The aim of this event is to celebrate and recognize Aims Community College's high-achieving veteran and military-connected community.

Aims' graduating veterans and military-connected community members will be celebrated alongside new veteran members of SALUTE National Honor Society (requiring a 3.0 or higher). We will also recognize our amazing Student-Veterans of America (SVA) chapter officers and share the amazing work they have been doing in the community.

The ceremony will be catered to food from Dickey's BBQ (pork ribs, beef brisket, Mac & cheese, salad, Mashed potatoes and cookies).
The ceremony will include a keynote speech from COL Dennis Grunstad, a coining ceremony for our SALUTE inductees and spring/summer Graduates, and a recognition celebration for our SVA chapter officers and their accomplishments with a short speech by the SVA chapter President, Christian Porter.

We ask that all attendees dress nicely. Business casual to semi-formal is ideal. 

Please RSVP, as seating is limited to 50 guests. You can RSVP on the online form or by emailing veterans@aims.edu with your name, email, number of guests, and phone number.

Schedule

Food served buffet style from 5 to 5:25 p.m. (settling in)

Keynote Speaker - Col. Dennis D. Grunstad at 5:30 p.m. (speech)

Graduate recognition at 6 p.m. (coining)

SALUTE and SVA chapter recognition at 6:30 p.m. (coining)

SVA President Speaks at 6:45 (speech)

Ceremony Closes at  7 p.m.

Keynote Speaker: Col. Dennis D. Grunstad

US Air Force - Colonel, Middle East Combat
Air Force National Guard - Commander (Retired), Wyoming
American Airlines - Pilot (Retired)

Col. Dennis D. Grunstad was Commander of the 153rd Airlift Wing, out of Cheyenne, Wyoming. The 153rd Airlift Wing supports the State of Wyoming, the Air National Guard and the United States Air Force with peacetime and combat airlift missions throughout the world.

Dennis earned his Air Force commission in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the United States Air Force Academy.  He has held numerous operational positions within the 153rd Airlift Wing to include Operations Group Commander, Operations Support Flight Commander, Chief Pilot, Flight Commander, and Evaluator Pilot. He was the Wing’s deployed commander at Masirah Island, Oman during initial activation for Operation Enduring Freedom, achieving an amazing 100 percent mission capable rate during a 72-day period. Additional contributions to the Overseas Contingency Operation include U.S. Central Command service as the Combined Forces Air Component Commanders' deputy director of Mobility Forces.  

COL Grunstad began his military career by attending undergraduate pilot training in 1981. He was assigned to the 54th Flying Training Squadron as a T-38 instructor and then evaluator pilot. Dennis joined the Wyoming Air National Guard in 1991 as a line pilot having completed Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and Squadron Officers School. He possesses a Command Pilot rating with over 4,100 hours in various aircraft and is fully qualified in the unit’s C-130H3 combat flying mission and as a MAFFS Aircraft Commander. 

As a civilian, Dennis was employed with American Airlines for more than 30-years as a first officer on the Boeing 787 aircraft and joined Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado in 2022 and now serves as the Vice President of the Board.