December 18, 2018

Freshman cadet says challenges led to deeper commitment to Air Force Academy

Cadet 4th Class Josh Payton gets ready to begin Basic Cadet Training at the U.S. Air Force Academy, June 2018. Story and photo by Ray Bowden, Dec. 18, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- It takes a lot to get admitted to the Air Force Academy but it took a lot more for Cadet 4th Class Josh Payton of Cadet Squadron 13. “I did in-fact go to the Prep School twice,” he said. “I didn’t reach the minimum GPA requirement to graduate.” Graduation from the Air Force Academy’s Preparatory School does not guarantee admission to the Academy but historically, a...

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December 14, 2018

Academy airfield strengthened by Total Force Airmen

(U.S. Air Force photo/Trevor Cokley) By Jennifer Spradlin, Dec. 14, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Colorado National Guardsman recently joined Air Force Reservists working alongside active duty Airmen to execute the Airmanship program here. For the first time, six Guardsmen will support the 557th Flying Training Squadron as it revives the solo flight curriculum in its powered flight program in January. Lt. Col. Jachin Finch, an Air Force Academy graduate who served 16 years in the active force before joining the Guard in 2016, is excited to see his career come full circle. “This is super special to me....

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December 13, 2018

Air Force Academy announces Nathan Pine as new athletic director

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria announced Dec. 13 that Nathan Pine has been selected as the Academy’s new director of athletics. "I would like to thank Lt. Gen. Silveria and the search committee for their confidence in me," Pine said. "The Air Force Academy is a special place, and I am excited for the opportunity to lead athletics at this elite institution. This is a tremendous time to build upon the foundation that is already in place within the athletics department. The U.S. Air Force Academy brings in some of our...

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December 13, 2018

Air Force selects new commandant of cadets for Air Force Academy

Brig. Gen. Michele Edmondson is shown here as a colonel. The general has been selected to be the new commandant of cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy next year. (U.S. Air Force photo) By Ray Bowden U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The Air Force announced that Brig. Gen. Michele Edmondson will be the Air Force Academy’s next commandant of cadets, Dec. 13 Edmondson is expected to arrive at the Academy next summer and, following a change of command ceremony, will take command of the Cadet Wing from Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin. “This is terrific news,” said Academy Superintendent Lt....

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December 12, 2018

Air Force Academy Research: Cadets have role in creating DoD’s 1st large stealth target drone

(U.S. Air Force photo by Jonathan Snyder) By Ray Bowden, Dec. 12, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy are working with aerospace instructors and industry partners to develop the Defense Department’s first large stealth target drone to test missile tracking systems. “As far as we know, this is the first large stealth target drone,” said Thomas McLaughlin, the Academy’s Aeronautic Research Center director. McLaughlin said the project is the DoD’s first aircraft development with significant contributions by cadets at a service academy. “It has had cadet involvement in its evolution over several years,”...

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December 10, 2018

306th Operations Support Squadron at Air Force Academy grabs top honor from Air Education and Training Command

Story and photo by Jennifer Spradlin, Dec. 10, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The nine-person airfield management crew responsible for the Air Force Academy airfield and the Academy Bullseye Auxiliary Airfield near Ellicott, Colorado, was recognized by Air Education and Training Command with the Ronald B. McCarthy Airfield Management Facility of the Year Award. This year, the 306th Operations Support Squadron airfield management oversaw a $2 million runway construction project without incident and on schedule. The crew worked closely with the 10th Civil Engineering Squadron to accomplish the preliminary work, saving more than $70,000. Some additional accomplishments include acquiring...

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December 10, 2018

Academy cadet and Prep School cadet candidate advance to Spark Tank Competition semi-finals

U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School Cadet Candidate Usama Bamieh (left) and Academy Cadet 1st Class Santiago Garcia, pose for a photo Dec. 7, 2018 at the Academy. They'll represent the school with their Spark Tank projects, currently being reviewed for possible selection to the competition's final round. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joshua Armstrong) By Jennifer Spradlin, Dec. 10, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  “An airman basic has the ability to make permanent changes in the Air Force -- for the better,” said Air Force Academy Prep School Cadet Candidate Usama Bamieh, a first generation American and previously enlisted...

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November 30, 2018

Air Force Academy officer helps Alpha Warrior team take 1st place at competition

Capt. Jennifer Wendland (top row, left), a physical education instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, poses for a photo with her Alpha Warrior teammates after they won the first Inter-Service Alpha Warrior Battle, Nov. 17, 2018, in Selma, Texas. Air Force took home the inter-service championship title with a team finish time of 2:17:33. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sarayuth Pinthong) U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs, Nov. 29, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- A physical education instructor at the Air Force Academy was on a team of six Airmen who beat-out Army and Navy to take the...

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November 26, 2018

Cadet Candidates bring ‘dragon magic’ to elementary school

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Cadet Candidates from the Air Force Academy’s Preparatory School performed a chemistry magic show for elementary students at Stratmoor Hills Elementary, Nov. 13. The cadet candidates perform the show at multiple schools throughout the year as part of an outreach program to get local children excited about science and math. “We feel like the [cadet candidates] inspire a love of science in our students, and it’s good for the students to see how the principles of science they’re learning now can be used later on in life,” said Melissa Geffre, a literacy interventionist at...

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November 21, 2018

‘It’s your Air Force Academy too’: Chief Boyer hosts enlisted call Nov. 16

Story by Ray Bowden, Nov. 21, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The top-enlisted Airman at the Air Force Academy announced his plans to retire late next year after nearly 32 years of military service. Chief Master Sgt. Rob Boyer, the Academy’s command chief, said this and more during his enlisted call, Nov. 16 in Fairchild Hall. “You can swap out all the senior leaders here, but the job will still get done because of you,” he said to the audience of enlisted Airmen. “You represent the Academy’s cradle of leadership. There is nothing that gets done here without...

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