Colorado ? A Colorado Democrat who last year became the first openly gay nonincumbent elected to Congress took his place Friday on the U.S. Air Force Academy’s supervisory board.

Rep. Jared Polis was appointed earlier this month to the Academy’s Board of Visitors, which meets Friday and today in Colorado Springs. He is thought to be the first openly gay member serving on an oversight board at any service academy.

The boards report to Congress and the Pentagon on how the academies are doing, including recommendations for change.