Thomas D. White National Defense Award
From USAFA Folklore
The Thomas D. White National Defense Award has been presented annually sine 1962 by the Academy to a United States citizen who has contributed significantly to the national defense of the United States. The award selection committee evaluates the nominations and recommends selection to the Superintendent. The award is typically presented during a formal ceremony, normally at the Academy in the fall, and usually includes a longer-than-normal parade for cadets. The award is named after General Thomas D. White, Air Force Chief of Staff from 1957 to 1961.
[edit] Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Contribution to National Security |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Dr. Edward Teller | Nuclear physicist; principal architect of the hydrogen bomb |
| 1963 | Dr. Theodore von Karman | Pioneer in the development of jet propulsion and rocket engines |
| 1964 | Hon. Carl Vinson | Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee |
| 1965 | General Curtis E. LeMay, USAF | World War II commander in Europe and the Pacific; planner of the Berlin Airlift; Air Force Chief of Staff |
| 1966 | Mr. Clarence L. Johnson | Vice president of advanced development projects for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation; designer of the F-104 and U-2 aircraft |
| 1967 | Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle, USAF | Chairman of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board; World War II aviation hero |
| 1968 | General Carl Spaatz, USAF | First Air Force Chief of Staff |
| 1969 | Lt. Gen. Ira C. Eaker, USAF | Chief of the Air Staff and aviation pioneer |
| 1970 | Dr. Charles Stark Draper | Vice director of the instrumentation laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 1971 | Mr. Igor I. Sikorsky | Pioneer aircraft designer; advisor and consultant to the United Aircraft Manufacturing Corp |
| 1972 | General Nathan F. Twining, USAF | Air Force Chief of Staff; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| 1973 | General Bernard A. Schriever, USAF | Commander, Air Force Systems Command |
| 1974 | General Lauris Norstad, USAF | Supreme Allied Commander, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe |
| 1975 | Senator John C. Stennis | Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee |
| 1976 | General John D. Ryan, USAF | Air Force Chief of Staff |
| 1977 | Mr. Bob Hope | International entertainer and humanitarian |
| 1978 | Senator Barry M. Goldwater | Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee |
| 1979 | General George S. Brown, USAF | Air Force Chief of Staff; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| 1980 | Hon. Dr. Robert C. Seamans, Jr. | Secretary of the Air Force |
| 1981 | Hon. David Packard | Deputy Secretary of Defense; founder of the Hewlett Packard Electronics Corporation |
| 1982 | Hon. Melvin Laird | Secretary of Defense |
| 1983 | General Russell Dougherty, USAF | Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Air Command |
| 1984 | Senator John G. Tower | Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee |
| 1985 | General Theodore R. Milton, USAF | U.S. Representative to the NATO Military Committee |
| 1986 | Senator Stuart Symington | First Secretary of the Air Force |
| 1987 | Senator Sam Nunn | Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee |
| 1988 | Hon. Caspar W. Weinberger | Secretary of Defense |
| 1989 | President Ronald Reagan | 40th President of the United States |
| 1990 | Admiral William J. Crowe, USN | Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| 1991 | General Larry D. Welch, USAF | Air Force Chief of Staff |
| 1992 | Dr. Malcolm R. Currie | Chief Executive Officer, Hughes Aircraft Company |
| 1993 | Lt. Gen. Brent C. Scowcroft, USA | National Security Advisor |
| 1994 | President George H.W. Bush | 41st President of the United States |
| 1995 | Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., USAF, | Tuskegee Airmen commander; Chairman of the Academy Board of Visitors |
| 1996 | General Charles A. Gabriel, USAF | Air Force Chief of Staff |
| 1997 | Senator John McCain | Senate Armed Services Committee |
| 1998 | General Colin L. Powell, USA | Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| 1999 | Senator Strom Thurmond | Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee |
| 2000 | Rep. Floyd D. Spence | Chairman, House Armed Services Committee |
| 2001 | Rep. C.W. Bill Young | Chairman, House Appropriations Committee |
| 2002 | Hon. Norman R. Augustine | Chairman and CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation |
| 2003 | Rep. Duncan Hunter | Chairman, House Armed Services Committee |
| 2004 | Colonel John R. Boyd, USAF | Fighter pilot and military strategist |
| 2005 | General Richard B. Myers, USAF | Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff |
| 2006 | General Ronald R. Fogleman, '63, USAF | Air Force Chief of Staff |
