Outstanding Alumni - 2009
Col. Gregg Rice
Bemidji State University Graduate 1969
Colonel Rice graduated from Bemidji State College in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in Business Management. He later earned a masters in systems management from the University of Southern California and graduated from the Air Force Squadron Officer School, the US Army Command and General Staff School and Australia's Joint Services Staff College, an international senior level management school. Colonel Rice served 23 years in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot, with over 4000 flight hours. He completed 116 missions during the Vietnam conflict and during his career held various staff and senior level executive positions including Operations Commander of a Fighter Wing, Deputy Commandant for the Air Force Academy Cadet Wing, F-16 Squadron Commander, Chief Personnel Assignments Branch and Air Division Chief of Safety. Colonel Rice received multiple military decorations during his career, some of which were the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, air medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal. His awards include Distinguished Graduate, Officer Training School; Distinguished Graduate, Commander's Trophy and the Military Training Trophy from Undergraduate Pilot Training; F-4 Wing Top Gun; F-16 Wing Top Gun; T-41 Instructor Pilot of the Year and Outstanding Young Man of America. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Colonel Rice joined the commercial airline industry, flying over 10,300 hours and retiring after 13 years as a Captain with Southwest Airlines. Colonel Rice has also been very involved in community and military service projects. Some of those include annual participation in the Homeward Pikes Peak fundraiser for the homeless of Colorado Springs, the national "Make a Wish" program and in 1992 he helped with the relocation of Air Force personnel displaced by Hurricane Andrew. Colonel Rice and his wife, Ilene (Heimsjo) '69, have two grown children, Michael and Trisha. Colonel Rice and Ilene make their permanent home in Colorado Springs.