, and in the Islamic world, but some of the most eloquent and 

harsh critics of America live in America. In this talk, D’Souza will critically examine the merits of the 

case against America. He will make the case for a rational patriotism that is based on loving our country 

for what it really is. This talk will cover both foreign policy and cultural and moral issues. 

Friday, 9:20 am, Arnold Hall Theater* 

SpeCial aGent arthur everett 

Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Chicago FBI Field Office 

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Arthur L. Everett began his FBI career in Portland, Oregon, where 

he was first assigned as a special agent in May of 1990. Upon graduation from Tuskegee University 

in 1979, he was commissioned in the US Air Force. He served 10 years in uniform and two years as a 

college administrator prior to entering the FBI. Everett obtained his bachelor’s degree in Architecture 

and a dual master’s degree in Business Management and Human Relations at Webster University in St. 

Louis, Missouri. His FBI career spans almost 20 years, and he has investigated such matters as fugitives, 

Mexican drug trafficking, Asian organized crime, alien smuggling, bank robberies, civil rights, La Cosa 

Nostra, and money laundering. He currently serves as the Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of the 

Chicago FBI Field Office and is the first African American in the history of the office to be promoted 

to the second-highest-ranking position in the Chicago Division. There he manages various programs to 

include counterintelligence, cyber, civil rights, field intelligence group, community outreach, SWAT and 

aviation programs. 

“Leadership: A Question of Preparation” - Three key leadership traits will be presented, representing 

the current FBI Leadership Doctrine adopted in the wake of September 11, 2001. Everett will use 

law enforcement examples to reinforce the notion that no leader can predict the exact time, place, and 

magnitude of the next decision to be made…but all leaders agree that you must be prepared. 

Thursday, 1:30 pm, F-1* 

Friday, 8:00 am, Arnold Hall Banquet Room


Derek FoSter 

Former Cadet, Traumatic Injury Survivor 

Speake rs 

Derek Foster was a cadet at the US Air Force Academy, class of 1984. After experiencing a traumatic 

injury, he left the academy and spent nearly eight years in rehabilitation. He has been employed by the 

New York State Department of Health for more than 20 years. Having worked in a variety of positions 

at NYSDOH, he currently works in the Bureau of Budget Management. Active in his community, Foster 

has coached little league football and serves on several committees in his church. His positive approach 

to problem solving has gained him favorable attention. As a result, he often serves as a motivational 

speaker to school children to encourage excellence in the classroom. 

“Desire + Excellence = A Paradigm for Success” - Foster will describe how well-learned lessons 

from the academy, applied during a traumatic physical challenge, resulted in recuperation of the body, 

mind and spirit. He will offer a personal account of his recovery and identify motivational factors that 

led to a successful outcome. 

Thursday, 10:30 am, L-5 


Dr. eriC GreitenS 

Chairman, Center for Citizen Leadership 

Dr. Eric Greitens hails from Missouri where he was educated in the public schools. At Duke University, 

he studied ethics, philosophy, and public policy. A Rhodes and Truman scholar, his doctoral thesis, Children 

First, investigated the ways in which international humanitarian organizations can best serve war-affected 

children. He has worked as a humanitarian volunteer, documentary photographer, and researcher in 

Rwanda, Cambodia, Albania, Mexico, India, the Gaza Strip, Croatia, and Bolivia. Through his work, he 

compiled his award-winning book, Strength and Compassion, a collection of striking photographs from each 

of these countries, combined with bold essays on strength, dignity, courage, faith, hope, and compassion. 

A US Navy SEAL officer, he has deployed four times during the Global War on Terrorism: to Iraq, 

Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Southeast Asia. Greitens donated his combat pay from Iraq to start 

The Mission Continues, an organization that empowers wounded and disabled veterans to continue their 

service to their country and communities as citizen leaders here at home. In October 2008, the president 

personally presented Greitens with his Volunteer Service Award for working with wounded and disabled 

veterans. Greitens teaches on public service, ethics, and leadership at the Truman School of Public Affairs 

at the University of Missouri. 

“Inspired Leadership in Challenging Times” - As a celebrated author, Navy SEAL, Rhodes Scholar, 

and award-winning humanitarian leader, Greitens knows it is not enough to endure 

challenging times, we have to embrace them. In this presentation, he draws from 

his own experience to inspire leaders to create hope and build for the future. 

Friday, 9:20 am, F-1* 

Friday, 1:00 pm, Arnold Hall Theater* 



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Presentation 

General MiChael hayDen, uniteD StateS air ForCe (retireD) 

Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence 

General Hayden entered active duty in 1969 after earning a bachelor’s degree in history in 1967 and 

a master’s degree in modern American history in 1969, both from Duquesne University. He is a 

distinguished graduate of the university’s ROTC program. Hayden has served as Commander of the 

Air Intelligence Agency and as Director of the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center. He has 

also served in senior staff positions at the Pentagon, Headquarters US European Command, National 

Security Council, and the US Embassy in the People’s Republic of Bulgaria. The general has also served 

as Deputy Chief of Staff, United Nations Command and US Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, 

South Korea. Hayden was Director, National Security Agency, and Chief, Central Security Service, Fort 

George G. Meade, Maryland. He served as the director of the Central Intellegence Agency and was the 

first person ever to serve as Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence. 

“The Demands of History” - Time and circumstance put all of us into situations we cannot possibly 

anticipate. At these moments, who we are – that accumulated body of experience that forms our self – 

is all that we have to rely on. That self needs to be nurtured. 

