January 29, 2018

Prep School honors class exemplar

Staff Sgt. Charles Rivezzo, Jan. 29, 2018 U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force Academy’s Preparatory School held its annual Exemplar Dinner Jan. 26 to honor Lt. Col. Ida Widmann as the Prep School’s 2018 Class Exemplar. For nearly two decades, each class at the Prep School has chosen an individual who “exemplifies” the type of person the class wishes to emulate. Ida attended the Prep School as a cadet candidate in 1987 before earning her appointment to the Academy and graduating in 1991. Ida excelled both academically and as a leader,...

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January 29, 2018

Aim Higher

Kristin Stewart, Jan. 29, 2018 Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. For one Airman, the motto “aim high” is an understatement. From collegiate athlete to Ph.D. scientist, the sky’s the limit. Capt. Olawale Lawal, Air Force Research Laboratory and 2013 Academy grad, shared his experience and life lessons during the University of West Florida’s ROTC commissioning ceremony. Lawal, the youngest of five boys, was born in Washington D.C., to Nigerian parents. He credits his upbringing for his athletic and academic success. “In Nigerian culture, they set high expectations for their children. Whatever you do, they expect you do it at a...

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January 26, 2018

Cadets, faculty earn research awards at USAFA

(From left: Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy; Cadet 1st Class Molly Phillips,  overall winner of the Thomas D. Moore Award for Outstanding Cadet Summer Research; Lt. Gen. John Thompson, commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center; and Col. Gary Packard, vice dean of faculty, stand onstage Jan. 25, 2018 in Polaris Hall during the 22nd Annual Research Awards Program ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Charlie Rivezzo) By Ray Bowden/Jan. 26, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadet and faculty researchers were the focus of attention Jan. 25 at the Air Force...

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January 24, 2018

Breaking the status quo: USAFA educator develops program based on mountaineering and special ops background

Staff Sgt. Charles Rivezzo, Jan. 24, 2018 U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – If you told Lt. Col. Rob Marshall leadership starts at the top, he’d take you literally. Part mountaineer, part special operations pilot, he’s spent a lot of time living his life at high altitudes. Marshall is by no means the casual adventurer, he’s a world-class mountaineer, having led climbs of the highest peak on each continent, including Mount Everest, and ferried special operators in and out of war zones as a CV-22 Osprey pilot. These days, the 2001 Academy graduate is...

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January 22, 2018

Remembering Capt Lance P. Sijan, USAFA ’65

Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, Jan. 22, 2018 U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Fifty years ago today, Lance P. Sijan (USAFA Class of 1965) died as a prisoner of war at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.”  As we remember him today, I want each of us to reflect on what his contributions and legacy mean to our service and our Academy.  While I encourage you to read one of the many books written about Captain Sijan, today I want to share with you the last line of his Medal of Honor citation.  It reads: “Captain Sijan's extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and...

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January 17, 2018

USAFA grad earns Airman’s Medal for saving lives of 3 swimmers

By Kristin Stewart, Jan. 16, 2018 EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A 20th Space Control Squadron Airman who graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2015 was honored with an Airman's Medal for his actions Jan. 10. First Lt. Dominic Vicino distinguished himself by risking his life to save three others March 31 at Miramar Beach, Florida. That day, swimming was prohibited because of dangerous wildlife and life-threatening riptide conditions along the Gulf Coast. Vicino saw two people waving their arms approximately 100-yards offshore. “I realized they were in distress, so I dropped my belongings and bolted for the water...

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January 10, 2018

USAFA grads bring A-10 thunder, lightning during fight against ISIS

By Staff Sgt. Trevor Rhynes, Jan. 10, 2018 INCIRILIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFNS) -- The 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron is wrapping up a deployment that saw heavy involvement in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Their efforts focused on Raqqa for approximately three months. During this time, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs participated in an urban close air support role. Pilots focused on protecting friendly forces as they maneuvered in the city between large buildings in which the enemy hid and used as fighting positions. “It was a difficult location to work in and we faced some situations that...

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December 12, 2017

‘All I wanted was to succeed’: USAFA Prep School NCO reflects on career

Master Sgt. Nicholas Roberts, an Academy military trainer, AMT. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ray Bowden) By Ray Bowden, Dec. 12, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- When Master Sgt. Nicholas Roberts tells you “Wherever the Air Force needs me, is where I’ll go,” you get the idea he’s serious. Since enlisting in 2000, he’s bounced around the World like a lottery ball, deploying to Southwest Asia seven times and on contingency operations in other far-flung places. Nick is a military trainer at the Air Force Academy’s Preparatory School but late next year he reports for flight sergeant duty at the 820th...

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December 7, 2017

As Pearl Harbor Survivors Dwindle, Their Stories Remain Timeless

By Katie Lange, Dec. 6, 2017 Defense Media Activity Dec. 7 marks the 76th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a sneak attack by the Japanese in 1941 that took many American lives and thrust the United States into World War II. The “date which will live in infamy” is commemorated yearly across the entire nation, with many survivors and their families making the pilgrimage to Oahu, Hawaii, in remembrance. While the population of military and civilian survivors from that day has dwindled, their stories and bravery have not. Ahead of last year’s massive 75th anniversary commemoration, we interviewed...

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December 5, 2017

Cadet sets sights on China with Schwarzman Scholarship

By Maureen Welch, Dec. 5, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- An Air Force Academy cadet earned an international scholarship to study in China next year. Cadet 1st Class Benjamin Hook will study global affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, courtesy of the Schwarzman scholarship. “Having taken two years of Mandarin language study at the Academy, I look forward to experiencing Chinese culture and language firsthand,” he said. Hook received the scholarship Dec. 4, the day he was also selected to attend pilot training after graduating in May. He’s the first cadet to receive the scholarship. “It’s remarkable to meet two...

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