Guest speaker program inspires ASU AF ROTC cadets Published Dec. 7, 2012 17th Training Wing Public Affairs SAN ANGELO, Texas -- U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr., the highest ranking graduate of Angelo State University's Air Force ROTC program, recently visited campus to speak with cadets and tour the university's facilities. Hawkins' visit is one of the many visits ASU AFROTC has experienced. Lt Col. Stephen Magnan, AFROTC Commander, aggressively seeks senior leader visits to help mold better future officers. Goodfellow Air Force base supports the ASU AFROTC guest speaker program. In the past, the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and base Chaplain paid a visit to inspire the future leaders. Hawkins shared his advice and Air Force experiences with the cadets in Detachment 847. "I always appreciate when alumni from Detachment 847 come back to visit us," said Cadet Mario Allen, ASU AFROTC student. "Coming from Angelo State University, we as current cadets know that Lt. Gen. Hawkins takes pride in us. When he speaks, it becomes more personable compared to other speakers." Cadet Kenneth Chalupa, ASU AFROTC student, said he did not feel as intimidated as he thought he would when he met Hawkins. "I felt like we received personal advice and guidance from a caring person who happened to also be a senior leader in the Air Force," he said. The guest speaker program is a motivational learning experience for the cadets, Magnan said. He further explained, it allows them to learn about the diverse life experiences of service members outside of the University. Hawkins graduated from ASU and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force in 1977. He earned Distinguished Graduate honors from ROTC, and his career has included deployment assignments around the world. He is currently the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency in Fort Meade, Md.
