Friday, August 29th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, August 29th-  On this day, back in 1997 — The Academy plays host to the retirement ceremony for General Ronald Fogleman, Class of ’63, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.  …Also on this day, back in 2016 — Scott Kirby, Class of ’89, is named president of United Airlines, effective immediately.  In the position, he was responsible for United’s operations, marketing, sales, alliances, network planning and revenue management.  Kirby had been the President of American Airlines since the 2013 merger of American and US Airways.  He had...

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Thursday, August 28th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, August 28th –   On this day, back in 1972 — Captain Steve Ritchie, Class of ’64, flies the mission for which he would receive the Air Force Cross.  Leading a strike force of F-4D “Phanton IIs”  to targets deep into North Vietnam, he recorded his fifth MiG-21 kill, making him the first Air Force Academy graduate pilot ace.  He was the Air Force’s only pilot ace of the Vietnam War.  In addition to the Air Force Cross, he received the 1972 Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship for his...

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Wednesday, August 27th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, August, 27th –  On this day, back in 1996 — Brigadier General Stephen Lorenz, Class of ’73, becomes the Commandant of Cadets.  General Lorenz would go on to lead the Air Education and Training Command and, after retirement from active duty, the USAFA Endowment and the Falcon Foundation.  …Also on this day, back in 2021 — Republic of Korea Air Force General Inho Park, ROKAF Chief of Staff, visits the Academy.  He toured laboratories and met with the three international students from South Korea.  …for recent photos of cadet...

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Tuesday, August 26th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, August 26th --  On this day, back in 1983 — The final reunion of the Lafayette Flying Corps of World War I begins at the Academy.  Three of the eight surviving members attended the three-day event.  In addition, five American aces from World War I attended.  Participants ranged in age from 86 to 94 years old.  …Also on this day, back in 2015— Captain Matthew Roland, Class of ’10, is one of two special tactics airmen killed when two individuals wearing Afghan National Defense and Security Forces uniforms open...

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Monday, August 25th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, August 25th --  On this day, back in 1958 — President Dwight Eisenhower signs a letter to Major General James Briggs, Academy Superintendent, sending “warm greetings” and “congratulations” as the Academy makes the move from Lowry Air Force Base to its permanent site in Colorado Springs.  Eisenhower wrote, “Over the years, as succeeding classes graduate, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs will be a continuing source of needed strength for our country.”  …Also on this day, back in 2009 — The Air Force Academy Facebook page is created....

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Weekend of August 23rd & 24th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the weekend of August 23rd & 24th   On this weekend, back in 1968 — Captain Harreld Martin, Class of ’62, is killed during a hostile rocket attack on Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.  His name appears on the Graduate War Memorial on the Academy Terrazzo.  …Also on this weekend, back in 2019 — Former Academy tennis player Second Lieutenant Isaac Perez, Class of ’19, is one of ten recipients of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s 2019 Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award.  The award was presented at the...

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Friday, August 22nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, August 22nd-  On this day, back in 1923 — At Wright Field, Ohio, Lieutenants Harold Harris and Muir Fairchild fly the XNBL-1 Barling Bomber, the Army’s first long-range night bomber, on its first flight.  Fairchild is the namesake of the Academy’s academic building.  …Also on this day, back in 2014 — The fifth telescope in the Academy’s Falcon Telescope Network is installed at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.  The PSU-Falcon was the first Academy telescope observatory in the eastern region of the United States.  The site was...

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Thursday, August 21st

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, August 21st –   On this day, back in 1961 — The first Air Force Academy Preparatory School students, known as cadet candidates, report for training.  The initial class consisted of 200 men, 76 of whom came from the regular Air Force. The school was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Lee Black.  …Also on this day, back in 2013 — Eli Bremer, Class of ‘00, competes in the modern pentathlon at the Beijing Olympics, finishing in 22nd place.  The event consisted of fencing, freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross...

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Wednesday, August 20th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, August, 20th –  On this day, back in 1988 — Cadet Jocelyn Taylor, Class of ’92, is recognized as the Civil Air Patrol Cadet of the Year at the organization’s national board meeting in Washington D.C.  …Also on this day, back in 2008 — The Minuteman III missile is removed from the area in front of the Cadet Field House.  The static display had stood at that location since December 1971.  The deterioration of the missile body and the presence of asbestos forced its removal and precluded its being...

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Tuesday, August 19th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, August 19th--  On this day, back in 1968 — Construction on the 25,000 square foot Academy Hospital addition begins.  The expansion would include outpatient clinics and auxiliary medical services.  Colonel Ralph Embrey, Academy Chief of Staff, turned the first shovel of dirt to signify the official groundbreaking, using the same shovel that had been used for the hospital’s original groundbreaking in 1959.  …Also on this day, back in 1994 — The two-day Cadet Commanders’ Leadership Enrichment Seminar begins at the Colorado Springs Embassy Suites hotel.  …for the latest video...

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