Thursday, 7:30 pm, Arnold Hall Theater* - Secretary of the Air Force Lecture 

Presentation of the Malham Wakin Character and Leadership Development Award Sponsored by USAFA 

Class of 1974 

Friday, 8:00 am, F-1* 

FranCeS heSSelBein 

Chairman of the Board of Governors, Leader to Leader Institute 

Frances Hesselbein is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Leader to Leader Institute. 

She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998 for her leadership as CEO of Girl 

Scouts of the USA. She has served on many nonprofit and private sector corporate boards including 

the Volunteers of America from 2002-2006 and is the recipient of twenty honorary doctoral degrees. 

During the Military Child Education Coalition’s 8th Annual Conference in July 2006, the MCEC Board 

of Directors established the “Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program” in recognition of 

her dedication to the leadership development of children of the military. Other numerous awards are 

given in her honor including the “Frances Hesselbein How-To-Be Award” which recognizes Junior 

Achievement staff who live the values of integrity, respect, and excellence through their examples of 

positive ethical leadership. She is the co-editor of 24 books in 28 languages as well as editor-in-chief of 

the award-winning quarterly journal Leader to Leader. 

“Imperatives of Leadership: Leaders of the Future” - Hesselbein will identify and discuss her five 

imperatives of leadership for future organizations: 1) developing trust, 2) challenging the gospel of the 

status quo, 3) practicing planned abandonment, 4) dispersing leadership, and 5) managing for mission, 

innovation and diversity. 

Friday, 9:20 am, L-2

iDentity DevelopMent panel 

Speake rs 

Development of one’s own independent identity is a vital part of maturing into an adult. For college 

students, this typically centers on personal, social, and professional identity, including internalization of 

the ethos, social norms, and ethics of one’s chosen profession. However, when organizations or social 

groups strive to instill a specific identity, young adults may experience a disconnect between the expected 

identity of the group and actual personal identity, triggering stress and resistance. Panel members will 

discuss how mentors can guide this journey of the human spirit, through curricular and extracurricular 

offerings, as well as shaping the student culture and campus social environment. 

Dr. Michele Borba – Educational Psycologist Author 

Dr. Stephen Trainor, CAPT, USN – United States Naval Academy Faculty 

Dr. Joseph N.G. LeBoeuf, COL, USA (Retired) – Duke University Faculty 

Dr. David McCone – US Air Force Academy Faculty 

Facilitated by Colonel Gary Packerd, USAF, Permanent Professor & Chair, Department of Behavioral 

Sciences & Leadership, US Air Force Academy 


Captain aMy kauvar, uniteD StateS air ForCe 

Brain Cancer Survivor 

Captain Kauvar graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 2002. She received a Health Professions 

Scholarship to attend the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine. In 2006, she earned 

the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine and reentered active duty as a captain in the Air Force. She 

matriculated to a post-doctoral residency in periodontics at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland 

Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Concurrently, she worked towards an MS from the University of 

Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and completed both programs in June 2009. She received 

the 2009 John F. Prichard Prize for graduate research from the Southwest Society of Periodontists and 

has been designated a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. She is currently stationed at 

Hill Air Force Base and lives with her husband in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

“Perservance: Making Molehills Out of Mountains” - Captain Kauvar’s personal reflection of her 

victory over brain cancer and how survival is not the only definition of success. 






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Presentation 

toMMy laSorDa 

Special Advisor to the Chairman, LA Dodgers 

Regarded by many as baseball’s most popular ambassador, Tommy Lasorda is in his 61st season in 

the Dodger organization and fifth as Special Advisor to the Chairman. After 20 years as manager, he 

was named Vice President in 1996, and promoted to Senior Vice President in 1998. Lasorda compiled 

a 1,599-1,439 record and won two World Championships, four National League pennants and eight 

division titles in an extraordinary 20-year career as the Dodgers’ manager. Many of Lasorda’s greatest 

accomplishments and stories have been compiled in his autobiography, I Live For This. Currently, Lasorda 

spends much of his time scouting, evaluating and teaching minor league players, acting as an advisor 

and ambassador for the Dodgers’ international affiliations, and representing the franchise at more than 

100 speaking engagements and appearances to various charities, private organizations and military 

groups each year. He has spoken to troops at more than 40 military bases around the world, including 

a five-country goodwill tour last summer throughout the Middle East with the chairman of the Joint 

Chiefs of Staff. Lasorda and his wife, Jo, reside in Fullerton, Calif., and will celebrate their 60th wedding 

anniversary in April 2010. 

“I Believe” - Tommy Lasorda has never regretted four things: his love of God, his love of his country, 

his love of his family, and his love of the Dodgers. Growing up in Pennsylvania, one of five sons of 

an Italian immigrant, he was raised to believe respect is the foundation of life. He respects those four 

institutions, and has used those principles along with an astounding sense of self-confidence to guide 

him and make him successful. Tommy will speak about self-confidence, as he believes it is the first step 

towards success. 


Dr. JoSeph n.G. leBoeuF, Colonel, uniteD StateS arMy (retireD) 

Professor, Duke University 

Colonel LeBoeuf is a professor in the Fuqua School of Business where he teaches leadership and 

management in the MBA programs. He enlisted in the Army in 1969, attended West Point, and 

graduated with a commission as a second lieutenant in 1974. His expertise is focused on leadership 

education, leader development, and organizational culture and change. He spent three years on a special 

study of leadership and leader development issues in the Army. LeBoeuf has been intimately involved 

in building leader development programs throughout the Army, helped author much of the Army’s 

leadership doctrine, and served as an advisor in reshaping Army culture to better integrate leader 

development. He recently participated in a nine-month study of the US Air Force Academy’s leader and 

character development program for the Secretary of the Air Force and co-authored the report Developing 

Leaders of Character at the US Air Force Academy: From “First Contact” to Commissioning. 

