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AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates spoke to cadets at the Air Force Academy last week, but his visit wasn't made public until Monday.

The Defense Department says Gates visited the school outside Colorado Springs on Friday.

A written release did not say why Gates visited or how long he stayed. An academy spokeswoman didn't immediately return a call.

The Defense Department says Gates talked to cadets about changes he has seen since he was an Air Force officer assigned to the Strategic Air Command more than 40 years ago.

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