Friends Annual Luncheon 2008

On May 6, 2008, The Friends held its annual Board of Directors’ meeting and luncheon at the Academy Falcon Club, (formerly the Officer’s Club). Our speaker for the occasion was the Commandant of Cadets, Brig. General Susan Y. Desjardins. General Desjardins graduated from the Academy in 1980, the first class with female cadets. She served in a variety of command and staff positions prior to becoming the Commandant in December 2007. She commanded an air refueling squadron, an operations group and, just prior to her assignment to the Academy, the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. Her staff assignments have been at major command, Air Force headquarters, and Joint Chiefs of Staff levels, including a tour as deputy military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. This was the first time the Friends had the Commandant of Cadets as speaker.

The Friends' Board of Directors 2008

Seated: Will Ketterson, Phil Caine, Lorrie Bennett, A. P. Clark, Susan Stone Woodward, Henry "Kort" Kortemeyer, & Mary Elizabeth Ruwell. Standing: Dona Hildebrand, Elliot Converse II, Gary Howe, Christie Schwank, Ed Scott, Don White, Leslie Frank, Jock Schwank, Richard Lemp, Skip Scott, Lindy Royer, & Neal Barlow.