ABSTRACT
On a flight to Colorado Springs to look for a place to live during my year as visiting professor at the United States Air Force Academy, I found myself seated next to a former Air Force officer who had retired at the rank of Colonel. Once I mention that I will be spending time at the Academy, his question triggers the awkward conversation, inevitable in my line of work unless I choose to deflect from it. He asked, “What are you going to be doing there?”
