AUSTIN, Texas—Lt. Gen. John D. Hopper Jr., vice commander, Air Education and Training Command, with headquarters at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, will give the address during The University of Texas at Austin’s Reserve Officer Training Corps Joint Commissioning Ceremony at 1 p.m., Friday, May 16.
The military ceremony in Bates Recital Hall of the Performing Arts Center is one of several events during the spring 2003 commencement weekend. The highlight event will be the university-wide commencement ceremony on May 17 on the South Mall of the Main Building. Michael Dell, chairman and chief executive officer of Dell, will give the commencement address.
Hopper’s command recruits, trains and educates more than 370,000 men and women for the aerospace force and the nation.
The 27 officers receiving commissions during the May 16 ceremony include 10 Army, five Navy and 12 Air Force personnel.
A total of 44 officers are being commissioned into the armed forces this school year, including 10 sworn in this December. The commissioning ceremony will honor all officers completing the program in the fall 2002, spring 2003 and summer 2003 semesters. Five officers will be commissioned this summer.
Hopper received his commission in 1969 upon graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has flown in combat in Vietnam and as commander of the 1660th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional) in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Storm. He also served as the commandant of cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy and on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. He is a command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours in 12 different aircraft.
Hopper has received numerous decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
For more information contact: Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847.
