June 27, 2022

‘Hit the ground running’: Academy’s Prep School gets new commander

(Josh Armstrong/U.S. Air Force Academy) From right: Col. Michael Cornelius, commander of the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory school, shares a moment with Col. Melissa Youderian before the official change of command ceremony which saw leadership of the Prep School transfer from Youderian to Cornelius, June 24, 2022. Story by Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A career weapons systems officer and graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy began his tour of duty as commander of the institution’s Prep School June 24. Col. Michael Cornelius takes over the duties of the Prep...

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June 16, 2022

Cadets rely on skills, teamwork during annual Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory

(Justin Pacheco/U.S. Air Force Academy) Story by Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The top officer at the U.S. Air Force Academy told cadets that the Russian challenge in Europe and the growing multi-domain threat posed by the People’s Republic of China makes clear the Defense Department’s need for expert civil engineering officers. “Your ability to operate in any conflict is critical to our National Defense Strategy and supports Air Force Chief of Staff CQ Brown’s priority of providing the Defense Department with agile combat employment,” Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, the Academy's superintendent,...

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June 14, 2022

The Azimuth Summer Space Program: What You Need to Know

By Rachelle Stoll, Strategic Communications Azimuth students jump on the flightline at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport June 6, 2022 before their parabolic training flight in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Courtesy photo/Steve Boxall) Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy just completed the Academy’s inaugural summer space program on 10 June, 2022. Azimuth is a unique summer program for Academy cadets as well as Navy, West Point and ROTC students considering a commission in the U.S. Space Force. The two-week opportunity provides an immersive introduction to operations in the space domain. Modeled after NASA’s two-year Astronaut Training Program, Azimuth introduces...

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June 7, 2022

Top Academy experiences to enjoy this summer

By Rachelle Stoll, U.S. Air Force Strategic Communications Photos by Joshua Armstrong The U.S. Air Force Academy, 60 miles south of Denver in the city of Colorado Springs is a must-see on your Colorado trip. Whether an out-of-town visitor, cadet parent, or frequent local guest, here's our top Academy experiences to add to your summer itinerary. Free Planetarium show Enjoy an immersive experience featuring high-tech surround sound and projection capabilities in the Planetarium’s state of the art, hemispheric dome. The Planetarium is open to the general public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Movies start at noon and 4 p.m. Mondays...

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May 26, 2022

Vietnamese citizen takes part in DoD, Air Force Academy international programs

Cadet Xuan "An" Nguyen (left) is an astronautical engineering major at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (Photo/Josh Armstrong) Story by Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - An astronautical engineering major at the U.S. Air Force Academy said the school’s international programs strengthen relationships between the U.S. and its allies. Cadet Xuan “An” Nguyen attends the Academy as the first cadet from Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense to be enrolled in the Secretary of Defense Four-Year International Cadet Program. “The program brings different perspectives from different countries to the American cadets and gives the international...

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May 25, 2022

‘Power of partnerships’: SECDEF gives commencement speech to AF Academy’s Class of 2022

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III shakes hands with graduates in the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2022 May 25, 2022. Austin was the commencement speaker for the graduation ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo) By Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs  U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said newly commissioned officers graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy May 25 will bring their dedication to service and innovation to the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Austin gave the commencement speech for the Class of 2022 at the school’s graduation...

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May 25, 2022

The Breakdown: Stats on the Air Force Academy’s class of ‘22

(Class of 2022. Photo/Trevor Cokley) By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Nearly 1,000 Air Force and Space Force officers graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in a ceremony at Falcon Stadium May 25. In all, 863 class of ’22 cadets were commissioned into the Air Force and 94 were commissioned into the Space Force as second lieutenants. Sixteen international cadets graduated with their U.S. classmates. The Breakdown This information is based on data from the Academy’s operations and analysis office released May 23. -- 1,434 men and women received appointments...

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May 24, 2022

‘Two services, one Academy’: AF Academy, Space Force teamwork make innovation history

(Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby) Commentary by Col. Jeff Greenwood Space Force Delta 13 Detachment 1 commander U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – This week, nearly 1,000 cadets will graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy and receive their commissions as newly minted second lieutenants in the Air Force and Space Force. It’s always an exciting time as friends and family members from around the world come together at our Academy to witness this culminating event, and it’s equally thrilling for the faculty and staff who get to celebrate with our newest batch of officers. For the third...

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May 20, 2022

171 cadet-candidates graduate from Academy’s prep school

Col. Melissa Youderian, commander of the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, congratulates Cadet Candidate Bryce Matthew Leapart during the prep school's graduation ceremony, May 16, 2022 in Arnold Hall. (Photo by Justin Pacheco) By Tech. Sgt. Zach Vaughn U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Scores of cadet-candidates celebrated their graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School on May 16, 2022. All told, 171 cadet-candidates graduated after completing an uncompromising ten-month program to develop their academic, military and athletic skills, said Col. Melissa Youderian, U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School commander. “It wasn’t easy, but...

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May 20, 2022

Innovation at the Academy: It’s like riding a bike

(Photo/Col. Christopher McClernon) Commentary By Col Christopher McClernon U.S. Air Force Academy associate dean of research U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - A 1973 article by S. S. Wilson in Scientific American compared the efficiency of animals in motion and found birds and fish are much more efficient than walking or running humans. However, Wilson then tested a human on a bicycle and found that a cyclist was more efficient than all other animals studied. Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc., often cited these findings to emphasize the value of tools, referring to the computer as a...

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