Outcomes
The U.S. Air Force Academy is a unique institution, providing an elite undergraduate educational program, a world-class training program in the profession of arms, a rigorous four-year regimen of physical education classes and competitive athletics, and a continuous grounding in character development. However, the most unique characteristic of the Academy is how these distinct elements work together toward the shared mission of producing leaders of character, motivated to lead the Air Force and Space Force in service to our nation. The synergy of these distinct elements allows us to offer an integrated four-year experience that is greater than the sum of its individual parts.
By the time cadets graduate from the Academy and commission as second lieutenants, we expect them to acquire a sophisticated combination of knowledge, skills, and responsibilities that they will need to succeed as airmen, guardians, and citizens. We have described these characteristics in the following nine U.S. Air Force Academy Institutional Outcomes:
CRITICAL THINKING
Upon graduation, our graduates will be required to identify and solve complex problems and effectively respond to situations they have not previously confronted. Acting responsibly in an ever-changing world of ill-defined problems requires critical thinking. At the Academy, critical thinking is defined as: The process of self-aware, informed, and reflective reasoning for problem solving and decision making even in the absence of ideal conditions.
Critical Thinking Outcome Team Lead: Dr. John Ternovski
Learn more – Critical Thinking White Paper and Proficiencies
APPLICATION OF ENGINEERING PROBLEM-SOLVING METHODS
Graduating cadets will recognize the engineering and technical challenges of the Air Force mission and the physical capabilities and limits within their assigned career fields and weapon systems. These officers need to not only be “operators,” but to become problem solvers that use engineering principles to devise enhanced capabilities essential to achieving and maintaining Air Force dominance in air, space, and cyberspace.
Engineering Outcome Team Lead: Lt. Col. Daniel Showalter
Learn more about the Engineering Outcome
SCIENTIFIC REASONING AND THE PRINCIPLES OF SCIENCE
The Air Force needs science-proficient officers who can make decisions in a world increasingly influenced by scientific and quantitative data. This means cadets will be capable in the concepts, practices, and evaluation of the natural and mathematical sciences. Or, put simply, know, do, and apply.
Science Outcome Team Lead: Dr. Joseph Eichholz
Learn more about the Science Outcome
THE HUMAN CONDITION, CULTURES, AND SOCIETIES
Our graduates will be required to interact successfully with a wide range of individuals, including those representing cultures and societies different from their own. To foster their success in these interactions, the Academy has created a three-phased approach to help cadets better understand the human condition, cultures, and societies: (a) knowing oneself; (b) knowing others; and (c) constructive engagement. Being able to prudently interact with individuals from different milieus resides at the heart of intercultural or cross-cultural competence and includes both domestic and international environments.
Human Condition Outcome Team Lead: Dr. Peter Swanson
Learn more about the Human Condition Outcome
LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, AND ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT
The vision of the Academy is to be the Air Force’s premier institution for developing Air Force and Space Force officers who are leaders of character. The Academy provides an immersive developmental experience over 47 months, organized into four major performance areas, foundational competencies, and Airman leadership qualities. This approach prepares cadets to succeed in the face of rapid change, advance the mission, and pursue the best version of themselves and the organizations in which they serve.
Leadership Outcome Team Lead: Dr. Rob Flaherty
Learn more about the Leadership Outcome
CLEAR COMMUNICATION
Clear communication is a multi-faceted, nuanced and teachable practice essential for successful officers and leaders of character. Officers must effectively convey information through communication acts, which may include staff correspondence, operational orders, strategic documents and civilian and military stakeholder briefings. Clear communication signifies the professional competence and knowledge expected in a leader while engendering the trust of others. The Academy strives to develop cadets who will successfully employ clear communication skills throughout their Air Force and Space Force careers.
Communication Outcome Team Lead: Dr. Michael Fowler
Learn more about the Communication Outcome
ETHICS AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY
When deciding how to act, Air Force leaders of character comprehend moral knowledge and ethical alternatives, respect the dignity of all affected persons, use ethical judgment in moral decision-making as leaders to select the best alternative, and act consistently with that judgment so as to develop habits of moral excellence.
Ethics and Respect Outcome Team Lead: Lt. Col. Erika King
NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC IN A COMPLEX GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
National Security refers to protecting and advancing a society’s fundamental interests. Regardless of academic major, graduates must understand the fundamental interests of the U.S., the methods and tools available to the U.S. for furthering those interests, and both the domestic and international constraints the U.S. faces in doing so. Indeed, Academy graduates appreciate and navigate the multifaceted and complex nature of national security and the inherent challenges of developing and implementing U.S. national security policy..
National Security Outcome Team Lead: Dr. Paul Bezerra
Learn more about the National Security Outcome
WARRIOR ETHOS AS AIRMEN AND GUARDIANS
Warrior ethos is the embodiment of the warrior spirit: tough-mindedness, tireless motivation, an unceasing vigilance, a commitment to be the world’s premier air, space, and cyberspace force, and if necessary, a willingness to sacrifice one’s life for the deference of the nation. The warrior ethos proficiencies that follow comprise a process of the intellectual development inherent to every warfighter on their journey to becoming a Leader of Character.
Warrior Ethos Outcome Team Lead: Dr. Robert Wettemann