“Identity: The Leader’s Secret Weapon” - In a world of uncertainty and an age of the unthinkable, 

when leadership requirements and challenges are increasingly unpredictable, a leader’s identity is the 

compass that will guide his or her behavior in what is very uncertain terrain. This compass must be 

built of titanium and point to True North in all the many moments that will matter, every day, when 

leading is required. 


Member of the Identity Development Panel - Friday, 8:00 am, D-2 

Friday, 10:40 am, L-4


C.l. linDSay 

Founder, Coalition for Student and Academic Rights 

Speake rs 

CL Lindsay, JD, is an attorney and the founder and executive director of the Coalition for Student and 

Academic Rights, a non-profit group that helps thousands of college students with their legal problems, 

free of charge, each year. Lindsay is a nationally-recognized expert and leader in the field of student 

rights and academic freedom. His syndicated column, “Ask CO-STAR” is distributed nationwide on 

Knight Ridder/Tribune’s College Wire Service. He is also the author of the bestselling book The College 

Student’s Guide to the Law: Get a Grade Changed, Keep Your Stuff Private, Throw a Police-Free Party, and more. 

He graduated magna cum laude from Denison University, and received his JD from the University of 

Michigan. In his spare time he teaches Law and Literature at the University of Pennsylvania. 

“Trouble Online” - For college students, much of their character, or at least the outward appearance of 

it, depends on their online behaviors. This talk will teach students about the realities and consequences 

of Facebook pages, music and movie piracy, Internet plagiarism, sexting, and more. 


Friday, 1:00 pm, Arnold Hall Ballroom 

lieutenant Colonel ian Marr, uniteD StateS air ForCe 

Fire Control Officer, AC-130H Spectre Gunship 

Lieutenant Colonel Marr is an Air Commando with more than 320 combat hours in the AC-130H 

Spectre Gunship as a senior fire control officer. He has fought on the front lines in Iraq and 

Afghanistan, with three combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom alone. He has also 

served in a joint deployed capacity as liaison to Army and Navy special operations, and as chief of safety 

for the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component Command in Iraq. He was awarded the 

Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for his actions during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan during 

the battle of Takur Ghar (also know as “Rescue on Roberts Ridge”). He is currently 

serving as the Air Officer Commanding for Cadet Squadron 27 at the US Air Force Academy. 






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Presentation 

Dr. DaviD MCCone 

Associate Professor, Dept. of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, United States Air Force Academy 

Dr. McCone received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Colorado, and his MS 

and PhD in clinical child psychology from the University of Oregon. He completed an internship and 

postdoctoral fellowship at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, and worked as a child, 

adolescent, and family psychologist at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute. He joined 

the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at US Air Force Academy in 1998, conducting 

counseling with cadets in the Cadet Counseling Center as well as teaching and conducting research. 

His research, academic, and service interests have included marriage and family issues among Air Force 

members, childhood psychopathology, parenting and discipline issues, multiple developmental pathways 

in emerging adulthood, and the development of cultural awareness. In his spare time he thoroughly 

enjoys being outwitted by his two young daughters and going on long runs with his wife of 20 years. 



ChieF warrant oFFiCer 5 lanCe MCelhiney, uniteD StateS arMy 

Command Cheif Warrant Officer, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade 

Chief Warrant Officer Five (CW5) McElhiney has been instrumental in developing attack helicopter 

operations for the US Army while imbuing a warrior ethos in countless Army aviators. McElhiney was 

born in Peoria, Illinois in 1946. He joined the Army and earned his pilot wings in January 1970 and 

deployed to Southeast Asia with the 101st Airborne Division. He participated in the invasion of Laos 

and was shot down three times in three days, provided close air support for ground troops at a place 

called “Ranger North, ” and assisted in rescuing a special forces team from an undisclosed location. 

McElhiney served as the Army’s first Cobra senior standardization instructor pilot and started the 

Army’s first terrain flight and night vision goggle flying programs. He was also a member of the team 

that selected the AH-64 Apache as the new US attack helicopter. In 2003, some 33 years after cutting his 

teeth as an Army attack pilot over the jungles of Southeast Asia, McElhiney faced his greatest challenge 

yet: fighting through the Karbala Gap in Iraq. During pre-war training, he taught all of the aviators 

within his unit what to expect from the Iraqis. After multiple tours in Iraq, McElhiney returned to Fort 

Hood and continued to help transform Army aviation at all levels. 

“The Army’s Most Experienced Combat Aviator” - McElhiney will discuss his Warrior Ethos that 

developed as a result of involvement in operations spanning from Vietnam to Operation Iraqi Freedom and 

every major conflict in-between. He will discuss the values that keep him in the Army after 41 years, and compare 

two of his most recent conflicts, Desert Storm and OIF. Finally, McElhiney will detail the frustration of losing 

fellow aviators – not to the enemy – but to carelessness, and the lessons he gleaned from that experience. 

Cadet Wing Kickoff - Wednesday, 12:00 pm, Mitchell Hall* 


Friday, 1:00 pm, L-4


Keynote Presentation 

Mike Melvill 

Commercial Test Pilot 

Speake rs 

Mike Melvill is a test pilot and one of 10 owners of Scaled Composites, LLC in Mojave, California. He 

has worked for the organization for 27 years and has 23 years of experience as an experimental test pilot. 

