Academy graduate named ‘Cadet of the Year’ Published March 5, 2004 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Second Lt. Christopher D. Ayoub was named the British Air Squadron’s 2003 Cadet of the Year on March 4.Lieutenant Ayoub is the first Air Force Academy graduate to win the award, which recognizes the most outstanding cadet from all Air Force accession programs. The previous winners have been from ROTC.As commander and element leader of Cadet Squadron 21, then-Cadet 1st Class Ayoub led 114 cadets to be ranked No. 1 of 36 squadrons in the cadet wing in the fall semester of 2002. He was consistently recognized as the No. 1 cadet squadron commander and was the Air Force Academy Cadet of the Year for 2002 to 2003.“It’s not only the awards and trophies sitting on your mantle, it’s also gratifying to the secretary of the Air Force and me to see the qualities of character, honor and integrity that come out in the form of cadets like Chris,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said.“It is the most important thing ... that we have officers of quality and character (in the Air Force), whose leadership is well-demonstrated, stand before our ranks and profess to those very virtues that will make them superb officers in the future,” he said. “We’re pleased to acknowledge your dedication, enthusiasm, patriotism and, most of all, your leadership as those qualities we’re looking for to lead our Air Force into the future.”The British Air Squadron, a private organization of high-ranking British citizens, established the award in June 2000 in tribute to the U.S. military’s support of the United Kingdom.