Maj. Gen. Tom Andersen, Albert Lea High School class of 1976 and Air Force Academy class of 1980, retired Nov. 19 from the United States Air Force after more than 32 years of service. Presiding over the ceremony was Gen. William Fraser, the commander of the U.S. Transportation Command. Andersen’s final assignment was as the commander of the LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and as the vice commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. He was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal at the ceremony.

Retired Col. Jerry Houge, Albert Lea High School class of 1969, provided the opening prayer at the ceremony. Attendees included Andersen’s wife, Sherri; their children, Alexa and Thomas; his parents, Barb and Herb Andersen of Albert Lea; and his sister, Julie Labosky, ALHS class of 1978. Anderson and his wife, Sherri, will reside in Alexandria, Va., where he will work as a vice president for the Sierra Nevada Corp.