Spaatz Center's Air War College graduates 237

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Students from Spaatz Center's Air War College graduated May 28 during a ceremony at the Squadron Officer College's Polifka Auditorium. 

The class of Academic Year 2009 consisted of 192 U.S. students, of which 113 were Air Force, seven Air Force Reserve, seven Air National Guard, 25 Army, 10 Marines, nine Navy and 21 civilians. Also graduating were 45 international fellows totaling 237 graduates.

During the ceremony, the keynote speaker, retired Gen. Ronald Keys, told the graduates they need to be committed to warfare, as they belong to the profession of arms. General Keys, a former commander of Air Combat Command, said the students should be aware that the challenges officers face and the decisions they make can have far-reaching implications.

Air war College is the Air Force's senior officer education program, and graduates of the college receive master's degrees.

May 28 also brought the AWC Class of 09 awards ceremony. Winners of the top AY09 awards were:
  
    -Col. Patrick J. Owens, USAF, Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award - recognizes the individual student who demonstrated the greatest leadership ability;
    -Col. Danilo Morando, Italian Air Force, Wright Brothers Officership Award -
sponsored by Air University Foundation and awarded to the student who made outstanding contributions to the success of his or her class;
    -Lt. Col. James E. Colebank, USAF, Distance Learning (DL) Academic Excellence Award - presented to the DL Program's top academic performer to honor the 3,102 distance learning students unable to attend these ceremonies.