The Air Force Academy’s Association of Graduates has named retired Generals Hansford T. Johnson, Class of 1959, and Michael E. Ryan, Class of 1965, as the 2006 recipients of the association’s Distinguished Graduate Award.

The award honors academy graduates for a lifetime of service to the nation, the Air Force and the academy. The men will be honored in ceremonies at the academy’s Founders Day observance on April 7 and 8.

General Johnson was the first academy graduate to rise to the rank of general. As a forward air controller in Vietnam and Laos, he was awarded a Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and 23 Air Medals for his courage during combat. He was later an assistant professor in the academy’s aeronautical engineering department.

During Desert Shield he was the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Transportation Command and Military Airlift Command. He directed the largest, most concentrated movement of troops, equipment and supplies in American military history.

After retiring from the military, he served as president and chief executive officer of the USAA Capital Corporation. He went on to become the assistant secretary of the Navy for more than two years and led the Navy and Marine Corps during the initial victory in Operation Iraqi Freedom. General Johnson has been a longtime supporter of the academy and was recently appointed to serve on the academy’s board of visitors.

General Ryan was the second Air Force Academy graduate to rise to the position of Air Force chief of staff. His father, Gen. John D. Ryan, was the 7th chief of staff of the Air Force.

As a young officer, General Ryan flew combat missions in the F-4 Phantom, including 100 missions over North Vietnam. His courage under fire earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and 12 Air Medals.

While commander of 16th Air Force and NATO’s Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, he planned and directed combat air operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, resulting in the peace accords for that war-torn nation.

When he served as Air Force chief of staff from 1997 to 2001, the nation was in constant combat. He made readiness the bedrock of the force and instituted the air expeditionary force concept throughout the Air Force, bringing improved readiness, stability and predictability to airmen and their families.

Since retiring from the military, General Ryan is serving on many boards affecting national security. He is a senior trustee of the academy’s Falcon Foundation and was chairman of the Ryan Commission, which conducted a review of the academy’s athletic department and its mission performance.