Two presentations at the US Air Force Academy

I always learn more than the students!

I was delighted to be invited by Lt. Col. Mike Daniels, the Rocky Mountain Region's public affairs officer, to the annual Colorado Wing PAO/PIO Academy, held Nov. 5, 2016, at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. 

My two presentations to a packed room were "PAO SUI Prep: PA Crisis Communications and Annual PR Plans" and "PAO/PIO News Releases and Working with the Media." The one-day workshop drew 30 Civil Air Patrol participants from the Colorado, Utah and Wyoming wings.

Lt. Col. Mike Daniels was the perfect host.

I was presented with a staff 2016 Colorado PAO Academy CAP 75th Anniversary polo shirt in "Cubs Blue" as well as Mike's challenge coin and the latest issue of the wing's "Peakes and Planes" magazine signed by all the authors in attendance.

Everyone was extremely appreciative of my visit, even referring to me as "beloved" during the day! 

I was also delighted to be able to have dinner with Mike at the famous restaurant 17 miles southwest of Denver, The Fort, a replica of an adobe fur trade fort that features bison steaks. 

Standing alongside the CAP plaque at the US Air Force Academy.

Air Force Space Command

Beginning in 1994, Air Force Space Command(AFSPC) has sponsored two Civil Air Patrol special activities; one at Patrick AFB and one in Colorado Springs to showcase AFSPC roles and missions to CAP cadets age 15-21. The purpose of the program is to motivate young men and women to the ideals of leadership and service through aerospace education and training. Attendees are CAP cadets who are interested in aerospace careers and/or military service.

I was selected as a staff member for the Peterson AFB program this summer and participated as our cadets were introduced to all five areas of space operations: satellite command and control, missile warning, space surveillance/space control, missile operations, and spacelift.

The Peterson program also visited the Air Force Academy to introduce cadets to opportunities available in aerospace engineering, which is where this photo was taken.

 

Our schedule included:

 

Peterson AFB (space surveillance, command and

control)

 

Cheyenne Mountain AFS (joint operations,

command and control)

 

Schriever AFB (satellite operations, missile

defense)

 

US Air Force Academy (astronautical engineering,

cadet life)

 

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Waterton, Colorado

(spacelift and space engineering)