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CCAF graduates 350,000th student

  • Published
  • By Pascual Flores
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  It was a packed house at Tommy B's Community Activities Center as base leadership, families and service members gathered to welcome the newest graduates of the Spring 2014 Community College of the Air Force class at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, June 13, 2014.

Lt. Gen. David S. Fadok, commander and president of Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., addressed the 65 graduating Airmen and attendees, emphasizing the importance of the CCAF.

"We produce the future," said Fadok. "I want to thank all the families, friends, co-workers and leadership. It's because of your support these graduates were able to meet the challenges and earn their associate degree."

Established in 1972, the CCAF is the largest accredited community college in the world, awarding 14,000 associate degrees annually.

"The vision of the CCAF is to be the community college of choice, providing a path to higher learning for those with the calling to serve," said Fadok. "We see a return in our investment in you because you take what you learn and apply it into your Air Force specialty for the rest of your career."

The opening address was followed by the presentation of the Pitsenbarger Award Scholarship, John and Kathy Hood Military Scholarship and special presentation to Senior Airman Kevin Duran, 421st Combat Training Squadron, the 350,000th student to graduate with an associate degree.

"Senior Airman Kevin Duran became the 350,000th graduate from the CCAF, and he majored in criminal justice and is currently working on his CCAF degree in instructor technology and military science," said Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Horn, Air University command chief.

Duran entered the Air Force in February 2011 and graduated from the security forces specialist course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, August 2011. Prior to assuming his current position of contingency skills instructor with the 421st CTS, he served as a member with the 87th Security Forces Squadron.

"I did not have any college before entering the military," said Duran, who hails from Texas and is married with two children. "But, once I started taking classes, I kept it up, taking classes after classes and also encouraging airmen to continue their education."
A CCAF degree is a compilation of 64 credit hours, which include basic training and technical school credits as well as general study credits.