It's quite possible that Peninsula High School teacher Hans Brockhoff has a story for nearly every practical application of physics concepts.

A long career in the Navy as an aviation operations officer and a nuclear weapons officer aboard an aircraft carrier can provide that kind of deep knowledge in those areas.

It's something that the 59-year-old treasures sharing with his students, and it's also one of the many reasons the Navy veteran was recently named the Air Force Association McChord Field chapter's Teacher of the Year.

"When I look at the desired qualities of the McChord Chapter Teacher of the Year, Mr. Brockhoff is a shining star," chapter vice president Tom Hansen wrote in an award declaration.

"I'm just real thankful and honored to win," Brockhoff said. "I don't teach to get awards."

What he does teach for is helping students embrace a love of physics and see the many career options they have open to them.

"I want to get them to have a vision for the future," said Brockhoff, who's in his 18th year of teaching at Peninsula.

Brockhoff is able to give his students a more clear vision by constantly bringing subject matter experts who work in the aviation and technology sector to speak to his class. He recruited a student's father (a jet mechanic and electrician for the past 28 years) to lecture on Boeing's new 787 wind tunnel testing. He also brought in Naval experts to speak about opportunities in the nuclear power programs and other science related fields.

"It shows (students) experience in real life applications," Brockhoff said of the guest speakers.

Brockhoff also enjoys finding the best ways to keep students interested in learning. That sometimes includes peer-to-peer teaching exercises and activities such as "Free Response Fridays," where Brockhoff hands out short answer challenges spanning many physics concepts to students. Another favorite trick he utilizes is setting up labs focusing on problems that can be solved in a myriad of ways.

"I love to have kids use their problem solving skills," said the retired lieutenant commander.

All of Brockhoff's methods are paying off, and the truth is in the test scores. The student pass rate in Brockhoff's classes on the National Advanced Placement Exam has averaged more than 80 percent over the past three years, with nearly 65 percent of students receiving the highest score of 5.

"Brockhoff's dedication does not stop at academic excellence," Hansen wrote. "He regularly assists students in pursuing their career dreams."

He arranged meetings with the executive director of the Palmer Scholars, which resulted in one of his AP Physics students obtaining a full scholarship in the Physics Engineering program at a local college last year.

Brockhoff also does great work in the local community. He is a regular volunteer instructor in science for two to three hours of weekly tutoring for disadvantaged students at an inner city community center in Tacoma.