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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July 30, 2021

Update: AF Academy reopens to public Aug 2

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force Academy will open to the public August 2, nearly 17 months after closing to all but official business to safeguard its community during the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re excited to welcome the community back to the U.S. Air Force Academy,” said Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, the school’s superintendent. “I’m proud of our Academy team for their incredible work to ensure a safe, successful environment for our cadets, faculty and families. Cadets have been back since last fall and we’ve learned to work in an environment focused...

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July 29, 2021

Newly named Space Force bases to continue partnership with AF Academy

(U. S. Space Force graphic/Staff Sgt. James Richardson Jr.) Story by Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Cadets commissioning into the Space Force after graduating from the Air Force Academy could find themselves at three new Space Force bases in Colorado Springs. Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station is now a Space Force station and Peterson and Schriever are now Space Force bases, the end-result of an Air Force initiative for the burgeoning Space Force to establish its own culture and identity. “Many of our main space missions are conducted at those three locations...

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July 26, 2021

Technology propels military strategy at AF Academy

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Seth Stang, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs  U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - A $9.5 million project to enhance combat training is slated to be  unveiled at the Air Force Academy by the end of the year. That project, installing a multi domain laboratory in the military and strategic studies department, will provide extra layers of realism to one of the school’s core courses, “air power and joint operations strategy,” said MSS instructor Master Sgt. Bonnie Rushing. “Cadets will gain realistic operational experiences as we combine simulations with our department’s robust curriculum,” she said. When complete, the lab will simulate two flight bays,...

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