Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week received the 2009 Thomas D. White National Defense Award from the Air Force Academy. The academy has presented this award annually since 1962 to a US citizen who has contributed significantly to nation’s defense and security. Rice accepted the award Aug. 26 during a visit to the school. She said she was humbled to enter the company of the previous award recipients, who include Gen. Curtis LeMay, Gen. Bernard Schriever, Gen. Carl Spaatz, Army Gen. Colin Powell, and former Sen. John Glenn. “Thank you for believing in this great country,” she said to academy cadets during her award ceremony. Currently a professor at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., Rice served as national security advisor and later as Secretary of State to President George W. Bush. (Colorado Springs report by SSgt. Don Branum)
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
