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Lt. Gen. Michael Peterson, left, applauds outgoing Clemson University AFROTC leader Col. Lance Young at Young's retirement ceremony Friday at the Madren Center.

CLEMSON — Since taking over Clemson University’s Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) program in 2004, Col. Lance Young has taken the detachment from the program to unprecedented heights. On Friday, Young, a Seneca resident, retired from the Air Force after 29 years of service.

“Throughout the past 29 years, I have been overwhelmed by America’s citizens’ support for our service members and their patriotism for our great nation,” Young said. “It has been an honor to serve my country and a privilege to complete my Air Force career at Clemson University.”

During Young’s tenure as commander, Clemson AFROTC racked up major awards. In 2006, the university was named as having the best AFRTOC program in the United States (out of 144 detachments), earning the coveted Right of Line award. Even with Clemson’s origins as a military school, this marked only the second time the university’s AFROTC had received the honor — the first time was in 1985.

Under Young, Clemson AFRTOC received the High Flight Award, given to the best detachment in the Southeast, for two years in a row.

For the High Flight nod, Clemson beat out 38 other AFROTC detachments, from nine states and Puerto Rico. For three consecutive years, Clemson has been honored as South Carolina’s Most Outstanding ROTC Detachment.

“We are blessed to have some of the brightest and most dedicated Airmen in today’s Air Force — I know that we are in good hands as the next generation of Air Force leaders takes on the challenges and responsibilities to protect and defend our way of life.”

Clemson saw a 150 percent increase in AFROTC cadets earning distinguished Graduate recognition during the Young era. In addition, Clemson Detachment 770 saw a 150 percent jump in upper class cadets selected to serve as cadet training assistants. While at Clemson, Young commissioned 89 future Air Force leaders.

“I believe all Air Force Officers would like to be remembered for serving our nation,” Young said. “For me, I hope that I have influenced and grown the next generation of leaders for our Air Force.”

The Young era at Clemson was also marked by community service. AFROTC projects included prisoner-or-war/missing-in-action remembrances and sprawling Veterans Day presentations. Some of the detachment’s simplest events were its most poignant. For example, on Sept. 11, 2007, Clemson cadets fired a 21-gun salute in memory of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The ceremony took place at 8:46 a.m. — the exact time the first aircraft struck the World Trade Center six years earlier.

In a previous interview with the Daily Journal/Messenger, Young voiced his respect shown to Clemson cadets from non-cadet students.

“They understand the need for a strong defense,” he said. “To have that support for our program and appreciation from a peer group is really neat and important.”

Recruits attracted to the Air Force today are often technology-driven. The possibility of flying sleek jets, operating cutting edge gear and even space travel is a big draw, Young said.

“Young people today were born with computers,” Young said. “These young men and women understand change, which is happening every couple of years.”

Although Young is retiring as commander of Clemson AFROTC, he will remain active at the university. Beginning Aug. 4, Young will begin serving as a lecturer and advisor in Clemson’s College of Business and Behavioral Science. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Young hopes to become involved in community organizations.