He holds six different aeronautical ratings and recently became the nation’s first commercial astronaut, 

after flying Space Ship One to above 100 km on June 21, 2004. He has accumulated 7,050 flight hours 

in 128 fixed-wing types and 12 rotary wing types. He is a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test 

Pilots. He holds nine world and national speed and altitude records, and has flown 10 “first flights” of 

new aircraft designs. He has built his own aircraft and flown it around the world. He is a member of the 

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, as well as the Experimental Aircraft Association. 

“First Privately-Funded Space Flight” - Melvill will describe how a small team at a small business, 

designed, built and flew the first privately-funded ship to space. 



Friday, 1:00 pm, L-1 

raChel’S ChallenGe 

Darrell SCott - FounDer 

Darrell Scott is the founder of the Rachel’s Challenge Foundation. Darrell’s daughter Rachel was the first 

person killed in the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999. A few weeks after the tragedy, 

Darrell spoke to a Congressional House Judiciary Committee regarding issues of school violence. His 

speech has become one of the most widely read on the internet. Shortly afterwards, he founded Rachel’s 

Challenge, a non-violence school program. Rachel’s acts of kindness and compassion coupled with 

the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for the most life-changing school program 

in America. Powerful audio/video footage of Rachel’s Challenge holds audiences spellbound during a 

presentation that motivates them to positive change in the way they treat others. The universal message 

of kindness and compassion told by Rachel’s story has been heard by students all around the globe. Mr. 

Scott has authored three books including the bestseller Rachel’s Tears. 

larry SCott - unCle oF ColuMBine viCtiM, aDvoCate 

Larry Scott is Rachel’s uncle. His two teenagers were present at Columbine High School the day of the 

shooting, but miraculously, walked away unharmed. Since the tragedy of his niece’s death, he remains 

passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of young people. Scott has spoken to tens of 

thousands of people in live settings as well as on numerous television broadcasts. His warm and caring 

personality effectively communicates Rachel’s message of kindness and compassion. 

“Rachel’s Challenge” - Rachel Joy Scott’s incredible story has been told to over 10 million people 

around the world, featured on numerous television programs, and has been the subject of several books. 

This message contains five powerful challenges taken from her life. Every listener will walk away a 

changed person from this heart-rending, humorous, thought-provoking, and entertaining presentation. 

Thursday, 10:30 am, F-1* 

Friday, 1:00 pm, Arnold Hall Banquet Room 



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Presentation 

MaJor General Martha rainville, uniteD StateS air ForCe (retireD) 

National Guard’s First Female Adjutant General 

General Rainville was the Adjutant General of the State of Vermont. She was the first woman in the 

history of the National Guard to serve as a state adjutant general. As adjutant general, she served as 

the inspector general and quartermaster general of the 4,000 members of the Vermont Army and Air 

National Guard. As the head of the state military department, she managed a state appropriation of $3 

million and a federal budget of $115 million. She is a 1979 graduate of the University of Mississippi 

and a 1979 Distinguished Graduate of the US Air Force Officer Basic Military Training Program at 

Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Her military career has primarily been in the aircraft maintenance field 

with F-101, F-106, T-33, C-130, A-10, and F-16 aircraft. Since retirement, she has served as the assistant 

administrator, Federal Emergeny Management Agency. Rainville is currently president of her own 

consulting group. 

“Character and Leadership: The Choices We Make” - The character of an individual serves as a 

foundation for leadership development and helps guide key decisions for that young leader. The choices 

each of us make regarding our personal values, our priorities in life, and our goals will continue to form 

our character and shape our leadership style and potential. We are responsible for the leaders we become. 




JuDith reGiStre 

Director of Policy and Outreach, Women for Women International-UK 

Judith Registre is the Director of Policy and Outreach at Women for Women International-UK. She is a 

seasoned international development professional with over 10 years experience including eight years of 

field work in Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Africa, and Sudan. Over the 

course of her career she has managed diverse projects focusing on governance, political participation, 

poverty, women’s economic empowerment, organizational development, and staff capacity building. 

Before joining Women for Women International, Registre worked in various capacities with other 

international development organizations. Registre has an MA in Philosophy and Social Policy from 

American University, a Masters Certificate in Advanced Social Research from Afrikaans University in 

South Africa, and a BA in Philosophy from Boston College. She is a Fellow Alumnus of the prestigious 

Salzburg Seminar, Strengthening Democracy and Governance: Women and Political Power. 

“What would you like to be your legacy?” - With growing global challenges, the need to make 

an individual and/or collective difference remains critical. Some ordinary people with extraordinary 

visions have changed the course of history. Through their struggles and triumphs, they shaped a better 

world for us. Do we have a responsibility – as we enjoy the fruits of their sacrifices – to continue the 

progression of their visions? What will be your legacy for the next generation? Registre will answer 

these questions by sharing her personal reflections informed by her experience as an international 

development professional. 



Friday, 9:20 am, H-1


Keynote Presentation 

Dr. riCk riGSBy 

Author, Lessons From a Third Grade Dropout 

Speake rs 

Dr. Rigsby is president of Rick Rigsby Communications in Dallas, Texas. As a motivational speaker, 

Rigsby speaks worldwide – from the jungles of Nigeria to the top corporations on Wall Street. He’s a 

popular speaker at colleges, and public schools, and speaks on behalf of numerous sports organizations, 

including the PGA, and before teams in the NFL. Following a successful career as a television news 

reporter for a CBS affiliate in Northern California, Rigsby earned his master’s degree from California 

State University, Chico, followed by his PhD from the University of Oregon. Graduate school was 

followed by two decades as a college professor, the last 14 years at Texas A&M University, where Rigsby 

also served as character coach for the Aggies football team. In addition to his contributions to academic 

publications, Rigsby is the author of Lessons From a Third Grade Dropout, the story of timeless commonsense 

wisdom learned from his father. 

