Former Altus Air Force Base Commander, Lt. General Michael Gould became the 18th superintendent of the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs earier this month. Gould commanded the 97th Air Mobility Wing at AAFB from January 1999 to August 2000.

Altus Chamber Military Affairs committee members Ken Fergeson, chairman of NBC, David Braddock, consultant to Altus/SW EDC, and Dr. Joe Leverett, chairman of the Military Affairs committee; and Haynes “Buddy” and Emilie Dugan of Blair attended change of command ceremonies on the academy campus.

The first superintendent to graduate from the academy prep school, Gould is a 1976 graduate of the Air Force Academy. He returned to the academy in the 1980’s as a physical education instructor, assistant men’s golf coach, prep school football coach and pilot instructor. In addition to assignments at AAFB, Gould served at Scott AFB, IL; Mildenhall, England; USAF headquarters-DC; Cheyenne Mountain AFS, CO; AND the U.S. Pentagon, DC, to name a few.

Gould and his wife, Paula, were active in the community while serving in Altus. Not only is the US Air Force Academy Gould’s alma mater, but his two sons and one daughter-in-law are also academy graduates.