Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John W. Rosa becomes honorary AOG member

On Jan. 14, the Association of Graduates (AOG) welcomed Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John W. Rosa as an honorary member during the Charleston Chapter’s annual Founders Day Dinner.

Dean of Faculty Brig. Gen. Linell A. Letendre ’96 was the guest speaker for the event.

“It meant the world when they told me ‘you need to come to Founders Day,’” Letendre says, “thank you [Rosa]… for what you’ve done and your service to the Air Force Academy.”

 

Rosa graduated from The Citadel in 1973 and served as USAFA superintendent from 2003 to 2005. Rosa retired from active duty in 2005 and returned to his alma mater where he was president of The Citadel from 2006 to 2018.

According to Rosa’s biography, he holds a master’s degree in public administration from Golden Gate University. He is a graduate of the Air Force Command and Staff College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College. He studied at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

His military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters. During his military career, he flew the A-7, A-10, Hunter, Jaguar, F-16, F-117A, HH-60G and HC-130 aircraft.

Honorary membership may be awarded to persons who have rendered outstanding and conspicuous service to the Air Force and/or the Academy. Honorary membership is restricted to 25 living persons. With his selection, Rosa becomes one of the 15 living honorary members.

To view all photos from the Charleston Chapter’s annual Founders Day Dinner, go to Galleries > Graduates. Photos begin on page 83. You can also click the link below to access photos:

Charleston Chapter’s annual Founders Day Dinner Photos