Hampton University News April 29, 2021 The WRHLI Hosted Virtual Meet the Leaders Series with The United States Air Force's Thunderbirds On Friday, March 19, the Hampton University William R. Harvey Leadership Institute (WRHLI) hosted a meet and greet event with the United States Air Force's (USAF) Thunderbirds via Zoom. "The William R. Harvey Leadership Institute is known for having world-renowned speakers who provide insight and encouragement to our students. We are proud to see this institution doing great things and making an impact, leading to the success of these young leaders," said Hampton University President, Dr. William R. Harvey. The "Thunderbirds" are the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force. The Thunderbirds are assigned to the 57th Wing and are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Created 68 years ago in 1953, the USAF Thunderbirds are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world. During the virtual event, the WRHLI fellows had the opportunity to learn about their backgrounds and journeys to joining the Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds discussed various topics including mentoring, education, cultural diversity, intelligence, global perspective, career development pathways, and best practices. Col. John Caldwell, in addition to flying the No. 1 jet and leading all air demonstrations, commands the 130-person demonstration squadron. Caldwell entered the Air Force in 2002, after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. He enjoys boating and fishing with his family around the world. Caldwell graduated from the F-16 Replacement Training Unit at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. in 2005 where he garnered the Red River Rat Trophy, the 2005 Air Education and Training Command Frances Gabreski Top Air-to-Air Student Award, and Top Graduate honors. Maj. Remoshay Nelson is the Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron. Nelson is responsible for the team's marketing, recruiting, and publicity programs. She majored in Speech Communications at Howard University and earned her commission in 2011 through the Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. In college, she was a campus and community leader, a member of the Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and studied abroad in North Africa and Europe. She enjoys volunteerism, reading, traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family in her spare time. During her Air Force career, she has led public affairs teams in Turkey, Botswana, and various locations in Europe. "The William R. Harvey Leadership Institute really does "Aim High" as we offer a diverse and inclusive milieu for the Leadership Fellows to learn and hear stories of leadership from all perspectives. The Thunderbirds are the world's premier pilots and represent not only the United States Air Force, but also serve as ambassadors for all Americans as they take their show around the country and internationally. It was refreshing to hear Colonel John Caldwell, the Commander/Leader and pilot of the #1 jet, correlate the Ten Principles of Leadership while describing their process of maintaining professionalism and excellence in all they do. The pilots' vignettes on leadership and their vision to become pilots at an early age all began by witnessing an Air Show," said Dr. Jarris Louis Taylor, Jr., Director of the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute. "It truly is about awareness and the opportunities that are available for the Leadership Fellows, no matter their chosen academic or career path. Captain Remoshay "Flair" Nelson is a prime example of opportunities that await our future leaders. She is a graduate of Howard University, a speech communication major who studied abroad in North Africa and Europe, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The only difference is that she participated in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. Her portfolio is consistent with many of our student leaders on campus. She is the Public Affairs Officer for the Thunderbirds and responsible for marketing, recruitment, and publicity. It is a good feeling to know that our beloved country is in good hands with leaders such as Colonel Caldwell and Captain Nelson," said Taylor. In 1947, while the jet age was still in its infancy, military aviation was hurtled into the future with the creation of the U.S. Air Force as a separate service. Just six years later, on May 25, 1953, the Air Force's official air demonstration team, designated the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, was activated at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The unit adopted the name "Thunderbirds," influenced in part by the strong Native American culture and folklore from the southwestern United States where Luke Air Force Base is located. Sandra M. Phoenix HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs - Become an ally and partner with us to protect, preserve and share a more authentic record of American history. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/humanities-2019.html for more information. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/ and click on the Donate Now button to invest in this project. Your support is appreciated. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/