Air University & Maxwell AFB News

Honorary degree

Dr. Matthew Stafford, Air University Academic Affairs president, left, and Dr. Muriel Howard, Air University Board of Visitors president place the Air University academic hood on David McCullough as he receives the Doctorate of Humane Letter degree from Air University during a ceremony Nov. 16, 2015, At Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. McCullough was bestowed the honorary degree for his work as an author, historian and narrator. McCullough has received 52 other honorary degrees in the past, but this is his first degree awarded to him by a military university. (U.S. Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox)

Air University awards honorary degree to David McCullough.

Published Nov. 16, 2015
By By Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert
42d Air Base Wing Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Author and historian, David McCullough was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters degree by Air University during a ceremony Nov. 16, 2015 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

The honorary degree was bestowed to McCullough for his work as an author of American history. He has also been awarded the National Book Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. This was the first honorary degree presented to McCullough from a military intuition.

Before McCullough was presented the degree, Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, Air University commander, spoke about the work of McCullough and the lessons of humanity that can be learned through history and his writings.

"He is one of the great American storytellers and what he communicates to all of us are those principles of humanity that cut across all generations, civilizations and time. If we look to them and behave in the way he writes... we too can reinvent our American experience so that our American dream is alive in the next 100 years," said Kwast.

McCullough is known for his works in American history, including biographies on John Adams and the Wright Brothers and is optimistic about our country's future. He
believes t through his work he is helping to serve the country by telling its story to the best of his ability.

"History is essential to knowing what we are and the way we are, history is our story and is rich with enumerable lessons... it's a lesson in life and to not understand it or to not take any interest in it is to deny yourself of one of the greatest aspects of learning," said McCullough.

McCullough described the event as one of the high points in his life and never thought he would receive such a tribute and honor in his life.

The ceremony was followed by a Luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center, Montgomery, Alabama, that welcomed community leaders to honor McCullough on his achievement. During the luncheon Mayor Todd Strange presented him the key to the city.