October 24, 2019

Pitch to develop tech for colorblind pilots wins 1st place at Academy innovation competition

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Oct. 24, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Bailey Hopkins wants to be an Air Force pilot, but like seven-to-ten percent of other men, he has red-green color blindness – an instant disqualifier. Hopkins, a junior cadet at the Air Force Academy, took to the stage Oct. 18 during Falcon Tank, an innovation-themed competition, to present an idea on modifying commercially available technology to correct color blindness in Air Force-issued pilot visors. “It’s easy to just think about Academy cadets who are color blind and can't fly, many of which are very high-achieving individuals who...

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October 21, 2019

Energy Action Month: Top 8 ways to save energy

Compiled by Janine Dreger, Oct 21. 2019 U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.  -- Throughout October we’ve published quite a few tips to keep you conserving energy year-round. We can make a huge dent by taking pretty simple steps. Here’s the top eight ways we can conserve energy across the Air Force and in our homes and vehicles. Don’t be Idle Don’t let your vehicle idle. It’s expensive and, depending on the model, can use one gallon of fuel each hour, not to mention inhaling vehicle fumes isn’t healthy. Don’t Drive Angry Carpool, use public transportation, bike or walk. Don’t be...

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October 18, 2019

Academy hails new dean with assumption of command ceremony

(U.S. Air Force photo/Joshua Armstrong) Story by Ray Bowden, Oct. 18, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy heralded in its new dean in an official assumption of command ceremony, Oct. 17. Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre, previously a permanent professor and head of the school’s law department, replaces Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost, who stepped down in September to retire. “As I’ve reviewed her career, you will notice a recurring theme: dedication to the mission, successful execution and excellence,” said Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, the Academy’s superintendent, during the afternoon ceremony. Letendre now leads the Dean of the...

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October 15, 2019

5 research projects AF Academy cadets are working on today

By Janine Dreger, Oct. 15, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Ever wonder what cadet researchers are doing these days at the Air Force Academy? Here’s five projects we think are very interesting. Falcon Satellite Program All systems are “go” for FalconSat-6, a 400-pound satellite designed and built by cadets. It’s been in orbit for 10-months, receiving and transmitting information allowing cadets to track the progress of several space-technology projects. New Dimensions Cadets are developing technology to give pilots mission information during their “debriefs” in three dimensions. If cadets have their way, our pilots will eventually wear 3-D glasses to...

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September 6, 2019

Academy cadet, pilot says family support keeps his dreams aloft

Cadet 1st Class Alexander Brown. (Photo/U.S. Air Force Academy) By Jennifer Spradlin, Sept. 6, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- As a boy, Alexander Brown had a big dream: become a pilot. Brown, now a senior at the Air Force Academy, said his family helped him turn that dream into a realistic goal. “I tell people that no matter how big your dreams seem to others, if you believe in that dream, find the right people to support and mentor you, and go for it,” he said. At 10, they bought him a flight simulator, which he modified to include...

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October 9, 2019

Air Force Academy hosts annual “Audience with an Astronaut”

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Oct. 9, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Duane G. “Digger” Carey, a former NASA astronaut who piloted the STS-109 Columbia mission in March 2002, spoke to more than 300 fifth and sixth graders from schools across the Front Range at the Air Force Academy, Oct. 9. The annual “Audience with an Astronaut” event is held in partnership with the Space Foundation and highlights science, technology, engineering and math education as well as the role of the space industry. Carey shared his journey from childhood poverty in Minnesota to a...

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October 8, 2019

Academy cadet remains resilient despite MS diagnosis

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Oct. 8, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Garrett Tuin was playing ping-pong with friends last year when he realized he couldn’t see the ball. He was home from the Air Force Academy on winter break, and his symptoms continued to worsen. Tuin was concerned, but his initial thought was that he scratched his eye while snowmobiling the day before or had pink eye. “I made an appointment with my ophthalmologist, who ran some tests, and she basically came back and said there was something going on with my optic nerve and while she didn’t...

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October 7, 2019

Air Force Academy launches new Airmanship Next program

Photo and story by Jennifer Spradlin, Oct. 7, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy recently redesigned its Airmanship program to give cadets more opportunities to experience the Air Force’s flying mission and produce the best pool of rated candidates. Launched at the start of the fall semester, Airmanship Next augments live-flight at the airfield with virtual reality training to reach cadets who may have been excluded in the past by scheduling conflicts and infuses more aviation training into the four-year cadet developmental model. “The reality is that less than half of the cadets from a typical...

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October 4, 2019

Update: Cadets say Adventure Based Learning program is a success

  By (U.S. Air Force Academy photo/Jennifer Spradlin) Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Oct. 4, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The preliminary results are in on Adventure Based Learning, and it’s scoring high marks from cadets and Academy leadership. The Center for Character Leadership and Development launched the hands-on challenge this summer for cadets entering their sophomore year to experiment with leadership and decision making skills in a dynamic, outdoor environment. Of the 1,105 students who went through ABL, only three cadets were medically disqualified and unable to complete the course. Top performing teams hiked more than 50 miles...

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October 3, 2019

An End of Era: Beloved Academy falcon mascot dies at age 23

(U.S. Air Force Academy photo) Story by Ray Bowden, Oct. 3, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Aurora, a White Phase Gyrfalcon and the Academy’s official mascot, died midday Oct. 2. She lived to be 23, roughly twice the age of falcons in the wild. “Our hearts go out to our master-and cadet-falconers, who lovingly cared for and trained Aurora for more than two decades,” said Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, Academy superintendent. “Emblematic of the beauty and majesty of our Falcons, Aurora will be greatly missed by generations of cadets, graduates, faculty members and so many others.” Aurora was...

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