Air Force general visits SDSU, encourages cadets to be inclusive, positive, and reflective

In a show of support for the next generation of Air and Space Force leaders, a high-ranking Air Force officer paid a visit to Air Force ROTC Detachment 075 at San Diego State University earlier this month.

Brigadier General Houston Cantwell, Holm Center Commander, arrived on 27 February to speak with cadets about their experiences in Air Force ROTC and offer advice on their careers. His message for future leaders: “Be inclusive. Be positive. Be reflective.” He also emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy balance of attitude, mind, and body.

During his three-day visit, General Cantwell participated in physical training with the cadets, held a Q&A session, toured the SDSU campus, flew an F-16 fighter jet on a flight simulator, and was even featured on a cadet-ran podcast. 

While in San Diego, he accompanied 24 cadets and staff on a tour of the General Atomics facility in Poway.

He lauded the tour saying, “24 supremely talented cadets and I learned how unmanned aircraft are engineered, manufactured, and how the systems integrate into our national defense. Our eyes were open to the capabilities of these cutting-edge aircraft. Air Power!”

The Air Force ROTC program provides college students with the opportunity to receive military training while completing their degrees. Upon graduation, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in either the United States Air Force or Space Force and serve on active duty for a minimum of four years.

As the Holm Center Commander, General Cantwell leads all Air Force ROTC host detachments at 145 colleges and universities, with cadets at more than 1,050 respective cross-town schools; Officer Training School; and 885 Air Force Junior ROTC units at high schools around the world. The Holm Center produces more than 85 percent of the Air Force’s active duty, Guard and Reserve line officers, judge advocates, chaplains, and medical officers.

The visit concluded with General Cantwell presenting his Commander’s Coin to several cadets who demonstrated exceptional performance, including Cadet Allison Wallace, a cross-town cadet from the University of California, San Diego who was the first to respond to a medical emergency of an SDSU student on the SDSU campus in February 2023. The cadets expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to meet such a high-ranking officer and his continuous support for Detachment 075.

To listen to Brigadier General Cantwell’s podcast episode, visit and subscribe to Live with Det 075 on Spotify.