February 4, 2020

England native ups Academy planetarium’s STEM center to next level

The Air Force Academy’s planetarium project manager grew up in Ashtead, Surrey, a village 25 miles southwest of London. Her father was an art director and her mother ran the home. She loved learning and channeled her father’s drive to succeed. At 10-years-old, following her father’s death, she applied to a prestigious all-girls private school where she earned a full scholarship. Now, she could make her father proud. Judy Cara may have grown up in England, but a young Marine serving at the embassy, where they both worked, stole her heart and they moved to the U.S. She now lives just...

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January 29, 2020

Academy brings back MTIs as CW refocuses on training fundamentals

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Jan. 29, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – For the first time in a decade, the Academy will have permanent military training instructors on the Cadet Wing staff to enhance the military training program here. “I want this to be the nation’s most disciplined, professional and future-focused military training organization,” said Brig. Gen. Michele Edmondson, commandant of cadets. In 2004, the Academy created the Academy Military Trainer program. The role of AMTs quickly evolved into a mentorship and leadership support function to squadron air officers commanding. After 2009, when the last MTI transitioned from the...

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January 28, 2020

USAFA Prep School inducts Shell 77 pilot, Capt. ‘Tori’ Pinckney, as 2020 Exemplar

Michelle and Larry Castro help Col. Timothy Thurston unveil the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School’s 2020 Exemplar in honor of the late Capt. Victoria A. “Tori” Pinckney in the Falcon Club at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Jan. 24, 2020. Cadet candidates selected Pinckney because she was a leader of the people and always valued service before self. The Castros are Pinckney’s parents and Thurston serves as the Prep School commander. (Photo by Trevor Cokley) By Tech. Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton, Jan. 28, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadet candidates with the Air Force Preparatory School inducted...

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January 24, 2020

Academy cadets make playoffs at national moot court competition

From left: Maj. Kenneth Hyle, U.S. Air Force Academy Cadets  Matthew Pryor, Caitlin Bitting, Moira Casey, Noah Jensen, Aryemis Brown, Abbigayle Weaver and Maj. Wolfgang Weber pose for a group photo. Hyle and Weber are assistant law professors at the Academy and coaches for the Academy's Moot Court Team. The cadets seen here are on the Moot Court Team. (Courtesy photo) By Ray Bowden, Jan. 24, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadets at the Air Force Academy represented the university at a national-level collegiate court competition Jan. 17-18, making it deep into the tournament before eventually standing aside...

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January 23, 2020

Moving beyond a mistake: Academy cadet mentors troubled teens in his hometown

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Jan. 25, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Cadet 2nd Class Prince Njoku believes in second chances. Over winter break, the Academy cadet spent time mentoring middle and high schoolers at the Fort Bend Juvenile Facility in Richmond, Texas. The facility houses juveniles awaiting court appearances for a wide range of illegal behavior from theft to assault. “Humility is so key, I think, to being a good leader, and I felt that I could learn as much from these kids as they learned from me,” he said. Njoku is the first to admit he’s not...

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January 23, 2020

Learning the language: Enlisted Airman improves Chinese language skills with cadets

Maj. Kevin McGuiness (left), a Chinese language instructor, and Airman 1st Class Curtis Fields, a security forces Airman, discuss paperwork McGuiness will use in class, Jan. 14, 2020, at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Fields is attending the class to improve his own Chinese language skills and is also helping McGuiness conduct an unofficial audit of the class. (Photo/Trevor Cokley) Story by Ray Bowden, Jan. 23, 20120 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Most of what Maj. Kevin McGuiness had to say in class Jan. 14 might have been in Chinese, but his students didn’t mind. Neither did Airman 1st...

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January 13, 2020

Academy’s commandant and dean put new spin on training, academics for cadets

Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre, the dean of the faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy . Story by Ray Bowden, photos by Trevor Cokley, Jan. 13, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Two generals said their teamwork will positively affect the Air Force Academy in the New Year and beyond. Cadet Wing Commandant Brig. Gen. Michele Edmondson and Dean of Faculty Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre said the changes made late last year to the Academy’s training and research programs bode well for the school’s future. “These modifications will allow cadets to train with a deliberate objective based purpose that structures...

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December 26, 2019

Two brothers overcome life-changing injuries to focus on the future

By Jennifer Spradlin, Dec. 26, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Emotions were high as the two brothers stood side-by-side on the stage. Kyle Kauppila was about to pin lieutenant's bars on his younger brother, Garrett, in a moment that almost never happened. Two years ago, Kyle was enjoying a Sunday morning ride with a local motorcycle club when an accident left him crumpled on the side of the road, clinging to life. He was rushed from the scene by helicopter as word trickled out to his friends and family. Garrett, then in his junior at the Academy, had...

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December 23, 2019

U.S. Space Force becomes a reality

President Donald Trump signs S.1790, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 as senior leaders look on, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 At Joint Base Andrews. The act authorizes a budget that supports the U.S. armed forces and postures the Air Force to meet the requirements of the National Defense Strategy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Spencer Slocum) By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs , Dec. 23, 2019   President Trump signed into law Dec. 20 the sprawling, $738 billion defense bill, making history by creating the Space Force as a stand-alone, sixth branch...

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December 23, 2019

DoD opens Space Force: AF Academy supt says cadets will continue to contribute to space mission, research

U.S. Air Force Academy cadets clean the components of the FalconSAT-6 satellite they and their instructors built at the Academy at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, in November. The satellite successfully launched into space Dec. 3, 2018 from Vandenberg. (Courtesy photo) By Ray Bowden, Dec. 23, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Air Force Academy cadets are known for making advances with their research and scientific discoveries but today, the effect they’ll have in space just got a lot bigger, with the Defense Department unveiling its new U.S. Space Force. “Today marks a historic day for our nation and our...

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