MELBOURNE - With a long family tradition of service in the Air Force, including at least two family members now serving, 17-year-old Lacey Richardson could one day outrank them all.

Richardson, among the first 10 girls to enroll at Florida Air Academy two years ago, is headed this year to the Air Force Academy, the first female student from the Melbourne school. She is the only girl among five students from her school to be accepted this year to military service academies.

"It's exciting," said the future military officer. "I joke with my brother that if he's still in the Air Force, he'll have to salute me."

Richardson's father and grandfather served in the Air Force. Her brother, 23-year-old Cahill Richardson, is a senior airman stationed in Idaho. An uncle also is an enlisted airman.

The family's military ties steered her early on to a career in the Air Force. She started thinking about the Air Force as early as the age of 5 and 6 years old, she said.

"It's kind of a tradition for our family to be in the Air Force," she said. "There have been no officers yet, so I'll be the first."

Richardson, who is working on obtaining her private pilot's license, said she has always dreamed of being an F-15 fighter pilot. If that doesn't happen, she has other military leadership ambitions and wants to learn Arabic.

Already a leader at her school, the squadron commander helps to get other students roused out of bed at 6:20 a.m., then helps to inspect their rooms. Everything has to be neat, clean and in order, including their uniforms, Richardson said.

Richardson is doing anything she can to help transition from Florida Air to the Air Force Academy.

"It's kind of like what I'm going to do there," she said.

She will finish her high school education May 18 at Florida Air. Then she must report to the Air Force Academy for in-processing June 28.

There is no doubt Richardson is ready for the challenges of the Air Force Academy.

"She's the epitome of what a cadet should be," said Ralph Glymp, interim commandant of Florida Air Academy. "She does a good job as a squadron commander."

Leadership, academics, physical and medical standards are high level to enter the Air Force Academy, making it competitive.

But from early on at Florida Air, in addition to the academics and her leadership role, Richardson began preparing for the physical challenge of the Air Force Academy.

"When I got here I did cross-country to prepare for the physical part," she said. "It'll be tough, but I'm working on it."