“Making an Impact” - In an era of astonishing technology, instant information, and rampant social 

networking, cultural critics argue that our society has never been shallower in communication and more 

superficial in appearance. For many organizations, appearance – or what Rigsby refers to as impression 

– has become the new corporate wardrobe. Rediscover what is truly relevant and meaningful in your 

professional career and personal life. Join Rigsby as he shares the wisdom of past generations – wisdom 

that will inspire, motivate, and empower you to make an impact rather than an impression. 

Wednesday, 7:30 pm, F-1* 

roBertS riDGe panel 

Panel members will discuss their involvement in the event known as “Rescue on Roberts Ridge,” that 

took place on Takur Ghar Mountain, Afghanistan. On March 4, 2002, a group of Army Rangers 

were dispatched to rescue Navy SEAL Neil Roberts who had fallen out of a helicopter in the midst 

of Al Qaeda fighters. The rescue team was ambushed – suddenly in need of rescue themselves. The 

ensuing battle remains burned into history as the most famous and emotional battle of the war so 

far, embodying the truly American principle of “Leave no man behind.” Panel members will bring 

perspectives on the operation ranging from the ground parties and aircrew to the command and control 

element, and represent both the Army and the Air Force. Audience members may wish to prepare by 

reading a transcript of Dateline NBC interviews with Self and others at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ 

id/13233811/ns/dateline_nbc//from/ET/. 

Nate Self – Army Ranger, Platoon Leader 

Chris Cicere, Lt Col, USAF (Retired) – Operations Center, Gunship Mission Commander 

Ian Marr, Lt Col, USAF – AC-130H Spectre Gunship, Fire Control Officer 

Kevin Vance, Master Sgt, USAF – Tactical Air Control Party 

Facilitated by Ralph Hartman, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Retired), Center for Character & Leadership 

Development, US Air Force Academy 

Fri, 9:20 am, D-2 

Fri, 1:00 pm, F-1* 



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Presentation 

nate SelF 

Former Army Ranger, Veteran of Roberts Ridge 

As an Army Ranger and Captain in 2002, Nate Self led a group of courageous soldiers atop Takur 

Ghar Mountain to rescue a missing-in-action Navy SEAL. What ensued was the highest-altitude battle 

ever fought by US troops, and seven of the first 10 men to die in the Global War on Terror fell in this 

singular episode. The effort was dubbed “Rescue on Roberts Ridge,” and if not for Self’s quick-thinking 

and leadership, many more would have been killed. Upon returning home, Self was widely recognized 

as a national hero, awarded with a Silver Star, Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart, and invited by President 

Bush to be a guest at the 2003 State of the Union Address. But for Self, the real battle – with Post 

Traumatic Stress Disorder – was just beginning. Four years later, Self has come a long way. Having 

survived the worst stages of PTSD, he has now committed himself to helping a new generation of war 

vets, both by sharing his own story and by collecting theirs. Self is a guest speaker for Bridges to Healing, 

an outreach program for soldiers returning home from war. In addition, he is leading a project funded 

by the Army Research Institute, collecting oral accounts of platoon leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Combined with the release of Two Wars: One Hero’s Fight on Two Fronts – Abroad and Within, Self is using 

his platform as one of the most decorated modern war heroes to help fellow vets get the help they need. 

“Roberts Ridge” - Nate Self will give a personal account of the Battle of Roberts Ridge from March 

2002 in Afghanistan, highlighting the bravery, leadership, and joint effectiveness of special operators at 

10,000 feet and above. 

Thursday, 12:15 pm, Arnold Hall Theater* - Phillis Foundation Lecture on Moral Courage 




SiSterhooD oF the travelinG BDuS 

Kaylei Deakin and Moranda Hern were inspired to create The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs after 

their fathers deployed to Afghanistan. “After our fathers deployed, we felt a definite need for sisterly 

support in our lives and we see the same needs in the lives of others. Military girls go through so many 

unique challenges, especially during the tender ages of 13-18. During deployments, many girls suffer 

from lack of self esteem and often feel completely alone. Some common reactions to deployment by 

young girls are failing school, dropping in self confidence, cutting, eating disorders, body identity issues, 

lack of interest, and depression. After our fathers returned home from deployment, we connected 

through the California National Guard Child and Youth Program. When we came together, we realized 

we were not alone in our challenges. After that ‘aha!’ moment, we were inspired to articulate our unique 

challenges and to create a program to empower military girls.” 

“Your Legacy Begins Today” - Military dependents and high school seniors from California, Moranda 

Hern and Kaylei Deakin share their journey as the co-founders of the first non-profit organization for 

military kids by military kids: The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs. Deakin and Hern discuss the 

moral obligation we all must address to support our own, and how you can help. 



Friday, 1:00 pm, L-5

JorDan thoMaS 

Amputee and President, Jordan Thomas Foundation 

Speake rs 

At the age of 16, Jordan Thomas lost both legs in a family boating accident. While in the hospital and 

seeing other children leave without the prosthetics they needed, Thomas decided to focus on helping 

these kids and others like them by starting a foundation to raise money to help children in need gain 

a new lease on life. His foundation is committed to providing prosthetics to disadvantaged children 

through age 18, an endeavor that typically costs up to $100,000. He has met with members of Congress 

on behalf of the Amputee Coalition of America in order to educate lawmakers, promote health care 

reform and advocate for mandated insurance coverage of prosthetics. For his work, Thomas was 

awarded the National Courage Award, the Youth in Philanthropy Award, and was named one of CNN’s 

Top Ten Heroes for 2009. He is currently a college student at the College of Charleston in South 

Carolina. 

