October 26, 2016

Deployed Ops: Cadet Gets Lesson in Leadership in Middle East

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Cadet 2nd Class Susan Kwon, a geospatial science major from Cupertino, California, returned this summer from a three-week stay at an Air Base in the Middle East. The trip was part of the Air Force Academy’s Deployed Operations Program, which sends sophomore and junior cadets to overseas units to see how Airmen team up to complete the Air Force’s mission. Kwon’s time with Airmen and officers at various units included a tour of Kuwait City with an agent assigned to the Air Force Office of...

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October 24, 2016

Energy Action Month Update: Academy Reduces Utility Bill by $1 Million

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published October 24, 2016 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Energy experts at the Air Force Academy said due to an increasing awareness of energy conservation and cost-saving measures, the school’s utility bill plummeted by $1 million in the 2016 fiscal year. The energy bill for the 2016 fiscal year was just above $6 million and hovered around $7 million for the 2015 fiscal year, said Wayne Inouye, the base’s energy manager. “We met and surpassed [Federal] energy-reduction goals,” he said. Larry Newton, resource efficiency manager at the Academy, said...

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October 21, 2016

1st Sergeants’ Council Gets Ready for Harvest Share

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Airmen might find an unexpected present on their doorstep next month, courtesy of the First Sergeants’ Council. The council is prepping for Harvest Share, a program to assist lower-income families on base during the holidays, said Master Sgt. Kyle Capehart, the Academy command staff’s first sergeant. “Each family will be given a free Thanksgiving meal,” he said. “Customers at the commissary can purchase a $5 or $10 bags of food to be given to these families. Our goal is to collect 177 bags of food.” The bags stay...

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October 19, 2016

10th CES Firefighters to Compete in Championship

By Ray Bowden, Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  First responders at the Air Force Academy are gearing up for the Firefighter World Championship next week in Montgomery, Alabama. The annual competition pits firefighters from around the world against each other in a series of timed trials, including a five-story tower climb and hoisting a 175-pound rescue dummy. “It’s been deemed the toughest two minutes in sports,” said Academy Fire Chief Ken Helgerson. Helgerson, and firefighters Roy Dalton, Bill Gates and Anthony McMurtry are scheduled to compete in the weeklong challenge beginning Oct. 24. “It’s...

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October 18, 2016

Senate Confirms 4 Permanent Professors at Academy

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Four officers were recently confirmed by the Senate as permanent professors at the Air Force Academy. Col. Mark Anarumo is the permanent professor for the Center for Character and Leadership Development, Col. John Cinnamon heads the Aeronautics Department, Col. Steven Hasstedt heads the Biology Department, and Col. Scott Williams heads the Mathematics Department. The president nominates permanent professors at the service academies and the Senate confirms the nominations via voice vote. The Senate confirmed the Academy’s new permanent professors Sept. 28. "Congratulations to our new...

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October 13, 2016

Cadets Support Front Range Volunteer Efforts

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Scores of U.S. Air Force Academy cadets volunteered for several community service events Oct. 14 across the region. The cadets donated their time to 43 community organizations, including the Red Cross, the City of Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Department, and the Care and Share Food Bank. Cadets worked with the Red Cross to install fire alarms in at-risk homes, planted Sage plants in Garden of the Gods, and handed-out food at the Care and Share Food Bank, among other activities. The volunteer work was organized by the...

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October 12, 2016

Academy Marks Cyber Security Awareness Month

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  National Cyber Security Awareness Month ends Oct. 31, but an Air Force Academy information security expert said computer security is worthy of year-round attention. “It’s a daily concern,” said Angie Thorpe, the Academy's Information System security manager. “Last year, numerous department stores and corporations were hacked. Various restaurants and customer-service businesses found their computer security breached and, in many cases, hackers gained access to the credit card information of thousands of consumers.” Last year, the National Security Administration and the CIA investigated a computer attack...

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October 11, 2016

Natural Resources Official Says Getting Rid of Trash is 1 Step to Avoiding Wildlife

U.S Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Natural Resources officials at the Air Force Academy are not surprised by the abundant reports of wildlife. Brain Mihlbachler, Natural Resources official, said surprise visits from wildlife in base housing can be reduced if residents use animal-resistant trash containers with working doors and lids that can be locked or latched. “[Garbage] is dangerous, unnatural and unhealthy for bears and other wildlife,” he said. “It can make wildlife comfortable in populated areas, so remove and secure food or garbage. Mihlbachler said female bears could return to the base housing...

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October 6, 2016

Boxing Instills Warrior Mindset at Academy

By Ray Bowden, U.S.Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Boxing has a different ring to it at the Air Force Academy now that all female cadets must step through the ropes. Previously, women took the Academy’s mandatory Combatives I and II courses, but only male cadets were required to put on boxing gloves. The change follows Defense Department guidelines published in January opening combat roles to women. Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson said getting women into the ring is a logical step. "The Secretary of Defense opened all military occupations and positions to women...

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October 6, 2016

Academy Grads Swim English Channel

By Tech. Sgt. Brian Kimball, Defense Media Activity-Forward Center Europe DOVER, England (AFNS) --  After training for nearly two years, two Air Force Academy grads swam the English Channel Sept. 27 and Oct. 3, from Dover, England to the western coastline of France. Majs. Simon Ritchie and Casey Bowen, dermatologists at the 59th Medical Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, said they viewed the challenging swim as the culminating point for swimmers across the globe. “This is the pinnacle event in swimming,” said Bowen, a 2004 Academy graduate. “It’s been a long-term goal and just a personal challenge I...

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