Lt. Gen. Charles Brown, U.S. Central Command deputy commander, cuts the Air Force birthday cake with Airman 1st Class Geremy Velez-Masini, 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron distribution fuels operator, during the Air Force Ball in the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, S.C., Oct. 21, 2017. Traditionally, the guest speaker and the youngest Airman present cut the cake.

Airman 1st Class Joshua Maund, 628th Force Support Squadron Honor Guard member, presents the Navy service cover at the Prisoner of War, Missing in Action table at the Air Force Ball in the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, S.C., Oct. 21, 2017. The POW MIA table is reserved to honor missing comrades in arms. The table is round, with a white tablecloth, and is set with the five branches service covers, a single red rose in a vase adorned with a red ribbon, a slice of lemon on a bread plate, salt and an inverted glass.

(From left to right) Col. Jeffrey Nelson, 628th Air Base Wing commander, Col. Gregory Gilmour, 315th Airlift Wing commander, Lt. Gen. Charles Brown, U.S. Central Command deputy commander and Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander, get together before the start of the Air Force Ball at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, S.C., Oct. 21, 2017. Brown, the guest speaker for the Air Force Ball, spoke about the Air Force’s 70th anniversary theme, “Breaking Barriers since 1947.”

628th Force Support Squadron Honor Guardsmen salute the Prisoner of War, Missing in Action table at the Air Force Ball in the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, S.C., Oct. 21, 2017. The POW MIA table is reserved to honor missing comrades in arms. The table is round, with a white tablecloth, and is set with the five branches service covers, a single red rose in a vase adorned with a red ribbon, a slice of lemon on a bread plate, salt and an inverted glass.

Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander, shows off his dance moves as an ice breaker during Col. Jeffery Nelson, 628th Air Base Wing commander’s, speech at the Air Force Ball in the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, S.C., Oct. 21, 2017. Canlas was assisted by members of the Impact Creative Arts Academy, a local arts school located in Summerville, S.C.

Lt. Gen. Charles Brown, U.S. Central Command deputy commander, delivers a speech at the Air Force Ball in the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, S.C., Oct. 21, 2017. Brown, the guest speaker for the Air Force Ball, spoke about the Air Force’s 70th anniversary theme, “Breaking Barriers since 1947.”

Col. Jeffery Nelson, 628th Air Base Wing commander, far left, Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander, right and Col. Gregory Gilmour, 315th Airlift Wing commander, far right, present Lt. Gen. Charles Brown, U.S. Central Command deputy commander, a donation to the charity of his choice at the Air Force Ball in the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, S.C., Oct. 21, 2017. A donation of $100 was given to the Autism Speaks charity on behalf of the Air Force Ball Committee.

Attendees Dowaine Scott and Rachael Peterson dance together during the Air Force Ball at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, S.C., Oct. 21, 2017. The Air Force was celebrating the 70th anniversary of its inception. The theme for this year’s anniversary was, “Breaking Barriers since 1947.”