“Press On” - In the face of adversity and after losing both legs below the knee, Thomas tells of 

pressing on to turn this accident into something good by creating a foundation to help fund prosthetics 

for children of traumatic injury, and how there are new joys and challenges on this road less-traveled. 


Friday, 1:00 pm, D-2 

Captain Stephen trainor, uniteD StateS navy 

Chair, Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law, United States Naval Academy 

Captain Trainor is the Permanent Military Professor of Leadership and the Chair of the Department 

of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at the US Naval Academy. He is responsible for the development, 

management, and execution of the core leadership, ethics, and law courses taught to all midshipmen 

during their four years in residence at the Naval Academy. Trainor served as a naval aviator with more 

than 2,500 flight hours in numerous operational helicopter commands and aboard multiple ships of the 

US Pacific Fleet. During his shore assignments, he served as the Naval aide to the vice chief of Naval 

operations and to the commander, US Atlantic Command. He also served as operations officer for the 

commander, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Wing US Pacific Fleet and as deputy assistant to the 

chief of Naval operations for Flag Officer Management and Distribution. Trainor is a 1983 graduate of 

the US Naval Academy and holds masters degrees from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy 

at Tufts University and the US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Penn. He obtained his PhD in 

Sociology (with concentrations in Social Psychology and Military Sociology) from the University of 

Maryland, College Park, in 2004. 





24 

Speake rs 




Presentation 

JiM treSSel 

Head Football Coach, The Ohio State University 

Jim Tressel was born on December 5, 1952, in Mentor, Ohio. He was the son of legendary college 

coach Lee Tressel and played for his father at Baldwin-Wallace College. He graduated in 1975 with an 

education degree and had his first on-field coaching experience while serving as a graduate assistant 

at the University of Akron. Following his stint at Akron, he served as an assistant coach at Miami 

University, in Oxford, Ohio, and later at Syracuse University. In 1983, he arrived at Ohio State University, 

where he would eventually coach the quarterbacks, the running backs, and wide receivers. In 1985, 

Tressel left Ohio State to accept the head coaching position at Youngstown State University, where he 

struggled during his first season, winning only two games. He quickly built a national powerhouse in 

Division I-AA football, however, and during the 1990s, won 103 games, lost 27, and tied two. Tressel 

teams also won four national championships. The Tressels are the only father-and-son ever to lead their 

respective teams to national championships. In 2001, Tressel returned to Ohio State as head coach of 

the Buckeyes. His teams excelled on the field, winning the national championship in Tressel’s second 

season with the team. Since coming to Ohio State, Tressel has won 94 games and lost only 21. 

“Block 0 of Life” - Coach Tressel will talk about his comprehensive approach to coaching. 

Wednesday, 7:30 pm, Arnold Hall Theater* - USAFA Class of 1959 Leadership Lecture 

Thursday, 9:30 am, F-1* 

MaSter SerGeant kevin vanCe, uniteD StateS air ForCe 

Tactical Air Control Party 

At the kickoff of Operation Enduring Freedom, Master Sgt. Kevin Vance was assigned as a terminal 

attack controller with the 17th Air Support Operations Squadron, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. 

During three deployments to Afghanistan and two to Iraq, he repeatedly prosecuted the mission by 

identifying enemy positions and directing successful airstrikes in “danger close” conditions in the 

mountain ranges of Afghanistan, 10,000 ft above sea level. His work with the Army’s 1st Ranger 

Battalion earned him a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart and Army 

Commendation Medals. Vance was instrumental in joint special operations on Takur Ghar (also know 

as Rescue on Roberts Ridge), coordinating mortar fire to mark enemy positions and calling in close air 

support for multiple airstrikes. Born in Vancouver, Washington, he entered the Air Force in 1994. After 

completing Tactical Air Command and Control training at Hurlburt Field, Florida, he was assigned 

to the Army’s 2nd Armored Calvary at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He received air assault training at Fort 

Campbell, Kentucky, and graduated from airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. He saw service 

in Kuwait in 1997 and later at Camp Casey in Korea, before arriving at Hunter AAF in 1999. Vance is 

currently assigned to the 70th Flying Training Squadron at the US Air Force Academy. 



Friday, 1:00 pm, F-1*

MiChael weinStein 

Founder, The Military Religious Freedom Foundation 

Speake rs 

Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein is Founder and President of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize-nominated 

Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a non-profit charity representing over 16,000 active duty United 

States marines, sailors, soldiers, airmen, cadets, midshipmen, reserve personnel, national guardsmen and 

veterans; 96% of whom are Christians. Mikey is a 1977 Honor Graduate of the United States Air Force 

Academy and a former Air Force Judge Advocate. Former positions include Assistant General Counsel 

of the Executive Office of the President of the United States in the Reagan White House and former 

General Counsel for two-time Presidential candidate and Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot. Described by 

Harper’s Magazine as “the Constitutional conscience of the military,” Mikey is the recognized civil rights 

leader of the national movement to restore the obliterated wall separating church and state in the most 

technologically lethal organization ever created by humankind: our honorable and noble United States 

armed forces. 

“Quis Custodiet lpsos Custodes: Who Will Guard the Guards?” - What must military officers 

be prepared to do to exercise leadership excellence in their role as the most trusted guardians of our 

nation’s most cherished Constitutional freedoms? 

