Cadets excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

Cadet 1st Class Emily Pavuk displays a T-38 Talon model in the Department of Aeronautical Engineering Laboratory, Jan. 31, 2025. U.S. Air Force Academy science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs provide technical and critical-thinking skills our future warfighters need. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Pacheco)

By Randy Roughton
U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – At the U.S. Air Force Academy, cadets go beyond mastering science, technology, engineering and mathematics — they become leaders in these fields. The Academy’s STEM programs equip cadets with critical-thinking skills, technical expertise and leadership qualities essential for navigating an increasingly complex battlespace.

Cadets graduate prepared to tackle evolving military challenges with a strong foundation in science and technology. Their academic training and hands-on research prepare them to drive technological advancements in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.

Aeronautical engineering majors like Cadet 1st Class Emily Pavuk receive hands-on experience as they create new technologies to improve the safety, performance and sustainability of aviation systems.

“This major allows me and others to contribute directly to the innovation and advancement of military technology,” said Pavuk, an aeronautical engineering major. “Working on these problems allows us to contribute to the physical technology and to be focused on the future fight as both leaders and technical experts.”

Cadet 1st Class Lino De Ros works with a lathe in the U.S. Air Force Academy Astronautics Laboratory, Feb. 12, 2025. U.S. Air Force Academy science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs provide technical and critical-thinking skills our future warfighters need. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner)

Astronautical engineering

Astronautical engineering majors like Cadet 1st Class Lino De Ros learn to design, build and operate spacecraft, satellites, missiles and other space-based systems.

De Ros researched rocket propulsion synthesis and built a hybrid rocket to test theoretical models. He also worked on propulsion systems at SpaceX through the Cadet Summer Research Program.

“Astronautics fosters a problem-solving mindset that is critical for innovation in military technology,” De Ros said. “Our research experiences build confidence and practical skills essential for leadership and management as an engineering officer in the Air Force.”

Cadet 1st Class Irisa Reyes works on a research project in the Department of Chemistry, Jan. 22, 2025. U.S. Air Force Academy science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs provide technical and critical-thinking skills our future warfighters need. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith)

Chemistry

Chemistry majors like Cadet 1st Class Irisa Reyes work in a myriad of research and application areas, including medicinal chemistry and drug testing; air, space and rocket propulsion; explosives formulation; and nuclear and biological treaty compliance testing. During Reyes’ work in the biochemistry track of her major, she researched Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Next year, she will attend medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

“Pursuing a career in military medicine will allow me to protect my fellow warfighters and keep them in the fight,” Reyes said. “Whether treating battlefield injuries or preventing illness in austere environments, my mission will be to ensure they can keep pushing forward. They will know someone is there to take care of them when it matters most.”

Cadet 1st Class Renata Russell solves a problem in the Department of Mathematics, Jan. 22, 2025. U.S. Air Force Academy science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs provide technical and critical-thinking skills our future warfighters need. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith)

Mathematics

Mathematics majors like Cadet 1st Class Renata Russell develop their problem-solving, logic and abstract reasoning skills. They encounter various modern applications of mathematics including cryptography, machine learning, operations research, and data science.

“I know that the critical-thinking and communication skills I’ve developed will set me up for success as an Air Force officer,” Russell said. “Although I won’t necessarily write proofs or design Kalman filters on active duty, these disciplines shaped how I approach problems. These skills will be essential to leading teams through uncertainty and fighting wars in an evolving geopolitical landscape.”

Cadet 1st Class Thomas Young works on his Department of Physics and Meteorology capstone research team’s project to slow and capture xenon atoms for nuclear forensics in the Laser and Optics Research Laboratory, Feb. 11, 2025. U.S. Air Force Academy science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs provide technical and critical-thinking skills our future warfighters need. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith)

Physics

Physics majors like Cadet 1st Class Thomas Young develop the knowledge and skills necessary to solve unforeseen, abstract, complex and ill-defined problems. Graduates will enter active duty confident in their ability to adapt and overcome unforeseen challenges.

“I chose physics because it is a varied and expansive field with many concepts,” Young said. “We develop a method of thinking that encourages adaptive learning and problem-solving that can be applied to each of these separate disciplines. This is the same mindset that modern warfighting demands — a flexible application of previous knowledge to an ever-changing problem.”

The Academy’s STEM programs are the foundation for developing leaders, innovators and warfighters prepared to shape the future of national defense.

See photos of cadets working in STEM.