Christopher A. Taylor, son of Col. Chip and Kim Taylor, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy on Wednesday, May 30 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Taylor, a 2003 graduate of McIntosh High School, was a distinguished graduate and ranked fifth in a class of 977 cadets. He received a bachelor of science degree in astronautical engineering and was awarded the top student in his engineering field.

During his time at the academy, Taylor distinguished himself by being on the dean’s and commandant’s lists, academic and military excellence, all eight semesters. He was offered four full scholarships for graduate work, and will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this fall for a master’s degree in aerospace engineering and will be working on the software systems of the ballistic missile defense system.

After completion of his master’s, 2nd Lt. Taylor will attend Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training in Wichita Falls, Texas.

In addition to his academic achievements, Taylor was named a “Future Leader of the Aerospace Industry” at the Aviation Week annual Laureate Awards in April 2007. Taylor also earned in the novice division in 2004 a Co-National Championship in Parliamentary Debate and the National Championship in Impromptu Speaking. He is a member of the Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Gamma Tau Engineering honor societies.

Taylor was also the Falcon Satellite-4/5 Operations Team Leader and traveled to Cape Canaveral, Fla., in March 2007, where he and a team of cadets successfully launched a $2.5 million satellite they had built on an Atlas 5 Rocket.

Taylor earned both academy flying wings and jump wings to complete his academy training.

After 60 days of leave, Taylor will report to MIT to begin his master’s program.