Friday, 10:40 am, Arnold Hall Banquet Room 

the honoraBle heather wilSon 

Former Member of Congress, New Mexico 

For 10 years, Congresswoman Heather Wilson helped shape key legislation that cemented our national 

security, improved our domestic energy policy, and reformed American healthcare. A senior member 

of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on 

Intelligence – and the only female veteran in Congress – she was also one of the top House members on 

the topics of Medicaid and Medicare, energy, and national security. House Republican leaders frequently 

turned to her because of her ability to effectively and passionately communicate why reform matters 

to people. A recipient of numerous public service awards for protecting taxpayers and promoting free 

enterprise, Wilson received Distinguished Public Service Awards from the CIA and the Director of 

National Intelligence upon her retirement from the Congress. Wilson is a 1982 graduate of the US Air 

Force Academy, and the school’s first to serve in Congress. 

“Honorable Service: Leading with Integrity in American Politics” - Heather Wilson shares her 

reflections on integrity in politics – an oxymoron in the eyes of many Americans. During her ten 

years of service in the House of Representatives, Wilson voted on the impeachment of a President, 

demanded accountability for and compliance with the Geneva Conventions for abuse of prisoners at 

Abu Ghraib, led oversight on wiretapping of Americans, stood up to her own party leaders who wanted 

to change ethics rules to protect themselves, and survived six general elections in one of the toughest 

Congressional districts in the country. She shares her frank thoughts on honor 

and politics. 

Friday, 1:00 pm, H-1 



26 

Speake rs 

Dr. thoMaS zweiFel 

Leadership Professor, Author 

Dr. Zweifel is the CEO of Swiss Consulting Group, a New York City-based leadership development 

company that was named a “Fast Company” by Fast Company magazine. He has taught leadership at 

Columbia University and business schools in Europe, Israel, and Australia. Dr. Zweifel is the author of 

six leadership books, including Leadership in 100 Days, Communicate or Die, Culture Clash, and The Rabbi & 

the CEO: The Ten Commandments for 21st Century Leaders. He is based in New York and Zurich where he 

lives with his wife and two daughters. 

“21st-Century Leadership: Leading Through Language” - Leadership is in crisis. And in the rough 

seas of a borderless economy, the Internet, and outsourcing, a seismic shift has changed the game. 

Virtually anyone can lead now. But how do you breed principled leaders? Is leadership a matter of DNA, 

culture, or coaching? In this interactive and action-packed workshop, Dr. Zweifel will show you how to 

lead through language. The listener will learn how to become a great communicator who builds trust and 

gets results through effective speaking and listening, how to avoid culture clashes and manage skillfully 

across cultures, how to unleash people power for performance, and how to turn breakdowns into 

breakthroughs. 


Thursday, 1:30 pm, H-1 

Biographical materials are provided by the speakers, may be edited to meet NCLS publishing guidelines, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Air Force.

