Air Force Space Command’s senior leader headed back to the classroom this week, not to brush up on the latest space concepts, but to share some of his expertise with the students.

Gen. Lance W. Lord shared his space experience with some of Discovery Canyon’s fifth and sixth graders. The AFSPC commander’s visit kicked off the command’s High Frontier Adventures initiative.

The initiative is a command program that encourages Air Force space professionals to reach out to their community through involvement in classrooms. It was designed to educate people about the space, science, math, engineering and technology fields.

As part of the space professional continuing education program, credentialed professionals are now required to perform four hours a year of outreach to local students.

“I am extremely pleased to be working with our community partners and educators as Air Force Space Command brings a face to space and supports the President’s initiative,” the general said.

President George W. Bush, in his Jan. 31 state of the union address, stressed the importance of such initiatives.

“This program is designed to expand and unify our collective efforts in America’s classrooms,” General Lord said. “We want to bring space into the classrooms and get our students excited about math and science -- areas where America needs more focus to develop stronger students and future leaders.”

The U.S. Space Foundation, headquartered in Colorado Springs, has worked closely with the command in developing and launching the program.

The program is a way to help our children be more competitive in the math and science arena, said Dr. Patricia Arnold, vice president of education and workforce development foundation.

“I think (High Frontier Adventures) has the potential to become a national program,” she said.

During his class, General Lord taught a space-based lesson featuring the recent Mars Odyssey launch on a Delta II rocket. He then discussed the mathematical and scientific equations that come into play when conducting a launch.

“It takes a lot of math and science to get in to space,” General Lord said. And if the students continue to explore the math and sciences they could be tomorrow’s space leaders.

“I have a renewed exuberance for what we do (in Space Command),” General Lord said. “We’re starting the action to pave the way for the next generation of leaders.”