Edwards graduates 137 from Community College of the Air Force Published May 11, 2011 By Diane Betzler Staff writer EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- It was a proud day for the 50 Edwards Airmen who attended their graduation ceremony from the Community College of the Air Force, held at Club Muroc May 5. The club filled to capacity as family members, friends and supportive wingmen joined together to cheer and congratulate the graduating Class of 2011, most of whom earned an associate degree while some achieved bachelor of science degrees. The graduates were also cheered and congratulated by a strong showing of Edwards' leadership. Staff Sgt. Royce Brown, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, received an associate degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. His parents, Debbie and Randy, his fiancée Amber Erskind and his soon-to-be stepson, 5-year-old Richard Van Vleck III, attended the graduation ceremony as his personal cheering section. "We're a family of tradesmen. He's the first one of us to get a degree," said his father. "I'm as proud as I can be. He's moving up in the world," Mr. Brown said. Col. Gregory Schwab, 95th Air Base Wing commander congratulated the graduates and said they know better than anyone the hours of work, the months of dedication and years of persistence it took to attain their academic achievement. "Earning my degree was 13 years in the making," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Smith of the 411th Flight Test Squadron. Sergeant Smith joined the degree program all those years ago but could only work on his associate in Aviation Management degree in between deployments. His wife Cari said she was happy their tour at Edwards lasted long enough for her husband to complete the degree program. "I hope you consider this day the beginning and not the ending of your college journey," said Colonel Schwab. "Use your passion as a springboard to your next level of education," he advised the graduating Airmen. Colonel Schwab told the Class of 2011 that education is a life-long pursuit and challenged the graduates to embrace their educational opportunities and to realize that there is more distance for them to travel. Tech. Sgt. Lauren Brock, Airman Leadership School commandant, emceed the event and introduced the graduates as they walked onto the stage and received their degrees from Brig. Gen. Robert Nolan II, Air Force Flight Test Center commander and Chief Master Sgt. Bill Thomaston, 95th Air Base Wing command chief. "One of the major goals of the Air Force is to assist its Airmen in their professional and personal development," Sergeant Brock said. She said the prime vehicle the Air Force uses for achieving that goal is education. "The Air Force Materiel Command command chief, Voluntary Education and Base Training managers, together with base leadership, implemented the 'Year of the CCAF' initiative in January in an effort to increase the number of degree completions for enlisted members on AFMC bases," she said. The Community College of the Air Force is the largest community college in the world and is exclusively for Air Force enlisted members. The college was founded in 1972 and holds regional accreditation through the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. "Since 1977, when CCAF received degree-granting authority, nearly 400,000 degrees have been awarded," Sergeant Brock said. She said 13,000 degrees have been earned since 2001, to Airmen on AFMC bases. "We will continue to take an active interest in Airmen's academic progress and encourage them to continue toward degree completion and advanced degrees." Tech. Sgt. Bryce Davis of the 412th Logistics Test Squadron received an associate degree in Avionics Systems Technology and said he's thankful for that interest and said he plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in psychology. "It was great, I can't think of anywhere else where I can get a free education," Sergeant Davis said. Col. Janet Taylor, 95th ABW Medical Group commander attended the event to cheer and show her support to six of her Airmen who were members of the graduating class. "I'm very excited they decided to go on with an advanced degree and I told them to continue to excel," she said just before the ceremony began. "There's no end to what they can do with education," Colonel Taylor said. A variety of degrees were awarded during the ceremony, which ranged from Criminal Justice, Avionics Systems Technology, Human Resources Management to degrees in Mental Health Services, Electronics Systems Technology and Maintenance Production Management. While 50 graduates attended the event, a total of 130 Edwards Airmen were awarded associate degrees and seven graduates received an advanced degree this year from the CCAF. "Success is pushing yourself to the limits and achieve heights no one else thought possible," Colonel Schwab said. "Now go and do it," he told the Class of 2011.