Staff 

Col John Norton 

Col (Ret) Tom Berry 

COL (Ret) Steve Shambach 

Lt Col Chuck Boyd 

Lt Col Bonnie Burckel 

Lt Col David Higginbotham 

Lt Col Joe Sanders 

Lt Col Joel Witzel 

Lt Col James DeReus 

Lt Col Doug Gebhart 

Lt Col (Ret) Ralph Hartman 

Lt Col (Ret) Scott Nelson 

Chaplain, Maj Rives Duncan 

Chaplain, Maj Dieter Rademacher 

Cadet Staff 

CIC-C1C Mychol Alexander 

NCOIC-C2C Katie Gorbacz 

Support 

C1C Amanda Warren 

C2C Lauren Allison 

Catering 

C1C Robert Capparelli 

C2C Kaylyn Arvidson 

C3C Chad Aukerman 

C2C Sean Cosme 

C2C Ryan Darrohn 

C2C Robert Evenson 

C3C Philicia Fahrenbruch 

C2C Timothy Keitel 

C3C Matthew Keith 

C2C Joshua Monroe 

C2C Jeremy Smith 

C2C Katherine Wilson 

C3C Aaron Zadalis 

Transportation 

C1C Caitlin Suttie 

C1C Victoria Lalich 

C2C James Anderson 

C3C Zachary Barrington 

C1C Andrew Bryant 

C3C Anthony Caliva 

C1C Christopher Carillo 

C1C Jacob Carvalho 

C3C William Chuch 

C2C Joseph Cortez 

C3C Ann Dally 

C3C Christopher Danielson 

C3C David Fox 

C3C Heather Ireland 

C2C Michael Kanaan 

C1C Christopher Kopp 

C3C Moses Krehbiel 

C2C Leif Lindblom 

C1C Sarah Littlefield 

C2C Justin Munder 

C1C Franklin Nesselhuf 

C3C Joshua Park 

C1C Timothy Phillips 

C2C Joel Primm 

C3C Rodolfo Rodriguez 

C2C Randy Semrau 

C3C David Walcher 

C3C Ryan Weldon 

Command Post 

C1C Jonathon Ruiz 

C2C Miguel Garcia 

C2C Diana Hall 

C2C Alexander Jack 

C3C Benjamin Misra 

C1C Michael Pak 

C2C Alana Phaneuf 

PA/Publicity 

C1C Brittany Keiper 

C1C Jacque Harrier 

C3C Saskia Hicks 

C2C Kali Kingsley 

C2C Trevor Lockhart 

C1C Cristina Richter 

C3C Benjamin Rinaldi 

C3C Kelsey Smith 

C2C Kyle Southard 

Protocol 

C1C Chris Bordenave 

C3C Lindsey Barber 

C3C David Beranek 

C3C Jessica Bickford 

C3C Peter Broughton 

C3C Jacob Byorth 

C3C Adam Campbell 

C3C Christina Cassabaum 

C3C Johnathan Cody 

C3C Erin Dannemeyer 

C3C Kevin Escobedo 

C2C Robert Evenson 

C3C Kirby Forssell 

C3C Matthew Jerrell 

C3C Vincent Jovene 

C3C Ryan Kolesar 

C3C Christopher Perkins 

C3C Adam Resch 

C3C Brandon Roberts 

Maj Michele Johnson, NCLS Program Director 

Mrs. Danielle Brines, Deputy NCLS Program Director 

Maj Bill Barrington 

Maj Sheilagh Carpenter 

Maj Kent Cast 

Maj Shane Coyne 

Maj Tom Devore 

Maj Eric Ecklund 

Maj Olivia Nelson 

Maj (Ret) Tina Erzen 

Capt Jeff Johnson 

Capt Julie Mustian 

Capt Meredith Ortiz 

Capt Bernie Proctor 

Capt Nate Renes 

Capt Chris Thompson 

C3C Christina Salley 

C3C Tyler Schultz 

C1C Kristen Smith 

C3C Matthew Street 

C2C Alexis Tamosuinas 

C3C Joanna Voss 

C3C Joshua White 

C3C Caitlin Williams 

C2C Katherine Wilson 

C3C Paul Wilson 

C2C Margarita Zhukov 

Student Delegation 

C1C Jonathan Bucey 

C3C Chad Aukerman 

C3C Nathan Betcher 

C2C Dominic Collins 

C3C Ryan Dowden 

C3C James Evans 

C3C Caitlin Glitz 

C3C Nicole Johnson 

C3C Anthony Pompa 

C3C Matthew Siverio 

C3C Timothy Smith 

C3C James Walmsley 

C3C John Welch 

Outreach 

C1C Amanda Peterson 

Registration 

C1C David Urban 

C2C Stephanie Stanford 

C3C Josh Day 

C2C Adam Robinson 

C2C Carly Olsowski 

C3C Philicia Fahrenbruch 

C3C Amanda Atitya 

C3C Andrew Beckman 

C3C Zachary Schneider 

C3C Bryce Bergman 

Operations 

C1C Richard Tippitt 

C2C Andrew Miller 

Venue Coordination 

C1C Calvin Singh 

C3C Grant Boehme 

C3C Kurt Brill 

C2C Charles Cole 

C2C Tamara Duff 

C3C Michael Hauser 

C3C Matthew Ibarra 

C3C Nicole Johnson 

C3C Sean Knowles 

C3C Ryan Kolesar 

C3C Ryan Martinson 

C3C Alison Meehan 

C2C Jacek Muka 

C3C Brittany Rucker 


C3C Colton Serilli 

C2C Martynas Smitas 

C3C Matthew Street 

C2C Kevin Uniacke 

Speaker Escort Team 

C2C Courtney Vidt 

C2C Kimberly Burghardt 

C3C Michael Hauser 

C2C Jessica Hildebrand 

C3C Christopher Moede 

C3C Randall Ott 

C3C Brandon Roberts 

C1C Gilbert Valdes 

C3C Megumi Voight 

Cadet Wing Kickoff 

C2C Erin Green 

CMSgt (Ret) Bob Vasquez 

MSgt Eric Sandoval 

TSgt Mike Anderson 

TSgt William Garringer 

SSgt Steve Lopez 

Ms. Kari Granger 

Ms Kathy Lentz 

Ms. Angela Mound 

Ms Lizbeth Williams 

Opening/Closing Ceremonies 

C2C Rachael Arthur 

C3C Lauren Carter 

C3C Shelley Johnson 

C3C Sheila Sherman 

Assessments/Feedback 

C2C Thomas Pressley 

C3C Blaize Angelet 

C3C Dale Becker 

C3C James Beissner 

C3C Katherine Boyle 

C3C Stewart Brandon 

C3C Layne Clawson 

C3C Johnathan Cox 

C3C Kathleen Deiters 

C3C Joshua Drapes 

C3C Meagan Eissele 

C3C Garrett Getschow 

C3C Cody Johnson 

C3C Eric Poland 

C3C Travis Potthoff 


C3C Paulina Rudolph 

C3C Bryan Stigall 

C3C William Thimmel 

C3C Mary Vasta 

C3C Brian Walford 

C3C Heather Watts 

C3C Joshua Wilson 

C3C Amanda Wineman 

Professional Development Day 

C1C Rachel Lovelady 

C1C Mike Menna 

C2C Zachary Bradford 

C3C Jaclyn First 

C2C Bridget Flatley 

C3C Blake Liddle 

C2C Patrick Livingstone 

C3C Michael Smith 

C3C Nicholas Watts 

Student Consortium 

C1C Adam Derito 

C3C Lauren Bailey 

C3C Stormi Brewer 

C2C Marlena Carrillo 

C3C Kristi Miner 

C3C Paulina Rudolph 

C3C Kelliann Seaman 

C3C Amanda Terry 

27

28 

Map of Cadet Area

Arnold Hall Venues 

29

30 

Nort 

Map of Fairchild Hall 

North ‐> 

North ‐> 

Terrazzo 

Snack 

Bar 

NCLS 

Info Desk 

Coffee 

Shop 

Parade Field

Map of Mitchell Hall 

MITCHELL HALL 

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EAST ENTRANCE 

ENTRANCE 

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STAFF 

TOWER 

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WEST ENTRANCE 

ENTRANCE 

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Note for 

Visitors: In 

order to ease 

transition for 

both cadets and 

visitors, please 

make every 

effort to follow 

the outside 

walls when 

traveling to and 

from tables. 

! ! 

CADET TABLES 

TABLES 

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! 

NCLS VISITORS 

TABLES 

BACK WINDOWS 

31

Center for Character & Leadership Development 

www.usafa.edu/ncls

February 17th-19th, 2010 - United States Air Force Academy

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