Week of 19-25 July

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of Jul 19th through the 25th --  This week, back in 1939 -- Lieutenant Colonel Dwight Eisenhower, while serving as a military aide to the Philippine Commonwealth Government, writes in his diary “So now I’m a licensed pilot.  While I’ll never be good and after going to the States perhaps I’ll never get a chance to handle a stick -- still I’ve realized one ambition.”  Later, as President, he would sign the legislation that established the Air Force Academy, of which he was a strong supporter.     …Also this week, back in 1971 -- Chemistry Professors Lieutenant Colonel Lowell King and Major David Seegmiller are awarded a 1970 Air Force Research...

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Week of 12-18 July

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of Jul 12th through the 18th --  This week, back in 1960 -- Colonel George Simler concludes his three-year term as the Academy’s second Director of Athletics.  Colonel Simler later conceived the idea of an annual competition between the Air Force, Army and Navy football teams, with the winner earning the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.  …Also this week, back in 1990 -- The Academy, in cooperation with the National Science Foundation, begins hosting an event focused on improving undergraduate physics instruction.  It was titled “Transforming Physics Content Using New Technologies: A Leadership Workshop.”  …And, this week back in 2001 -- Beginning the third of his five space missions, Steven Lindsey, Class of ’82, serves as commander of mission...

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Week of 5-11 July

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of Jul 5th through the 11th --  This week, back in 1961 -- Lieutenant General Mike Lee, Commander, Air Defense Command, presents the Academy with a Bomarc missile during a ceremony at the Visitor Center near the South Gate where it was put on display.  …Also this week, back in 1989 -- President George H. W. Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, to Retired Air Force General James Doolittle during a White House ceremony. General Doolittle, the namesake of the Academy Association of Graduates’ headquarters building and exemplar for the Class of ’00, was the only person to have received both the military Medal...

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Week of June 28 – July 4

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of June 28th through July 4th --  This week, back in 1965 -- For the first time, three members of the same family are enrolled at the Academy during the same time: Cadet Don Hallenbeck, Class of ’66, and his brothers Ted, Class of ’68, and Ralph, Class of ’69. Their father, Colonel Ralph Hallenbeck, was the Academy’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Base Commander.  …Also this week, back in 1987 -- The Class of ’91, consisting of 1,362 appointees, reports to the Academy for in-processing.  …And, this week back in 1996 -- After receiving waivers for several years that allowed Academy women’s teams to compete at the NCAA Division II level, the programs are...

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Wednesday, June 24 – I-Day for the Class of 2030

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday June 24th – In-processing Day for the Class of 2030  This day, back in 1963 -- The Class of ’67, with 866 appointees, reports to the Academy for in-processing.  …Also this day, back in 1968 -- The Class of ’72, consisting of 1,252 members, reports to the Academy for in-processing.  …And, this day back in 2010 -- The Class of ’14, with 1,294 members, reports to the Academy for in-processing.  …Finally, on this day back in 2021 -- The Class of ’25 reports to the Academy for in-processing.  The class consisted of 1,113 members, to include 55 sons and 34 daughters of service academy graduates.   …for our...

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Week of June 21-27

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of June 21st through the 27th --  This week, back in 1960 -- The Academy’s first Postmaster, Joe Snepenger, is confirmed by the Senate.  He had been the acting Postmaster since the office opened in June 1958.  …Also this week, back in 1973 – Retired General Jimmy Doolittle, leader of the April 18, 1942 Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, visits the Academy.  The Association of Graduates’ headquarters building is named in his honor, and he is the Class of 2000’s exemplar.  …And, this week back in 1997 -- Cadet Sean Gibson, Class of ’98, receives the Congressional Award during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.  The award recognized youths for achievements in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition and exploration.  …Finally, this week...

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Week of June 14-20

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of June 14th through the 20th --  This week, back in 1961 -- The Superintendent, Major General William Stone, transfers the Department of Navigation from the Commandant of Cadets to the Dean of the Faculty, effective on this day.  He had previously established an academic division, Military Affairs, under the Dean.  …Also this week, back in 1979 -- The active duty service commitment for Undergraduate Pilot Training graduates changes from five years to six years.  …And, this week back in 1997 -- The Academy Superintendent, Lieutenant General Paul Stein, Class of ’66, receives the 1997 All-American Football Foundation’s Outstanding College President’s Award at the foundation’s banquet.  …Finally, this week back in 2014 -- Members of the Class of ’59 visit the Academy as...

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Week of Jun 7-13

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Week of June 7th through the 13th --  This week, back in 1967 -- The Class of ’67 graduates.  Under Secretary of the Air Force Norman Paul spoke and presented diplomas.  The Class had 524 graduates.  …Also this week, back in 1955 -- A meeting takes place in Chicago between representatives of the Academy’s architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and engineering consultants Syska and Hennessey regarding street lighting, electric power distribution and a central heating system.  …And, this week back in 2004 -- Cadet Dana Pounds, Class of ’06, becomes the Academy’s first female Division I All-American.  Pounds, a javelin thrower, would go on to win two national titles at the NCAA Championships and one at the USA...

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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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