September 15, 2021

Top authors promote creative thinking at Academy, Homeland Defense Institute symposium

Story by Tech. Sgt. Zach Vaughn, photos by Josh Armstrong Two New York Time’s best-selling authors shared their creative view on solving problems with Academy cadets and staff during the Breaking America symposium, Sept. 10. The Homeland Defense Institute, created by the Academy and North American Aerospace Defense Command-Northern Command to study potential future domestic threats across Canada and the U.S., sponsored the event. Fiction authors August Cole and Peter Singer’s presentation focused on what they called “fictional intelligence” also known as “useful fiction.” “It’s not futurism, design or speculative fiction,” said Singer. “[Useful fiction] is a deliberate blend of...

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September 9, 2021

Academy co-hosts discussion to combat sex assault, harassment

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent, delivers opening remarks during the virtual National Discussion on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment with America’s Colleges, Universities and Service Academies, at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Sept. 7, 2021. The multi-day, collaborative event enabled more than 200 senior leaders from the Department of Defense and civilian academic institutions to develop partnerships and to share evidence-based best practices to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment at colleges, universities and service academies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Zach Vaughn) By Tech. Sgt. Zach Vaughn, U.S. Air Force Academy Public...

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September 8, 2021

Return to Jacks: New commandant strives to instill warfighter mentality among cadets

By Jeff Holmquist, Association of Graduates By the end of his run through the assault course, Brig. Gen. Paul Moga ’95 is dripping in sweat, caked in mud and smiling from ear to ear. As a basic cadet in 1991, Moga successfully navigated the various physical and mental challenges in Jacks Valley, but he never thought he’d be back here — 30 years later and serving as commandant of cadets at his alma mater. In the early days of his new role, Moga was asked if he would like to relive some of his basic cadet glory days. He admits...

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September 8, 2021

The notorious ‘Johnny Bravo’: Great leadership starts at the Academy

by Ashley D. Murphy, Strategic Communications “Embrace this. You are going to second guess yourself being here, not think you are good enough, and wonder if you’ll make it to graduation. Trust me – an incredible journey is in front of you.” Brig Gen Michael “Johnny Bravo” Drowley is a war hero, pilot, weapons school expert, and ’96 graduate of the Academy … but his leadership style, charismatic personality, and sense of humility are what he’s best known for. And, he says he owes it all to his time at the Academy. “USAFA gave me far more than I can put...

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September 7, 2021

The Big Idea: Institute for Future Conflict prepares cadets for evolving fight

By Jeff Holmquist, Association of Graduates One of the Academy’s newest initiatives all started with Dr. Paul Kaminski’s “Big Idea.” In 2016, Kaminski ’64 — a stealth technology pioneer — authored a white paper and approached Academy leadership with a challenging question: How do we better prepare cadets for warfare of the future? Over the course of multiple conversations, brainstorming sessions, and presentations, the Institute for Future Conflict (IFC) was born. Thanks to the ongoing financial support of donors, the institute was officially established on Nov. 8, 2019. Then, in March of 2021, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Bradford Shwedo ’87 was...

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August 31, 2021

ROKAF Air Chief gains insight into the Academy’s mission

Cadet 1st Class Andrew LaGassa briefs Republic of Korea Air Force Gen. Inho Park, ROKAF Chief of Staff, during a tour of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Astronautics Laboratory, Aug. 27, 2021. Park toured the Multi-Domain and Aeronautics laboratories and met with South Korean international students during his visit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Zach Vaughn) By Tech. Sgt. Zach Vaughn, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs  U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – -- Republic of Korea Air Force Gen. Inho Park, ROKAF Chief of Staff, visited the Academy and Korean cadets here, Aug. 27. Park toured the...

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August 12, 2021

Academy celebrates Acceptance Day, convocation for class of ’25

C1C Benjamin Miller, Demons Echo Flight commander, leads a group of fourth class cadets to cite the honor oath during the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Acceptance Day ceremony at Stillman Parade Field, Aug. 6. Acceptance Day marks the end of basic cadet training for freshmen cadets who also receive their fourth-class shoulder boards to signify their acceptance into the cadet wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Armstrong) U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Scores of freshmen cadets were welcomed into the class of ’25 during the school’s annual Acceptance Day event, August 6....

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August 9, 2021

Academy preps for construction of state-of-art Madera Cyber Center

By Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A multimillion-dollar construction project to build a cyber center at the Air Force Academy begins later this summer and will last through 2023. Lieutenant Gen. Richard Clark, the Academy’s superintendent, hosted a ground-breaking ceremony for the Madera Cyber Innovation Center Aug. 6 featuring the center’s namesake, Paul Madera. Madera, a 1978 Academy graduate, and his wife Joan Madera were the largest single donors to the project. He serves on the Air Force Academy Foundation’s board and its cyber committee. In all, 420 donors committed more...

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August 4, 2021

Academy cadets soar through summer

(From left) Maj. Chris Heiserman, the 94th Flying Training Squadron's director of staff, and Air Force Academy Cadets 1st Class Garrett Dean and Sean Bedwell, conduct final flight checks before Bedwell makes a sortie in the glider to land at Stillman Parade Field, Aug. 3, 2021. Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Seth Stang, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The 306th Flying Training Group operates one of the Defense Department’s top 10 busiest runways where more than 120 aircraft gain altitude above the Air Force Academy each day. Single-engine aircraft, planes ferrying cadet parachutists, tow-planes and...

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August 2, 2021

Cadet research goes expeditionary

By Ashley Murphy August 2, 2021 -- This summer, two cadets completed their Cadet Summer Research Program with Texas A&M University’s Construction Science Department and had their eyes opened to the future of expeditionary engineering. C1Cs Caleb Carnes and Qadry Brown were immersed in the science of providing living and training spaces for the military in an expeditionary or foreign environment, also known as bare base beddown planning. Additionally, they gained skills with BEAR kits and Airfield Pavement Evaluation (APE) tools, techniques, and procedures used by engineers to construct airfields and extended capabilities in austere locations. These training elements support...

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