Academy honors distinguished graduates Published April 3, 2003 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) -- Contributions to the Air Force and nation have earned two Air Force Academy graduates the academy's distinguished graduate awards.Retired Air Force Gen. Robert Oaks and Dr. Paul Kaminski have earned the 2002 Distinguished Graduate Award. The award recognizes graduates for contributions to the academy's Association of Graduates and the nation.Oaks graduated in 1959 and flew 188 combat missions in Vietnam where he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for accurate nighttime close-air support of troops under fire. After returning from Vietnam, Oaks was an air officer commanding here and served as the executive of the academy's Honor and Ethics Program.Kaminski graduated from the academy in 1964. He was responsible for the guidance components of the Minuteman missile. From 1971 to 1976 he worked in the National Reconnaissance Office developing classified procedures that now provide the nation with real-time intelligence and targeting.