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Dr. Condoleezza Rice Receives 2009 TD White Award
(September 2, 2010) |
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Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould presents Dr. Condoleezza Rice with the 2009 Thomas D. White Award there Aug. 26, 2010, for her contributions to national security and defense during her career as a professor, presidential adviser, diplomat, author and national security expert. U.S. Air Force photo
by Bill Evans |
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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.
(8/30/2010 - AFNS) -- Former Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice received the 2009 Thomas D. White National Defense
Award during a visit here Aug. 26.
Dr. Rice, currently a professor at Stanford University,
received the award for contributions to the defense and
security of the U.S. during her career as a professor,
presidential adviser, diplomat, author and national security
expert, according to the award citation.
The award is presented annually to a U.S. citizen who has
contributed significantly to national defense and security
in any field of endeavor.
"Dr. Rice certainly fits that mold," Air Force Academy
Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould said during the
tapping ceremony. "This is our biggest award, and Dr. Rice,
we're glad you could make it out here."
Dr. Rice said she was humbled to enter the company of
previous award recipients, who include Sen. John Glenn,
Gens. Carl Spaatz, Curtis LeMay and Bernard Schriever and
Army Gen. Colin Powell.
The Cadet Wing held its noon parade, which included a C-130
Hercules flyover, in her honor, and cadets cheered loudly
upon her introduction.
"I cannot tell you how great it is to be here again, and
that's for a couple of reasons," said Dr. Rice, who visited
the Academy on occasion to attend concerts and football
games while she was |
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growing up in Denver. |
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One of the reasons she listed was because of what the Air
Force did for her while she was secretary of state.
"I traveled 1 million miles ... to some 65 countries, and
the Air Force was there with me every step of the way,
whether it was to Libya or to Baghdad and to Europe," she
said. "The service into which you are entering has been
very, very good to me, and I'd like to acknowledge that on
behalf of all secretaries of state."
Dr. Rice was confirmed by the Senate in 2005 as President
George W. Bush began his second term in office. She served
as the president's principal adviser in determining foreign
policy and coordinated interdepartmental activities
overseas, according to the award citation. Among her
accomplishments were a negotiated agreement with North Korea
in 2007 to dismantle its nuclear reactors and a summit in
Annapolis, Md., to try to broker a peace accord between
Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Dr. Rice received an invitation from the Academy to teach a
course for a week as a visiting professor. It's something
she said she would love to do.
"I'm always going to be a Stanford faculty member, but it
would be great to come out for a short period of time," she
said.
Dr. Rice thanked cadets for serving their country.
"Thank you for believing in this great country," she said.
"Thank you for being a fine exemplar of the continuing line
of young men and women who are willing to make those
sacrifices on behalf of all of us. Thank you for coming here
today to greet me and for that fantastic parade, which was
one of the great experiences of my life." | |
By USAF SSgt. Don Branum
U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
Copyright 2010
Reprinted from
Air Force News Service
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