Kori Ellis
10-30-2007, 02:17 PM
ACADEMY ANNOUNCES DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES
U.S AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The U.S. Air Force Academy and the Academy’s Association of Graduates today announced the winners of the Academy’s 2007 Distinguished Graduate Award.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Ervin J. Rokke and Mr. Gregg Popovich earned this prestigious honor for their singular and distinctive contributions to society and the nation.
The Distinguished Graduate Award began in 2001 and is presented by the Superintendent of the Academy and the Chairman of the AOG to a USAFA graduate whose lifetime of achievement is of such significance as to set them apart from their contemporaries.
The purpose of the award is to:
-Recognize outstanding performance by graduates who have demonstrated a lifetime of service to the nation
-Favorably promote the Air Force Academy and its graduates
-Promote and increase awareness of graduate heritage among alumni and cadets
General Rokke graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1962. His professional career involved multiple assignments in the intelligence community, both in the U.S. and overseas, and included a tour of duty as the Dean of Faculty at USAFA. His last active duty position was president, National Defense University in Washington, D.C., before retiring July 1, 1997. Dr. Rokke currently serves as the Chair for Character and Leadership at the Air Force Academy. A full biography is located at: http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6961.
Mr. Gregg Popovich is a 1970 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He played basketball all four years at the Academy and served nine years on active duty using his degree in Soviet Studies while serving tours in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. He returned to the Academy to serve as assistant coach of the basketball team for six years before moving on to be a successful coach in the NBA. He is currently the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach of the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. A full biography is located at:
http://www.usabasketball.com/biosmen/gregg_popovich_bio.html.
U.S AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The U.S. Air Force Academy and the Academy’s Association of Graduates today announced the winners of the Academy’s 2007 Distinguished Graduate Award.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Ervin J. Rokke and Mr. Gregg Popovich earned this prestigious honor for their singular and distinctive contributions to society and the nation.
The Distinguished Graduate Award began in 2001 and is presented by the Superintendent of the Academy and the Chairman of the AOG to a USAFA graduate whose lifetime of achievement is of such significance as to set them apart from their contemporaries.
The purpose of the award is to:
-Recognize outstanding performance by graduates who have demonstrated a lifetime of service to the nation
-Favorably promote the Air Force Academy and its graduates
-Promote and increase awareness of graduate heritage among alumni and cadets
General Rokke graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1962. His professional career involved multiple assignments in the intelligence community, both in the U.S. and overseas, and included a tour of duty as the Dean of Faculty at USAFA. His last active duty position was president, National Defense University in Washington, D.C., before retiring July 1, 1997. Dr. Rokke currently serves as the Chair for Character and Leadership at the Air Force Academy. A full biography is located at: http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6961.
Mr. Gregg Popovich is a 1970 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He played basketball all four years at the Academy and served nine years on active duty using his degree in Soviet Studies while serving tours in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. He returned to the Academy to serve as assistant coach of the basketball team for six years before moving on to be a successful coach in the NBA. He is currently the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach of the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. A full biography is located at:
http://www.usabasketball.com/biosmen/gregg_popovich_bio.html.