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 U.S. Air Force Academy’s top officer discussed modernization, improving the school’s communications and ridding its institution 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...

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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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March 20, 2017

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

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published March 17, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force celebrates its 70th birthday this year and the Air Force Academy has made many contributions to our service’s legacy and history of breaking barriers, and advancing technology and innovation.  Here are some very notable achievements that have occurred in Januaries of the past.  [smartslider3 slider=3] January Achievements Jan. 1, 1975 -- The first Cadet Wing sergeant major, Chief Master Sgt. Lawrence Garrett, is succeeded by Chief Master Sgt. Edwin Bell. Jan. 1, 1959 -- Falcon Football caps an undefeated...

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March 20, 2017

NCLS keynote speaker: ‘Good leaders save lives’

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published February 27, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Retired Army Col. Greg Gadson said he’s grateful to be alive. Gadson was the keynote speaker here at the annual National Character and Leadership Symposium, Feb. 23. “Good leaders save lives,” he said from his wheelchair on the Arnold Hall stage. Gadson lost his legs after his armored vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Baghdad in May 2007. He was returning from a memorial service for two soldiers in his brigade. “I remember being ejected,” he said. “I remember rolling...

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March 20, 2017

McDermott Library renovations give cadets’ more study space

By Maureen Welch, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published March 10, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadets have more study space now that an eight-month overhaul of McDermott Library is complete. Workers completed the third-floor facelift in February, retooling 40,000 square-feet to give cadets more space. The third floor is designed to encourage collaboration between cadets and can comfortably seat 300. Library renovations included individual study areas and improved Wi-Fi. “It’s a great new environment for study,” said Cadet 2nd Class Molly Phillips. “I think it will encourage cadets to utilize the resources in the...

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