October 25, 2017

Academy cadet takes flight with falconry program

By Senior Airman Clayton Cupit / Oct. 25, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The falcon lunges by at speeds up to 250 miles per hour, pursuing the bait and nearly missing the senior cadet, as the massive crowd roars in excitement. A tradition that has been held since the beginning of the Air Force Academy in 1955, falcons are launched from the skies to impress the audiences of sporting events for years. Cadet 3rd Class James Barney never saw himself as a falconer until a simple email crossed his inbox about a unique Academy program. “I didn’t want...

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October 23, 2017

Astronaut shares space experience with cadets

By Ray Bowden, Oct. 23, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- How great is the view of Earth from space? In the words of one astronaut Oct. 20, “Absolutely spectacular.” “It’s a vibrant blue and white globe sitting in inky blackness,” said Kjell Lindgren, a 1995 graduate of the Air Force Academy with 141 days in space under his belt. Lindgren spent six months on the International Space Station with his ISS program partners completing dozens of scientific experiments in low-flight orbit. He said the highlight of his time in space was also his most challenging: stepping outside the ship...

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October 20, 2017

U.S. Air Force Academy combines USAFA Assembly, International Week

By Ray Bowden, Oct. 20, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Geopolitics was the hot topic this week when the Air Force Academy combined two high-level annual events. Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria said the U.S. Air Force Academy Assembly and International Week were combined to benefit cadets. “This is the first time we’ve brought all this together,” Silveria said to cadets, guest speakers and faculty, Oct. 18 in Exemplar Hall. “The combination allows for beneficial synergistic effects.” One effect, Silveria said, is that officers from other countries attending International Week can take part in Assembly discussions. “It’s a...

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October 18, 2017

Roadrunners on ‘Cloud 9’ after Commandant’s Challenge win

By Maureen Welch, Oct. 18, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadet Squadron 32’s “Roadrunners” beat-out the competition to win the annual Commandant’s Challenge this month. The annual competition took place Oct. 12-14, pitting the 40 squadrons against each other. “The Roadrunners are on ‘Cloud 9” after their win,” said Master Sgt. John Phillips, an academy military trainer at the squadron. “They took the top spot with points to spare.” Senior cadet and “Roadrunner” Michelle Ingle, said CS-32 was unified in its desire to take first place. “We knew we had to be on the same page to get things...

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October 16, 2017

Don’t be fooled: It’s time for winter safety

This year's snow routes at the U.S. Air Force Academy are shown here. (10th Civil Engineering Squadron graphic) By John Sutherland, Oct. 20, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Last year, more than 58 inches of snow fell on the Air Force Academy. We all need to be ready for winter as the Front Range weather can change quickly. The most important element of safe winter driving is adjusting our driving habits to match the weather and road conditions. The No. 1 safety tip is to reduce your speed by at least 10 mph when road conditions are hazardous...

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October 16, 2017

10th ABW commander says respect, continual improvement are top priorities

Col. Shawn Campbell, 10th Air Base Wing commander. (U.S. Air Force photo) By Ray Bowden, Oct. 16, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The 10th Air Base Wing’s top officer said performance improvement, installation security and respect for others rank high on his agenda Oct. 12. Col. Shawn Campbell said the wing will remain a place of dignity and respect, and any report of disrespect for Airmen and civilians will be fully investigated. “It matters not if it comes from a military member, a civilian or a contractor,” he said. Campbell had this and more to say to the Airmen...

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October 13, 2017

Conference could have ‘huge ramifications’ for space, experts say

By 2nd Lt. Kyle Senn, Oct. 13, 2017 Experts from around the world met at the Air Force Academy Oct. 9-13 to discuss prospective rules in space. Gen. John Raymond, commander of Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, was a keynote speaker at the MILAMOS Conference, where the group discussed the creation of a “Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space.” The MILAMOS will help regulate conduct in space and help international leaders categorize behavior, said Raymond, the event’s keynote speaker. “In this congested, contested and competitive space environment, where intent can be...

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October 13, 2017

Class of 2020 unveils ‘exemplar’

U.S. Air Force test pilot and flying pioneer 1st. Lt. Robert Hoover (bottom center), poses for a group shot with other U.S. test pilots. He's the Class of 2020's exemplar at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (Courtesy photo)  By Maureen Welch, Oct. 13, 2017 Sophomore cadets honored their class’ ideal Airman Oct. 4 at the Exemplar Dinner. Cadets in the Class of 2020 selected 1st Lt. Robert Hoover, a former Army Air Corps, Air Force and civilian test pilot, to be their exemplar. Hoover, of Nashville, Tennessee, was taken captive by the Germans after being shot down by the Luftwaffe...

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October 12, 2017

This is why the Air Force Academy is leading the way in space

By Mark Kuykendall / Oct. 12, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLO – The United States Air Force Academy is developing leaders who will operate at the cutting edge of warfare technology, and who are prepared for a modern battlefield where space is a critical warfighting domain. Here are five numbers that show how the Academy is leading the way in space, and into an increasingly complex future of innovation and discovery: 2: Number of Academy cadets named Rhodes Scholars after completing the FalconSAT senior capstone engineering program. “The FalconSAT experience is invaluable to the development of future Air Force leaders,”...

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October 10, 2017

FalconSAT builds future space leaders

By Col. Martin France, Astronautics Department head, Oct. 10, 2017 “Learning space by doing space” is the motto of the Air Force Academy’s unique FalconSAT senior capstone engineering program, a program unlike any other undergraduate space program in the world. Each year Astro Department faculty, aided by experts from other departments, NCOs, technicians and contractors, provide cadets with the real hands-on experience of designing, building, testing, and launching and operating satellites for the Air Force. FalconSAT’s roots trace back to the early 1980s when the first cadet experiments were designed for space shuttle missions. These later morphed into balloon-launched testbeds...

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