Air National Guard July 5, 2011 Air Force Honored as Top Supporter of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBU) The United States Air Force was recently honored as a top supporter of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Distinguished Alumni. As a Top Supporter of HBCU for 2011, the U.S. Air Force will also be spotlighted in the upcoming issue of US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine, Deans Issue. This magazine is read by young technology leaders looking for an opportunity in "diversity positive" organizations. Major General Garry C. Dean, Commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region - lst Air Force, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, accepted the award on behalf of the U.S. Air Force during an alumni luncheon held at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Florida. "If minority Airmen do not 'see themselves' as they serve, what's the chance that America's youth contemplating a future career 'see themselves' in our USAF, said Maj Gen Dean". Major General Dean participated in a discussion panel during the conference attended by 500 participants. In addition, since becoming lst Air Force Commander, Maj Gen Dean has been a guest speaker at two separate HBCU events at Jackson State University, Mississippi. As a top supporter, the Air Force shares the Alumni group goals of developing top talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) and promoting the United States as a world leader in college graduates across these fields by 2020. "The Air Force must inclusively attract, develop and retain the capabilities and talents resident in and reflective of our diverse population; opening the door to innovative ideas and offering an unparalleled competitive edge for air, space and cyberspace dominance, said Maj Gen Dean." The event was sponsored by the combined Alumni Group of the Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA), the Women of Color (WOC) and the Minorities in Research Sciences (MiRS). His command comprises of four direct reporting units, 10 aligned Air National Guard units, and a large number of active air defense alert sites - including aircraft defense artillery, and up to 15,000 active duty, National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian personnel. First Air Force falls under Air Combat Command and is responsible for the operational readiness of assigned and attached U.S. Air Force forces. As the Joint Force Air Component Commander for North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, General Dean develops contingency plans and conducts full-spectrum U.S. Air Force air and space operations in CONUS, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as over the maritime approaches to the United States. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.