Lt. Col. Mark Cucuzzella, an Air Force Reserve medical officer in Shepherdstown, W.V., won the 2011 Air Force marathon, held Saturday in Dayton, Ohio, with a time of two hours, 38 minutes, and 48 seconds. Capt. Sarah Thomas of Fairview Heights, Ill., was the top female finisher, clocking in at 2:58:51. Overall, more than 13,000 athletes participated in the full marathon, half marathon, 10K race, and 5K run. That number eclipsed last year’s record of 12,000, according to marathon officials. Another 3,100 athletes participated at eight deployed locations. The 5K run took place on Sept. 16; the three other races occurred on the following day. Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz finished the 10K race in 1:03:59. (Wright-Patterson report by Capt. Lauren Wright) (For complete race results, visit the Air Force marathon website.)
The Air Force will look to the nation’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in a closed solicitation that will create the Air Force's first university-affiliated research center (UARC), Air Force leaders said. The center will study tactical autonomy. The DAF will select the center's location from one of 11…