April 12, 2017

JCS Chairman Dunford to speak at USAFA graduation May 24

By U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs/Published April 12, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. is scheduled to give the Class of 2017 commencement speech, May 24 at the U.S. Air Force Academy. As chairman, Dunford is the highest-ranking military officer in the U.S. and principal military adviser to the president, secretary of defense and National Security Council. Before his Oct. 1, 2015 appointment as chairman, Dunford served as the 36th commandant of the Marine Corps. He was also assistant commandant of the Marine Corps from 2010 to 2012, and...

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April 5, 2017

‘Trusted care’: Academy pharmacy saves millions in tax dollars

By Laurie Wilson, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published April 5, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Saving the Defense Department more than $17 million in two years is no small feat, but the 10th Medical Group did just that by improving its processes. Lt. Col. Crystal Price, flight commander for the 10th Medical Support Squadron’s pharmacy, said the savings represent the quality of the pharmacy staff’s dedication to customer service. “It’s fantastic we’ve been able to recoup and save this money, but that result has been the frosting on the cake,” she said. “At the end...

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April 5, 2017

A life less ordinary: Former cadet, Rhodes scholar pushes the limits

By Tech. Sgt. Jarad Denton, 501st Combat Support Wing / Published April 05, 2017 RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom -- The oar blades cut through the cold water of the River Thames as the eight-person team drove their boat in perfect synchronization at the Oxford University Boat House, UK. There was no room for error and time was running out. The Oxford University Women's Boat Club would challenge the University of Cambridge April 2 at the Cancer Research UK Boat Races. The pressure was mounting, but the team held fast and stayed motivated. “Out there on the water it’s all about...

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April 3, 2017

Wings of Blue to jump into Texas Rangers’ home opener, April 3

By John Van Winkle, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs, Published April 03, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Wings of Blue, the Air Force Academy’s parachute team, will help the Texas Rangers kick off their Major League Baseball season with a jump into the team’s home opener, April 3 at Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas. The WOB will take part in the pre-game ceremonies before the Rangers compete against compete against the Cleveland Indians. Five Academy parachutists are scheduled to jump: Maj. Chase Scully, Master Sgt. James Cain, and Cadets 1st Class Gabriel Dawson, Everett Joiner and Jordan...

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March 28, 2017

Cadets build homes during spring break

Then-Cadet 2nd Class Leah Gates (left) and then-Cadet 4th Class Luke Robinson shovel dirt into a wheelbarrow in Corpus Christi, Texas, March 22, 2016, during an Alternate Spring Break Program volunteer effort with Habitat for Humanity. (Air Force photo/John Van Winkle)   By Maureen Welch, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs /Published March 27, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Scores of cadets are building and repairing homes today across the U.S. The 110 cadet-volunteers taking part in the Alternate Spring Break Program here will return April 2 from working in Lafayette and Mandeville, Louisianna; Eglin, Illinois; Fort Smith,...

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March 23, 2017

Academy hosts State of USAFA address

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published March 23, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy’s top officer discussed modernization, improving the school’s communications and ridding its campus of sexual assault, March 22 at the State of USAFA Forum. The forum is an annual update on the school’s state of affairs for civic officials, the media, and the industry partners. Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson also announced the name of the officer selected to be the next commandant of cadets, Col. Kristin Goodwin. Goodwin, a 1993 Academy graduate, was nominated by the...

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March 23, 2017

4-year restoration project on Cadet Chapel to start in 2018

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published March 23, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Major restorations on the Cadet Chapel are slated to begin in the summer of 2018. The project includes fixing the leaks that have plagued the structure since it opened in 1963. “Renovations are necessary because the structure is nearly 53 years old and has leaked consistently since it was constructed,” said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson. “The repairs are essential to preserve this National Historic Landmark for future generations.” Along with fixing the leaks, workers will replace the...

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March 20, 2017

Cyber Command’s top officer speaks at Academy Assembly: Speed, agility needed in cyber realm, says Adm Rogers

By John Van Winkle, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published March 20, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The commander of U.S. Cyber Command gave cadets and faculty here an inside look into the cyber-warfare world during his March 15, 2017 visit to the 58th Academy Assembly. Convened annually since 1959, the assembly is an undergraduate-led conference held by the U.S. Air Force Academy and organized by its Political Science Department. Cadets and faculty organize and take part in a three-day discussion focusing on a major theme in American foreign policy. This year's theme was "Inside...

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March 20, 2017

Wounded Warrior ‘DT’ returns to the skies, parachutes into new job

By John Van Winkle, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published February 28, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- An Air Force wounded warrior returned to the skies Feb. 18 with his first parachute jump in 11 years. Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr., the Air Force’s only 100-percent-disabled wounded warrior on active duty, added to his list of achievements by taking his 131st parachute jump with cadets and staff at the 98th Flying Training Squadron. Del Toro, widely known as “DT”, took the squadron’s basic and advanced freefall parachuting with Air Force Academy cadets. He’s a...

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March 20, 2017

A ‘Falcon Proud’ family

By Laurie Wilson, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published March 15, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Three Air Force Academy employees say supporting cadets isn’t just their job, it’s their way of life. Carey Bonnin, wife Bonnie Bonnin, and their daughter, Kim Williams, spend their work time supporting the Academy’s mission of developing leaders of character, and their time-off supporting cadets and showing their Falcon pride. U.S. Air Force Academy supporters Bonnie Bonnin (left), her granddaughter Kayla (middle), and daughter Kim Williams, were featured on a 2014 Falcons basketball season billboard on Interstate 25 near...

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