University and community leaders today joined officials from the United States Air Force in welcoming Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 004 to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at a special campus reception. The leadership program for officer candidates, started this fall, currently includes 44 enrolled cadets. The program, offered through the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, also brings the academic discipline of Aerospace Engineering as a general course offering to the UNLV campus.

UNLV President Carol C. Harter, College of Engineering Dean Eric Sandgren and Col. Mike Hogan, AFROTC Detachment 004 commander, hosted today's reception. They were joined by Brig. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins, Jr., Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools (AFOATS) commander and Col. Steven Wayne, AFROTC commander, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; Col. Mitch Dodd, AFROTC Southwest Region commander, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas; as well as Col. Walter Givhan, 99 th Air Base Wing commander, and Col. Thomas McCarthy, 57 th Wing vice commander, of Nellis Air Force Base.

The first AFROTC cadet class at UNLV includes students from diverse academic as well as ethnic backgrounds - majoring in areas ranging from Engineering and Science to Hotel Administration, Liberal Arts and Business. The cadet squadron - which includes 43 percent minority and 23 percent female students - is led by Cadet Commander Jessica Claypool, who is responsible for day-to-day operations and training for the students in the Air Force ROTC program. Claypool was selected "Student Leader of the Month" for UNLV in September.

Harter sees UNLV as a great fit for the ROTC. "With our diverse student body, growing slate of innovative academic programs and numerous community partnerships, UNLV provides an ideal location for this program," she said. "I look forward to working with the detachment cadre in growing a program that will be supportive not only of the career interests of future Air Force officers, but also the academic needs of our larger campus community."

Sandgren believes the detachment will bring additional benefits to the university and community through its Aerospace Engineering program. " Las Vegas has deep roots in the aerospace industry as well as with the air force," he said. "Aerospace Engineering is a natural fit for our students, and the evolution of aerospace science in our community. This program will be a great asset for the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering and for the university."

AFOATS provides coordinated leadership and policy direction for the Air Force's officer recruiting, training and commissioning programs at Officer Training School and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, as well as the program of "building better citizens" through the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

General Hawkins said he is excited to add UNLV to the other 143 universities throughout the United States hosting AFROTC programs.

"The University of Nevada Las Vegas' rich diversity and strong support from university leadership was instrumental in establishing this new detachment. AFROTC offers programs to create the world's greatest Air Force leaders of tomorrow, while helping to ease the student's financial strains of today via scholarships." said Hawkins.

Las Vegas ' Nellis Air Force Base serves as "host base" for the detachment. "We look forward to offering the cadets of the University of Nevada Las Vegas' Air Force ROTC program the opportunity to interact with the men and women of Nellis AFB and see firsthand the exciting life of an active duty officer in the world's greatest Air Force," said Colonel Givhan.

Students in the Las Vegas area interested in AFROTC may visit the Web site, <a href="http://www.afrotc.com">www.afrotc.com</a>, which has an online application, call toll free 1-866-4AFROTC, or call or visit the university's AFROTC detachment office, located in the Carlson Education Building.