U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Named '2011 Outstanding Alumnus' by Webster University's Walker Business School

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Webster University alumnus Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould, superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, last evening was named the "2011 Outstanding Alumnus" by Webster University's George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology. Gould is in charge of a world-renowned institution that provides military, academic, athletic and character development programs to produce nearly 1,000 new officers each year with a Bachelor of Science degree. He earned his Master's degree in Human Resources Development from Webster University in 1986.

"Tonight we honor and celebrate a member of the Webster University alumni community who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in his service to our country," said Webster University President Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble at a dinner in Lt. Gen. Gould's honor. "Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould leads with great character, courage and conviction. As the superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, he also values critical thinking as an important element in the education of cadets. We share his philosophy of liberal learning as the foundation for sound leadership."

"For 37 years, Lt. Gen. Gould has worked to help others develop their skills and capabilities," said Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande, dean of the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology. "This pilot, turned instructor, turned leader has enabled those around him to utilize their strengths to the best of their ability. His style of leadership is about empowerment, and in turn, they have become better pilots, better commanders, better soldiers and better cadets."

"This award means a lot to me personally and to the Academy," Lt. Gen. Gould said. "To this day, I am grateful for the opportunity to earn my master's degree from Webster. It taught me a lot about the importance of developing your human resources in any job you undertake. You can't do it without understanding that leadership is about people. My Human Resources degree from Webster reminds me of that."

Lt. Gen. Gould assumed his current position as superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy in June 2009. Prior to that, he was director of operations and plans, U.S. Transportation Command, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Lt. Gen. Gould has commanded large groups of people and equipment during his 34 years of service. As a command pilot, he amassed more than 3,000 flying hours in multiple aircraft. Lt. Gen. Gould also has been a central leader in the Air Force during many national events. As commander of Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center in Colorado Springs, he controlled all North American airspace before and after 9/11. Lt. Gen. Gould took command of Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi after the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and also led the Air Force response to multiple challenges, including operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and sub-Saharan Africa. He has served as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force and as the Air Force aide to President George H.W. Bush. Throughout his military career, Lt. Gen. Gould has received three Distinguished Service medals, three Defense Superior Service medals, two Legion of Merit awards and multiple other military decorations.

Lt. Gen. Gould has made important contributions to numerous charitable and humanitarian causes and civic organizations. Early in his Air Force career, he served as a collegiate football and golf coach. As a senior leader in the Air Force, Lt. Gen. Gould commanded Air Force bases that provided humanitarian aid to those in need. His personnel responded to Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Katrina, and he was a key leader in the transport of 190,000 pounds of life-saving cargo to the Darfur region of Sudan. At the Air Force Academy, Lt. Gen. Gould has made community outreach a focus of his tenure; in 2010 alone, Air Force Academy cadets and staff gave nearly 36,000 hours of community service to various organizations.

Webster University's history with the military dates back nearly four decades. In 1974, at the invitation of the U.S. Defense Department, Webster first began offering high-quality, military-friendly graduate programs at Fort Sheridan, located north of Chicago.  Programs at Scott Air Force Base near St. Louis followed soon thereafter.

Today, military installations throughout 23 states and the District of Columbia host Webster campuses or advising centers, making the University one of the nation's largest providers of graduate-level military education. Almost 20 percent of the Webster University student population is made up of members of the military, and there are more than 25,000 Webster military alumni worldwide, including 500 active-duty generals, admirals and commanders.

With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University (www.webster.edu) is the only Tier 1, private, non-profit U.S.-based university providing a network of international residential campuses. Founded in 1915, Webster University's campus network today includes metropolitan, military and corporate locations around the world, as well as traditional residential campuses in Asia, Europe and North America. The university is committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence.

SOURCE Webster University -- Saint Louis Campus