Maxwell AFB Honors Former International Students

Maxwell Air Force Base plays an important role in the US military, but it’s also a crucial stop for many international airmen and women.

Many who come to Alabama to attend the base’s Air University go on to become some of the highest ranking officers of their nation.

Air University is the intellectual and leadership center of the air force.

Part of the mission is to help our allies reach the same heights as the US.

“Countries of the world that are friends to America send their best and brightest here. They truly see this as a place where they can nurture the habits of mind of great leaders in the art of war, the profession of arms, and the defenders of humanity,” said Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, commander of Air University.

Major General Max Nielsen is the chief of the air staff in the Royal Danish Air Force.

He went through a course at the university back in 1997.

Now his name is inscribed with alongside other world leaders at the school.

“It means a lot to me. Not only the personal part where I’m being honored for my personal accomplishments. That’s after all a side show. What really matters here is the connectivity world wide that has been accomplished,” said Gen. Nielsen.

General Nielsen says he regularly uses those connections he made at the school.

He works often with the commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lieutenant General Michael Hood.

General Hood was at Maxwell for three years, along with his daughter and wife.

“I can go anywhere in the world from Mongolia, I reached out to my classmate, to certainly anywhere in the United States so, it really is such a touch point for us all. Everyone has such great memories that it opens doors for the business we have to do in our militaries,” said Gen. Hood.