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Wing names building after fallen ISR Warrior

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GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  April 29 marked a historical day here as the wing celebrated a legacy and honored one of its own Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance comrades.

She was a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a Goodfellow-trained intelligence officer. At just 25 and only three months into her first deployment, 1st Lt. Roslyn Schulte became the first female Academy graduate to be killed by enemy forces in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. A permanent reminder of her sacrifice was revealed here April 29 as building 525 became Schulte Hall.

Lt. Gen. Larry James, deputy chief of staff for ISR, attended the ceremony and said seeing a community come together to honor someone like Lieutenant Schulte is amazing.

"This is more than being a building; this really is our stones of remembrance," General James said. "It will stand for 'Roz' and all that she represents: really the very best of us as Americans, as a military and as the Air Force. This will stand for who we are, who we can be and who we want future generations to be."

Lieutenant Schulte's brother, Todd, remembers his sister's dream of becoming a fighter pilot since she was 12, and her dreams led her to the Air Force Academy. She remained at the top of her class at the Academy, but during her third year, Todd said his sister decided that she wanted to do more for her country and felt pursuing a career in intelligence would help her do just that.

She made a difference during her deployment by helping Afghan forces improve their information sharing and by teaching Afghan military officials how to gather and interpret intelligence.

While traveling to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, for a Joint Task Force Intelligence Sharing Conference, Lieutenant Schulte's convoy fell victim to a roadside bomb just outside Kabul May 20, 2009. She died that day as a result of her wounds.

During the building dedication ceremony, Col. David Rearick, 17th Training Wing vice commander, said the building is a permanent reminder of her character, what we should all hope to emulate.

"It is appropriate that a building dedicated to teaching Airmen and preserving freedom is named in honor of an Airman devoted to learning and whose life was given to ensure our freedom - Lieutenant Schulte," he said.

"She was a wonderful, giving, genuine human being," said Lieutenant Schulte's mother, Susie. "Very high principled; honest. She wanted that in others. She was a team player who liked being surrounded by people who are also dedicated and committed to doing a good job."

For her efforts in teaching Afghan military officials about military intelligence, Lieutenant Schulte was posthumously awarded the National Intelligence Medal for Valor and the Purple Heart Medal.

During the medal presentation ceremony, Jan. 22, 2010, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair said Lieutenant Schulte "made a far-reaching impact on how intelligence was taught and shared with the Afghan National Army." He added that she was, "wise beyond her 25 years, and respected as a leader by all those around her - from general to Airman to Afghan tribal leader - regardless of the branch of service, regardless of nationality."

The National Intelligence Medal for Valor was established in 2008 by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to acknowledge the extraordinary accomplishments of Intelligence Community professionals. Lieutenant Schulte was the first woman to receive the award.

Her other awards include the Bronze Star, Air Force Combat Action Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Afghan Campaign Medal.