June 18, 2025

Academy Military Trainers provide mentorship; discipline

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Kimberly Kouete, Cadet Squadron 38 Academy Military Trainer, poses for a photo with her cadet squadron on the Terrazzo before the Founders’ Day Parade at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., April 12, 2025. In her role as an AMT, Kouete shapes cadet leadership, discipline and officer development through mentorship. (Courtesy photo provided by Kimberly Kouete) By SSgt Michael Ward U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Academy Military Trainers, or AMTs, shape cadet development. These enlisted leaders provide real-world perspective, mentorship and leadership, often forming some of the most...

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June 9, 2025

Integrity first: 2nd Lt. Caleb Kavanaugh’s leadership path

Cadet 1st Class Caleb Kavanaugh, Class of 2025 president, speaks to graduates and audience members during the U.S. Air Force Academy’s 2025 graduation ceremony held at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 29, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith) By Randy Roughton U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - U.S. Air Force Academy military trainer Master Sgt. Nicholas Filip first met 2nd Lt. Caleb Kavanaugh when Kavanaugh joined Cadet Squadron 6 four years ago as a four-degree. Filip appraised the prior-enlisted cadet from that first meeting as “the boldest and most confident...

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June 6, 2025

Service Before Self: 2nd Lt. Billie Botes’ combats veteran homelessness

Marine veteran Carl Lewis salutes Cadet 1st Class Billie Botes at the Cadet Squadron 14 commissioning ceremony at Arnold Hall in the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., May 28, 2025. Botes met Lewis while volunteering at Marian House Kitchen and requested that he render her a first salute as an Air Force officer to honor his positive influence on her life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sonie Munson) By Sonie Munson U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Marine veteran Carl Lewis renders a first salute to then Cadet 1st Class Billie Botes, Class of...

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June 3, 2025

Graduation Breakdown: Class of 2025 stats

U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2025 graduates toss their hats skyward in Falcon Stadium May 29, 2025. Class of 2025 stats indicate 791 cadets were commissioned into the Air Force, and 93 were commissioned into the Space Force as second lieutenants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) By Harry Lundy U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - More than 900 cadets graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in a ceremony at Falcon Stadium May 29. In all, 791 Class of 2025 cadets were commissioned into the Air Force, and 93 were commissioned...

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June 2, 2025

Academy Dean retires after 29 years of service

Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre, U.S. Air Force Academy Dean of Faculty, gives a speech during her retirement ceremony at Fairchild Hall here, May 30, 2025. The blue and white pennant has been with Letendre since childhood and symbolized her goal of attending the Academy. Throughout her 29-year-career, Letendre found herself serving in multiple roles here such as the Assistant Professor of Law, Permanent Professor and Head of the Department of Law, and more recently as the Chair of the Social Sciences Division. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) By Tech. Sgt. Sahara Fales U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications...

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May 30, 2025

From Cadet-for-a-Day to Class of 2025 graduate

Then-Cadet 1st Class Mark Carnes, Class of 2025, is pictured in front of the F-15 Eagle on the U.S. Air Force Academy Terrazzo, May 12, 2025. Carnes will begin EURO-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) By Randy Roughton U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - At the age of 15, U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Mark Carnes visited the U.S. Air Force Academy and made a life-changing decision: to become a cadet and fulfill a childhood dream to fly fighter aircraft. Carnes’ ambition...

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May 30, 2025

SECAF gives commencement speech to USAFA Class of 2025

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink speaks to graduates and audience members during the U.S. Air Force Academy’s 2025 graduation ceremony held at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 29, 2025. During his first public speech as SECAF, Meink emphasized the importance of national security and the shift of focus to the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith) By Tech. Sgt. Sahara Fales U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Approximately 900 cadets, along with their friends and loved ones, listened as Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink addressed...

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May 29, 2025

Bluebards deliver with ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’ production

Members of the Bluebards Theatre Troupe rehearse “Legally Blonde: The Musical” at the Arnold Hall Theatre, U.S. Air Force Academy May 21, 2025. The musical marked the final production of the 2024–25 academic year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith) By Randy Roughton U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Cast members in the Bluebards’ production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” said their character and leadership training enhanced their preparation and performance on the stage. The musical, based on the 2001 Reese Witherspoon comedy, follows the story of Elle Woods as she works through...

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May 27, 2025

Class of 2026 Ring Dance celebration

Cadets pose outside Mitchell Hall during the Class of 2026 Ring Dance May 23, 2025. The dining-out is a longstanding tradition for second-degree cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ray Bahner) By Randy Roughton U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Cadets celebrated one of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s oldest traditions at the Class of 2026 Ring Dance May 23. During the event, the class received their rings, unveiled their class crest and transitioned into their final year of training. The class shared the night with family, friends...

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May 9, 2025

Space mindset: understanding the future battlefield

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Benjamin Roth briefs Cadet 1st Class Matthew Sharkey at the U.S. Air Force Academy Observatory, April 29, 2025. An education with a space mindset focus increases cadet understanding of space assets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) By Randy Roughton U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies created a program to develop a space mindset in cadets and infuse a more space-oriented perspective at the U.S. Air Force Academy. As an academy focused on the domains of air, space and cyber,...

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