Mike Phillipich

Classroom

A Systems Engineering Management Major, Mike maintains a 3.77 GPA (3.87 Major GPA).  He ranks 42nd academically in his class of 1,066 cadets, and his majors GPA of 3.87 is second out of 73 systems engineering management majors.  Has been on the dean’s list every semester for academic excellence and has been on the superintendent’s list once for excellence in athletics, military preformance and Athletics.  Phillipich was a Dean’s ACE (4.0 GPA) for Spring 2007 semester and is a three-time academic all-conference selection.  He was selected to apply for both the Superintendent’s RAND Scholarship (3-yr program at Pardee RAND Graduate School for a PhD in Policy Analysis) and the Draper Scholarship to MIT (2-yr Master’s Program in an engineering related field).  Mike plans to work in the acquisitions field in the Air Force after graduation.

Character

Mike was on the Commandant’s List twice for excellence in military performance, and as a freshman, was chosen as the chief clerk in his squadron, serving as a liaison between the freshmen and the upperclassmen.  In addition, he was the course cadre for the Self-Aide and Buddy Care (SABC) Program as a sophomore and served as an instructor for the SABC course during Basic Cadet Training for the incoming class. He taught a lesson ensuring safety to yourself and the wounded, how to check the wounded person’s airway and how to determine adequate circulation, including location of major pressure points. As part of the program, he also taught cadets how to handle semi-automatic weapons and smoke grenades safely.  Phillipich was also selected as the Cadet-In-Charge for Operation Air Force, a program that send cadets around the world during the summer to experience the operational Air Force at an active base. In charge of accountability for, and the actions of, 22 cadets at McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas, Mike esured no disciplinary issues arose over the duration of the trip and met with a Captain a few times a week to get schedule updates and give status reports on the group
•  As a junior was the athletic non-commissioned officer in his squadron, conducting unit physical fitness tests and ensuring that all members of the squad met the physical fitness standards. Served as the Group Executive Officer for Combat Survival Training. Was the second in charge for standing up a military training program. Served as a liaison between cadets in the course, enlisted personnel running the training, and officers who oversaw the success of the program.
•  As a senior, is the element officer in his squadron, responsible for all other cadets in the element and ensuring that they are meeting Academy standards and are on the right track. Also, is the assistant standardization and evaluation officer. Responsible for conducting squadron inspections to ensure all standards are upheld

Community

Mike helped organize a group of teammates to assist with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk for the Cure and the annual Spring Gala each of the last four years.  Each year the hockey team sponsors a toy drive and then visits hospitals in the Denver and Colorado Springs area to deliver the toys to children during the holidays, in which Mike was actively involved.  In the summer of 2007, Phillipich worked with Habitat for Humanity, building a house for the less fortunate, and he has made numerous visits to elementary schools, talking to children about the importance of education, team work, and working hard to achieve your dream.  He has also been active in teaching the skills of hockey to youth.

Competition

Selected by his teammates as the hockey team captain as a junior and senior (one of just four players in school history to be a two-year team captain), Mike led the team to the 2007-08 Atlantic Hockey championship. In addition, he helped lead this year’s team to an 8-0 start and a No. 13 national ranking, the best in school history.  Philliich suffered through an injury-plagued junior year in which he scored 15 points in 27 games. Had two assists to help lead Air Force to a double-overtime victory (5-4) over Mercyhurst in the championship game of the AHA Tournament and propel the Falcons to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.  As a sophomore, he was the MVP of the AHA Tournament as he had three points in the championship game victory over Army to send AFA to its first NCAA Tournament.  Phillipich was third on the team in scoring as a sophomore with 16 goals and 44 points, and was the right-winger on the top line. +18 was the fifth best in the league.  Mike has earned conference player of the week honors three times in his career, and as a freshman, earned the team’s John Matchefts Award as the freshman of the year. The only freshman to play in all 32 games and finished with 15 points (7-8-15), Phillipich was sixth in the league in points by a freshman.