Academy welcomes space leader

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Thibault
  • Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  The Air Force executive agent for space brought messages of the past, present and future during a visit to the nearby U.S. Air Force Academy on Aug. 27.

“Space assets are more important to national security than anytime in the past,” said Undersecretary of the Air Force Peter B. Teets during a presentation to the cadets. “We are actively integrating space capability with warfighting operations. This only increases the importance of our space activity.”

The importance of space is also increasing at the academy. This school year, the academy will graduate its first space operations majors. The curriculum for cadets with this major can include space-mission design, astrothemodynamics and astrodynamics.

“In the design class, we designed and built a mini satellite … to give us the tools to operate and control an actual satellite” said Cadet 1st Class Brandon Jones.

Mr. Teets, who is also director of the National Reconnaissance Office, called some of this year’s creations “great learning tools.”

His visit gave the cadets a chance to showcase their efforts with space and to learn a little more about one of their senior leaders.

“It’s a rare opportunity to be able to present questions directly to an undersecretary of the Air Force,” said Maj. Gen. Kathy Thomas, mobilization assistant to the superintendent.

Cadet 2nd Class Bernadette Tavelli said the opportunity was impressive.

“I knew Mr. Teets was a brilliant space mind, but after his trip to the academy I have a far better understanding of who he is and some of the things he envisions for our future,” said Cadet Tavelli, who is majoring in astro engineering. “It’s important for subordinates to know what their leaders are talking about but also to see that they will take time for others.”

Mr. Teets said his highest priority is to develop, nurture and attract top talent into the national security space cadre arena.

“That’s why I’m talking to you today,” he told the cadets. “You all represent the future of our Air Force, where we’re going, and we need some of your talents to be directed into this national security space arena.”

He stressed the importance of space in tomorrow’s Air Force.

“I know many of you want to be pilots, and that’s great. I understand we have the greatest Air Force on the planet, and we want to maintain that. I also say in the Air Force there’s a great future in space,” he said. (Courtesy of Air Force Space Command News Service)