July 21, 2017

27 NCOs selected for E-6 promotion

    By Tech. Sgt. Jasmine Reif/July 21, 2017 Yesterday was a great day for the 27 staff sergeants at the Academy who were selected for promotion to technical sergeant. The Air Force selected 8,167 staff sergeants for promotion out of 25,552 eligible for a selection rate of 31.96 percent. 10th ABW Josiah Brodsky Jacob Broersma Mandy Cruz Helice Daulton Matthew Davis Amy Etienne Teruko Fegurgur Jacqueline Fuller Joshua Harwood Amber Kees Kyle Mick Matthew Mills Martha Moore Steven Morris Daniel Pontillo Londone Session Jonathan Sogka Robyn Summers Miranda Wallinder Brian Wiese HQ Staff Jonathon Bradbury James Clark Alison Cline Raymond...

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July 21, 2017

Academy superintendent takes ‘final flight’

Story by Ray Bowden/July 21, 2017; photo by Darcie Ibidapo The skies over Colorado Springs were crystal clear clouds when the Air Force Academy’s top-officer made her "final flight" July 17 in a TG-16 glider. It’s tradition in Air Force pilot’s circles for commanders to take a celebratory final flight into the wild blue yonder before retiring from active duty. Johnson is scheduled to retire later this year after turning-over command of the Academy to Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria Aug. 11. Johnson’s flight touched down just before 9:30 a.m. She was greeted by the applause of the crowd who gathered on...

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July 18, 2017

Personal mail links basic cadets to outside world

By Maureen Welch/July 18, 2017 You’ve got to love “snail mail,” especially if you happen to be a basic cadet at the Air Force Academy. You could say it’s their lifeline to the outside world during their six weeks of Basic Cadet Training because computers, cellphones and social media are strictly off limits. Other than a family emergency, letters are the only way these trainees can contact or hear from their family and friends. “The mail room is something the basics look forward to because it’s their opportunity to be at ease and relaxed,” said Cadet 1st Class Kai Billings,...

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July 18, 2017

Breaking Barriers! Air Force’s 70th Birthday: July achievements

By Ray Bowden and retired Lt. Col. Steve Simon, Class of 1977 Editor's note: The Air Force celebrates its 70th birthday this year and the U.S. Air Force Academy has made many contributions to our service’s legacy and history of breaking barriers, and advancing technology and innovation.   January Academy Achievements  Jan. 1, 1975 -- Cadet Wing's first sergeant major, Chief Master Sgt. Lawrence Garrett, is succeeded by Chief Master Sgt. Edwin Bell. Jan. 1, 1959 -- Falcon Football caps an undefeated season with a tie (0-0) against heavily-favored Texas Christian University at the Cotton Bowl. Jan. 1, 1978 -- Bill...

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July 14, 2017

US Air Force to host 2018 DoD Warrior Games in Colo. Springs

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / July 10, 2017 [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOoIjAKcuX4[/embed] Defense Department officials announced July 8, 2017 that the Air Force will host the 2018 DoD Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 2018. The announcement took place during the closing ceremony of the Navy-hosted 2017 DoD Warrior Games in Chicago. To mark the announcement, U.S. Navy Adm. Davidson, the commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, passed the ceremonial torch to U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Gina M. Grosso, the deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, before...

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July 13, 2017

10 MDG civilian named Trusted Care Hero

By Tech. Sgt. Julius Delos Reyes/July 13, 2017 Ian Bernard works at a flight that may be compared to a police department’s investigative unit. They try to find perpetrators wreaking havoc on their victims but at a microscopic level. He is part of the 10th Medical Group’s laboratory flight at Air Force Academy, Colorado, which provides accurate, reliable and timely diagnoses to providers concerning patient tissue and cellular specimens. “We use ‘cradle to grave’ scientific processes to create a quality microscopic slide for pathologists' to diagnose,” said Bernard, anatomic pathology technical supervisor and a histopathology technician. As histopathology technician, Bernard...

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July 11, 2017

10th SFS Defenders deescalate situation downrange

Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs A lot of people have seen the exciting world of combat arms training or the cute, but capable, military working dogs, but most are not familiar with the rough—and sometimes intense—duties of Air Force defenders in Afghanistan. These Airmen stand watch for more than 12 hours per day, in 115-degree heat, ensuring unauthorized individuals do not gain access to the installation and cause harm to personnel and assets. The decisions security forces Airmen make could potentially have huge ramifications, both internally and internationally. Airmen 1st Class Drew and Giovanni, who...

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July 6, 2017

USAFA cadets train for future at 386 AEW

By Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Hehnly, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / July 05, 2017 This year, the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted approximately twenty cadets as part of the Air Force Academy’s Operation Air Force program. While the majority of cadets are visiting various state-side installations, a small number of cadets had the opportunity to deploy throughout Southwest Asia for their summer program. “The main purpose of this experience is for the cadets to see what it is like to deploy,” said Capt. Alex Hollenbeck, an Air Force Academy instructor. “It gives them a jumpstart, knowing what people have...

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July 5, 2017

2004 grad makes 2018 Thunderbirds list

  U.S. Thunderbirds Public Affairs, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada/July 3, 2017 A 2004 Air Force Academy graduate has been selected to join the Thunderbirds next year. Maj. Eric Gorney, a 2004 Academy graduate, is assigned to the 613th Air Operations Center at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. He’s slated to fly as Thunderbird No. 7, the team’s operations officer. His duties with the Air Force aerial demonstration team will include airspace coordination, ground communication with the pilots in the air and safety observation. Gorney will replace Lt. Col. Kevin Walsh, a 2002 Academy graduate. The other officers selected are...

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June 30, 2017

Former enlisted Airman takes command of 10th Air Base Wing

By Laurie Wilson/June 30, 2017 Col. Shawn Campbell took command of the 10th Air Base Wing, the support wing for the Air Force Academy, June 20. As commander, he’s responsible for the installation’s support services, including security, civil engineering, communications, logistics, finance, contracting, chaplaincy, lodging, medical, military and civilian personnel and force support programs, for more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel plus the school’s 4,000 cadets. He’s the caretaker of the Academy’s $3.5 billion infrastructure. Campbell arrived at the Academy with his wife Beth, daughter Taylor, 18, and son Carter, 15. “To command in such a unique situation is...

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