Wednesday, March 4th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, March 4th --  On this day, back in 1976 -- Captain Lance Sijan, Class of ’65, posthumously becomes the first graduate to be awarded the Medal of Honor.  President Gerald Ford presented the award to Captain Sijan’s parents at a White House ceremony.  On January 22, 1968, then-First Lieutenant Sijan died while in captivity in North Vietnam.  He had been reported missing in action after he ejected from his disabled F-4C "Phantom II" aircraft on November 9, 1967 during a night bombing mission near Vinh, North Vietnam.  …Also on this day, back in 1998 -- The fifth National Character and Leadership Symposium begins at...

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Tuesday, March 3rd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, March 3rd --  On this day, back in 1984 -- The Allied Arts Society and the Cadet Welfare Fund present all-female jazz quartet Jasmine in the Arnold Hall Ballroom.  The appearance was part of the “Catch a Rising Star” Series.  …Also on this day, back in 2021 -- The Association of Graduates’ Checkpoints magazine reaches its fiftieth anniversary.  Initially called the Association of Graduates Magazine, the first edition of the quarterly magazine was published and labelled “Winter 1971.”  With the Summer 1979 issue, the magazine was renamed Checkpoints.  …for the latest video for cadets, by cadets, follow us on YouTube @ USAFAOfficial. 

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Monday, March 2nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, March 2nd --  On this day, back in 1991 -- Comedian and talk show host Jay Leno performs in the Arnold Hall Theater as part of the Class of ‘91’s 100s night festivities.  …Also on this day, back in 2019 -- The grand re-opening of the Planetarium takes place.  The facility had been closed since 2004.  It was opened to the public two days later.  The renovation project was funded and managed by the USAFA Endowment.  …for the business-focused social media side of the Academy, follow us on Linkedin @ US-Air-Force-Academy 

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Weekend of February 28th and March 1st

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Weekend of February 28th and March 1st --  On this day, back in 1955 -- Officials meet in Washington D.C. to discuss the possible use of a nuclear reactor for heat and/or power for the Academy.  Representatives of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Air Force Academy Construction Agency, and engineering consultants Syska and Hennessey participated.  …Also this weekend, back in 2004 -- The Air Force men’s basketball team defeats San Diego State 61-49 in Clune Arena to win its first Mountain West Conference title (and its first conference championship in any league).  …all content for the Academy History Update is provided by Retired Lt Col Steve Simon, USAFA Class of ’77. For more heritage information, visit...

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Friday, February 27th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, February 27th --   On this day, back in 1953 -- Reaching the mandatory period of thirty-eight years of service, Lieutenant General Hubert Harmon retires.  The next day, he was recalled to active duty.  On June 30, he once more reverted to retired status, only to be recalled again on November 8, at the personal request of President Dwight Eisenhower. General Harmon served as the Academy’s first superintendent.  …Also on this day, back in 2014 -- Mike Farrell, social activist and actor in the popular television series M*A*S*H, speaks at the 21st Annual National Character and Leadership Symposium.  … For more information about what’s coming up and what’s going down at the Academy, listen to our cadet radio station...

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Thursday, February 26th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, February 26th --   On this day, back in 2003 -- The tenth National Character and Leadership Symposium begins at the Academy.  The topic of the event was “Moral Courage and Servant Leadership in Modern Times.”    …Also on this day, back in 2015 -- President Barack Obama nominates General Robin Rand, Class of ’79, to be the first four-star commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.  The position had been a three-star billet since Global Strike Command was created in 2009.  …for a behind-the-scenes look at cadet life, follow us on Instagram at AF_Academy! 

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Wednesday, February 25th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, February 25th --  On this day, back in 1978 -- The Class of ‘78’s 100th Night Dining-In takes place in Mitchell Hall.  Apollo 16 astronaut and retired Air Force Brigadier General Charles Duke Jr. was the guest speaker.  …Also on this day, back in 2022 -- During the National Character and Leadership Symposium, Chesley Sullenberger, Class of ’73, presents the inaugural Sullenberger Award for Courage.  The recipient of the Association of Graduates-sponsored award was Lieutenant Colonel Alex Pelbath, Class of ’01.  As Director of C-17 Operations at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, he helped lead the successful evacuation of an estimated...

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Tuesday, February 24th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, February 24th --  On this day, back in 1969 -- Airman First Class John Levitow, an AC-47 “Spooky” loadmaster, performs the actions for which he would receive the Medal of Honor.  During a night mission in support of Long Binh Army post, Republic of Vietnam, his aircraft was struck by a mortar round.  The explosion ripped a hole through the wing and fragments made more than 3,500 holes in the fuselage.  All cargo compartment occupants were wounded.  The explosion tore an activated flare from the grasp of a crewmember who had been launching flares to provide illumination for Army...

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Monday, February 23rd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, February 23rd --  On this day, back in 1968 -- Colonel Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. is the guest speaker at the Class of ‘68’s 100th Night Dining-In at the Officers’ Open Mess.  In 1975, he would become the U.S. armed forces’ first African American four-star general.  …Also on this day, back in 2017 -- The twenty-fourth National Character and Leadership Symposium begins at the Academy.  The theme was “Warrior Ethos and the American Airman.”  …for the business-focused social media side of the Academy, follow us on Linkedin @ US-Air-Force-Academy 

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Weekend of February 21st and 22nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Weekend of February 21st and 22nd --  On this day, back in 1991 – Pentagon officials announce that the National Defense Service Medal may be worn by all members of the Armed Forces who were on active duty after August 2, 1990.  Cadets were included in this designation.  …Also this weekend, back in 2023 -- The 30th Annual National Character and Leadership Symposium begins at the Academy.  The theme was “Reimagine Leadership.  Inspire Teamwork.”  …all content for the Academy History Update is provided by Retired Lt Col Steve Simon, USAFA Class of ’77. For more heritage information, visit the Association of Graduates website at USAFA.Org  

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