Officers
President: Curt Brown ’78
Curt grew up in southeastern North Carolina. He attended USAFA after high school, majored in Electrical Engineering and graduated in 1978. Following graduation, he attended pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. After pilot training, he received an assignment to the 353rd TFS Squadron in Myrtle Beach AFB, SC flying the A-10 Warthog. Following three years at Myrtle Beach, he was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson AZ as an A-10 Instructor pilot. While in Tucson, he attended Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, NV and graduated as a Weapons Instructor Pilot. After four years at Davis-Monthan AFB, he attended the Air Force Test Pilot School (TPS) at Edwards AFB, CA. After graduating from TPS, he was assigned to Eglin AFB, FL as a test pilot in the A-10 and F-16 aircraft. In 1987, he applied and was selected to be a Space Shuttle Astronaut. He reported to Johnson Space Center in August 1987 to begin Astronaut training. While at NASA, he flew six Space Shuttle missions between 1992-1999 as Pilot and Commander. During his time at NASA, he began racing airplanes at the Reno National Championship Air Races in Nevada including both jet and WWII prop aircraft. In 2000, he retired from NASA and the Air Force as a Colonel after 22 years of active duty. After retiring from the Air Force, he flew for American and Sun Country Airlines for 16 years. He was inducted into the Astronaut Hall Of Fame in 2013. Currently, he does private flying in fixed and rotary wing aircraft for private individuals. He also currently serves as Chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
Vice President: Denny Sultany ’64
Native to Minnesota, he grew up and graduated from Robbinsdale HS in 1960. After graduating from USAFA with Aeronautical and Mechanical degrees, he served 30 years on active duty and in the reserves. While on active duty, he was assigned to Air Force Research and Development Command at Edwards AFB, AFFTC, Wright Patterson AFB, AFTC, Eglin AFB, and served two joint tours with the Naval Flight Test Center at Patuxent River, MD. He was involved with flight testing flight qualities and performance of new and experimental, with and without ordnances loads. With a joint assignments at Patuxent River Flight Test Center, he was part of a joint team that help design, develop and flight test the OV-10A aircraft specifically for the COIN FAC missions in Vietnam. He served in Vietnam from 1968-1969 with the 519th TASS completing 110 missions. After departing active duty, he served in the reserves at Wright-Patterson AFB, 4510th Flight Test Wing. He served as a Liaison Officer for USAFA as an additional duty, becoming the Liaison Officer Commander for Minnesota, North and South Dakota. He currently lives in Bloomington, MN where he golfs, travels, studies WWII history, enjoys his grandkids and great grandkids as they keep him very, very busy! He also enjoys the campfire site in his backyard most summer and fall nights.
Secretary: Jamie Lindman ’95
Pete graduated from USAFA in the Class of 1995. He served five years on active duty as an Acquisition Officer before serving for another 25 years in the Air Force Reserves, retiring in June 2025 as a Colonel. Pete has worked with the USAFA Admissions Office as an Admissions Liaison Officer (ALO) since 2006. He works in the financial services industry in his civilian career, and he and his wife, Angie, have been members of Costco for more than 20 years. Pete and Angie have two grown children, and they reside in the western Twin Cities suburbs.
Legal Advisor: Charlie Nelson ’96
During his time in the Air Force, Charlie was an Aircraft Maintenance Officer leading teams of mechanics maintaining the RC-135 and the B-1B airframes. When he separated in 2002, Charlie transitioned to working as a Facilities Operations Manager for the Target Distribution Center in Fridley, MN. Charlie left Target to attend the University of St. Thomas School of Law, graduating in 2011. After law school, Charlie clerked for the Honorable Robert J. Kressel in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota. Currently, Charlie is a Partner and a litigator with Ballard Spahr, LLP, and he practices largely in the areas of bankruptcy and financial restructuring, trusts and estates, and general commercial and contract disputes.
President Emeritus: Tom Wilson ’61
President Emeritus: Brevet Colonel; Retired as a Lt Colonel for family reasons. He is a Command Pilot with over 5,200 flying hours, including 833 combat hours in Vietnam. He also served as an AOC at the USAFA. His final assignment was Deputy Base Commander and Logistics Squadron Commander at Duluth AFB, MN. He was the Director of Store Development for CUB Foods until SuperValu acquired CUB, after which he worked as a Marketing Director in commercial construction and then formed his own company as a Manufacturer’s Representative. He co-founded the Stillwater Area Baseball Association and coached youth baseball for 23 years. One son (’84) and 2 grandchildren (’13) have graduated from the Air Force Academy. Another son attended (’91) but was medically discharged due to asthma. Tom has an MBA from the University of Southern California. Tom lost his wife and soulmate Judy, on 27 December, 2019 after 58+ years of marriage.
