Week of May 31 – June 6

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of May 31st through June 6th --  This week, back in 1912 -- Second Lieutenant Henry “Hap” Arnold, namesake of the Cadet Area’s social center and exemplar for the Academy Class of ’12, establishes a new altitude record by piloting a Burgess-Wright airplane to a height of 6,540 feet.  …Also this week, back in 2016 -- The Class of ’16 graduates.  President Barack Obama was the graduation speaker.  It was the second consecutive Thursday graduation, the first two non-Wednesday graduations in Academy history.  The day change was made to avoid having major graduation activities on Memorial Day.  …And, this week back in 1986 -- The Barry M. Goldwater Visitor Center, dedicated on May 27, opens to the public.    …Finally, this...

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Week of May 24-30

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of May 24th through the 30th --  This week, back in 1918 -- President Woodrow Wilson signs an executive order making the Air Service its own branch of the United States Army.  The organization, which would eventually become the Air Force, had been known as the “Aviation Section, Signal Corps.”  …Also this week, back in 1954 -- The architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill submits its questionnaire indicating its desire to design and construct the air force academy.  Walter Netsch Jr., age 34, was the lead architect of the project.  …And, this week back in 1984 -- After delivering the commencement address in Falcon Stadium during the graduation ceremony for the Class of ’84, President Ronald Reagan presents the 1983 Commander-in-Chief’s...

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Week of May 17th – 23rd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of May 17th through the 23rd --  This week, back in 1957 -- Colonel Robert McDermott, the Dean of the Faculty, writes letters to the Classes of 1959 and 1960 explaining the new curriculum enrichment program, which included opportunities such as validation, overloads, and electives.  …Also this week, back in 1968 -- Charles Dolan III, pilot for the World War I flying group the Lafayette Escadrille, speaks at Arnold Hall.  At the time, he was one of four surviving pilots from the unit.  …And, this week back in 2009 -- First Lieutenant Roslyn Schulte, Class of ’06, is killed when an improvised explosive device detonates as she is travelling in a convoy from Camp Eggers, Kabul, to...

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Week of May 10th – 16th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of May 10th through the 16th --  This week, back in 1942 -- President Franklin Roosevelt orders the Air Medal to be established to award any person who, while serving in the armed forces after September 8, 1939, distinguishes or had distinguished him or herself by meritorious achievement in an aerial fight.  Since then, Academy graduates have earned hundreds of Air Medals.  …Also this week, back in 1963 -- The Air Force Academy Band and the Glee Club perform a show in Arnold Hall consisting of music from Walt Disney’s films.  The program included selections from Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Alice in Wonderland.  …And, this week back in 1997 -- Charles Precourt, Class of ’77, is the only...

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Week of May 3rd-9th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of May 3rd through the 9th --  This week, back in 1959 -- The ABC-TV human interest series “You Asked For It” devotes its entire 30-minute episode to the Academy, its traditions, the events leading to its birth, its past and its future.  Filming took two weeks.  …Also this week, back in 1967 -- The First Annual Military History Symposium at the Academy begins.  Retired Army Brigadier General S. L. A. Marshall, veteran of three wars, and Dr. Peter Paret, Professor of History at the University of California, spoke.  …And, this week back in 1978 -- Members of the undefeated 1958 football team hold a reunion at Falcon Stadium to commemorate the team’s 20th anniversary.  …Finally, this week...

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Week of April 26th through May 2nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of April 26th through May 2nd --  This week, back in 1974 -- The Academy radio station, KAFA, kicks off a charity marathon at 1630.  The fundraiser ran for two days and raised nearly $1,400 for a local high school girl who had been seriously injured in an automobile accident.  Events included a cadet versus Air Officers Commanding (AOC) basketball game.  …Also this week, back in 1992 -- Cadet Joe Wood, Class of ’92, becomes the fourth Academy football player drafted by a National Football League team when the Houston Oilers chose the place kicker in the twelfth round.  …And, this week back in 1999 -- The Superintendent, Lieutenant General Tad Oelstrom, Class of ’65, approves the...

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The Week of April 19th-25th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of April 19th through the 25th --  This week, back in 1942 -- One day after leading the B-25 raid on Tokyo, Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle is advanced two grades to Brigadier General.  He’s the namesake of the Association of Graduates’ headquarters building and exemplar for the Class of ’00.  …Also this week, back in 1969 -- The Academy skeet team wins top honors in the American portion, and second place in the International division of the First National Skeet and Trap Championships in Iowa City.  Glen Vickery, Class of ‘70, was the top cadet performer.  …And, this week back in 1994 -- The Cadet History Club presents General Charles Horner, Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Space Command, in Fairchild Hall.  He discussed the Persian...

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Wednesday, April 15th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, April 15th --  On this day, back in 1966 -- Vice President Hubert Humphrey speaks to the Cadet Wing in Mitchell Hall on the first day of his two-day visit to the Academy.  He also visited the Academy in January 1970.  …Also on this day, back in 2009 -- Captain Chesley Sullenberger, Class of ’73, is presented with the 2009 Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship during a Terrazzo Parade.  He was recognized for landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River on 15 January 2009.  He shared the 2009 Jabara Award with Captain Travis Burton, Class of ‘00. ...

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Tuesday, April 14th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, April 14th --  On this day, back in 1966 -- Lieutenant Colonel David Scott, Gemini 8 astronaut, visits the Academy.  In 1971, as spacecraft commander of Apollo 15, Colonel Scott became the seventh person to walk on the moon.  …Also on this day, back in 1994 -- The 16th Ira Eaker Distinguished Lecture on National Defense Policy takes place in the Arnold Hall Theater.  It featured a roundtable discussion of “Peacekeeping, Peacemaking, and Peace Enforcement.”  Retired General James McCarthy, Canadian Forces Retired General Ian Douglas, and Retired Army Colonel Harry Summers Jr. participated, with retired Ambassador Roger Harrison serving as moderator.  …for the latest video...

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Monday, April 13th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, April 13th --  On this day, back in 1983 -- Retired Admiral Bobby Inman speaks in Arnold Hall.  The visit by the former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Director of the National Security Agency was part of the Distinguished Speaker Program.  …Also on this day, back in 2019 -- San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, Class of ’70, passes Lenny Wilkins for most National Basketball Association wins all time (regular season and playoffs).  The Spurs won a playoff game in Denver by the score of 101-96 to give “Coach Pop” his 1,413th victory.  …for the business-focused social media side...

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