June 12, 2017

Cadets perform on America’s Got Talent

Maureen Welch, June 12, 2017 In the Stairwell, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s all-male a cappella singing group, performed on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, June 13. Show producers saw the group’s fall YouTube broadcast and contacted the Academy. Their video was shown to America’s Got Talent producers, who picked their favorites and showcased them to NBC executives,” said Lt. Col. Kris Conde, Air Force entertainment liaison. NBC invited the 16 singers to Los Angeles to perform in front of judge Simon Cowell. “NBC unanimously loved the singing group,” said producer Nigel Caaro. Freshmen cadets formed the group in 2004 to...

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June 8, 2017

Academy grad selected for NASA astronaut training

  412th Test Wing Public Affairs / June 07, 2017 Lt. Col. Raja Chari has been selected by NASA to join the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. Chari relinquished command of the 461st Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, California, June 9, where he oversaw developmental testing of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the past few years. Simultaneously, he served as director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force. Chari will leave Edwards with a selection for promotion to colonel. He has flown more than 2,000 hours in the F-36 Lightning II, the F-15 Strike Eagle, the F-16 Fighting...

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June 8, 2017

An educational milestone: 38 Airmen earn CCAF degrees

Laurie Wilson, June 8, 2017 A score of enlisted Airmen at the U.S. Air Force Academy proved higher education isn’t just for cadets when they received their Community College of the Air Force degrees June 6. In all, 38 Airmen received CCAFs diplomas or professional certificates at the graduation ceremony in Polaris Hall. Twenty-four earned Associates of Applied Science degrees in one of five career areas, and 14 earned professional manager certificates. “It gives me such a sense of accomplishment,” said Senior Airman Kayla-Rae Ross, 10th Medical Support Squadron. “My CCAF degrees are stepping stones to my bachelor’s degree in...

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June 2, 2017

Prep School graduates 194 cadet-candidates

Tech. Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes/June 2, 2017 One-hundred-ninety-four cadet-candidates graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School during a ceremony May 18. Of those graduates, 186 received appointments to the Academy. The cadet-candidates completed the school’s 10-month curriculum, designed to prepare them to succeed and lead at the Air Force Academy. As part of the curriculum, the prep school emphasized learning in academics, military training, athletics and character development. “I am so very proud of you,” said Col. Jacqueline Breeden, Preparatory School commander, as she addressed the graduates. “Congratulations. Safe travels on your journey and aim high.” The colonel...

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May 31, 2017

Congrats, Class of ’17!

By Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost, Dean of the Faculty In June 2012, 1,190 young men and women took the first steps of the journey to join the Long Blue Line. May 24 marked a pivot point in their journey as the Air Force proudly accepted 979 new second lieutenants into its ranks. To all the families, friends and mentors of our graduates, thank you! Your support and encouragement throughout the last four years has played a significant role in their success. We appreciate all you have done, and will continue to do, to contribute to their success as they go...

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May 30, 2017

Oldest living USAFA grad checks-off bucket list with Thunderbirds flight

Tech. Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes/May 30, 2017 The oldest-living Air Force Academy graduate checked-off his No. 1 bucket-list wish May 22: to fly with the Air Force Thunderbirds. Retired Maj. Paul Lasen, 83, is a 1959 Academy graduate and career pilot who still flies today. By all accounts, he felt right at home in the backseat of a Thunderbird's F-16D Fighting Falcon aircraft when the team took-off over Colorado Springs to prepare for their May 24 graduation day performance over Falcon Stadium. “It’s an honor and privilege I never thought would be coming my way,” Lasen said. “I just hope...

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May 26, 2017

Academy teams-up with NASCAR for summer internship

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs/May 26, 2017 Two engineering majors at the Air Force Academy will get in high gear this summer with NASCAR. Cadets 2nd Class Alexander Hill and Karl Sapper are scheduled to join Richard Petty Motorsports in Mooresville, North Carolina, for a six-week summer internship and use their talents to improve the company’s race-car performance Sapper said he’ll apply modeling and software used on Air Force aircraft to improve the structural design of the car. He’ll research braking capabilities and analyzing critical dampening which measures spring and shock changes. “I'm most excited to have the chance...

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May 26, 2017

Dozens of Class of ’17 grads bound for grad school

Maureen Welch/May 27, 2017 Dozens of U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2017 graduates are slated to return to the classroom now that they've graduated. Ninety-three graduates are scheduled for grad school after receiving bachelor degrees and commissions as second lieutenants at the May 24 graduation ceremony in Falcon Stadium. Dr. Helen Meisenhelder, director of graduate studies at the Academy, said grads bound for grad school attend the Air Force Institute of Technology, or civilian universities to include MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, Georgetown and Harvard. Twenty-seven Class of 2017 grads received full-scholarships and eight grads received partially funded scholarships to...

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May 26, 2017

Welcome to the Long Blue Line, Class of ’17

By William "T" Thompson, President and CEO, U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates / May 26, 2017 On behalf of the U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, I extend my wholehearted congratulations to the Academy's Class of 2017 and welcome you as the newest members of the Long Blue Line. The achievement of assuming your place in that Long Blue Line should not be taken lightly. You have invested four demanding years of your life to reach this milestone, and now you are well prepared to serve your country with great distinction. Your classmates, and the Academy graduates...

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May 25, 2017

Gen. Dunford to Class of ‘17 grads: ‘It’s time to lead’

By Ray Bowden/May 24, 2017 The U.S. military’s senior officer welcomed nearly 1,000 new second lieutenants into the officer corps May 24 during the Air Force Academy’s Class of 2017 graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford encouraged the new officers to be flexible, team-oriented leaders who embody courage, honor, commitment, loyalty and selflessness. “These are the intangible characteristics of leadership,” he said. Dunford looked directly at the 979 graduates seated nearby and said they will be judged as officers by their organization’s success. “You are at a critical inflection point...

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