Board of Directors (10)
Denny Sultany ’64, Term expires 2026
Mike Riess, ’67 Term expires 2026
Mike was born and raised in New Ulm, Minnesota. After graduating from High School in 1962 he joined the Naval Air Reserve and attended Northwestern Preparatory School in Minneapolis. In 1963 he was accepted to the Air Force Academy graduating in 1967. After Pilot Training at Vance AFB Mike was sent to Vietnam to fly the C-7A for the 537th TAS at Phu Cat AB with a mission to support Special Forces in the Central Highlands area. Returning to the U.S. he was then assigned to the 905th ARS flying KC-135’s at Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota for SAC. Mike separated from the Air Force in 1972. He was then hired in 1973 as a Corporate Pilot with
3M Company where he flew for 31 years retiring in 2004 as its Chief Pilot. During this time Mike also served as an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer for 25 years and returned to flying with the military as a member of the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard. He retired from the Air Guard in 1997 after serving in his last assignment as the Wing Vice Commander. Mike lost his wife in 2021 and currently lives in Hudson, Wisconsin where 4 kids and 16 grandkids keep him busy in retirement
Ed (Skip) Wipson ’88, Term expires 2026
Edward “Skip” Wipson graduated in the Class of ‘88. On active duty he attended UPT at Laughlin AFB followed by assignment as an instructor pilot. He then served as a reserve officer, while attending graduate school and during his civilian career in management consulting and investment banking. Mr. Wipson also mentored USAFA applicants for 15 years as a Minnesota Admissions Liaison Officer (ALO).
Tom Wilson ‘61, Term expires 2026
Jaime Lindman ‘95, Term expires 2027
Anthony Rodriguez ’94, Term expires 2027
Tony finished High School in South Carolina. After graduating AFA in ’94 he attended UPT at Columbus. He flew C-21s at Ramstein, C-5s at Travis, T-37s and T-6s at Laughlin, finishing almost 14 years of active duty flying C-5s at Dover. During his active duty career he served as a Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, and Wing Chief of Flight Safety. He flew B-737s for one year at an airline before transitioning out of flying as a career. Tony then worked at Target Corporation for 13 years in multiple field and HQ roles within Supply Chain Engineering and Operations. He recently returned to flying and has spent the last 5 years at Vista America, a part 135 company, as Chief Pilot and then Director of Training. Tony is Married to Sarah, and has two son’s, Patrick, and Enrique (USAFA Class of 2029).
Curt Brown ‘78, Term expires 2027
Terry Flower ‘64, Term expires 2027
After completing pilot training Terry instructed in the T-33 and T-38 aircraft. Following a medical retirement, he went on to get his MS and PhD degrees at the University of Wyoming. From 1979 until his retirement in 2012, Terry was a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at St. Catherine University. He chaired the department and held the Endowed Chair in Science. He left for a year to serve as a Visiting Professor of Physics at the U. S. Air Force Academy. He owns and operates Big River Stables and is an active pilot with Minnesota Soaring Club, flying gliders and the tow plane. He is President of both the Minnesota Association of Scholars and the Twin Cities Republican Association. He was elected to three terms on the Hastings, MN School Board and represented District 16 on the Metropolitan Council. Additionally he has been inducted into the Aerospace Educators Hall of Fame.
Jason VanOverbeke ’03, Term expires 2028
Pete Swanson ’95, Term expires 2028
Committees & Chairs
Facebook/Website: Georgetta Olson ‘90
Advanced Education: Terry Flower ’64
ALO Programs: Lt Col Tiffany VandenBroeke ‘08
Younger Grad Engagement/Membership: Terry Flower ‘64 (Open for a Volunteer)
MN USAFA Parents’ Club Coordinator: Tony Rodriguez ‘94
Newsletter: Tom Wilson ‘61
Scholarship: Terry Flower ‘64
Fundraising: Open for a volunteer