Tuesday, June 10th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, June 10th-  On this day, back in 2013 --  Colonel Stacey Hawkins, Class of ’91, assumes command of the 10th Air Base Wing at the Academy during a ceremony presided over by the Superintendent, Lieutenant General Michael Gould, Class of ’76.  Colonel Hawkins succeeded Colonel Tim Gibson.  …Also on this day, back in 2021 - Second Lieutenant Maria Mettler, Class of ’21, places third in the 10,000-meter run at the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.  She posted a time of 32 minutes,...

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Monday, June 9th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, June 9th -   On this day, back in 1965 -- The Class of ’65 graduates in Falcon Stadium.  Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General John McConnell, presented diplomas to 517 graduates. To view highlights from our recent Academy graduation, visit our YouTube channel @ USAFAOfficial.  …Also on this day, back in 2006 - Ten days after graduating, Second Lieutenant Dana Pounds, Class of ’06, defends her national javelin title at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California.  She became the Academy’s first back-to-back champion...

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Weekend of June 7th and 8th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Weekend of June 7th and 8th -  On this day, back in 1972 -- Major Michael Blaisdell, Class of ’62, becomes the first Academy graduate to fly right wing for the Thunderbirds (U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron).  His first performance took place at the Academy during the Class of ’72’s graduation ceremony.  …Also this weekend back in 2021 -- First Lieutenant Griffin Jax, Class of ’17, becomes the first Academy graduate to play major league baseball when he enters a game against the New York Yankees.  The Minnesota Twins’...

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Thursday, June 5

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, June 5th  On this day, back in 1967 -- Captain Douglas Butterfield, Class of ‘63, is killed when his O-1G "Bird Dog" aircraft is struck by ground fire and crashes during a visual reconnaissance mission in South Vietnam.  His name appears on the Graduate War Memorial on the Academy Terrazzo.  …Also on this day, back in 2012 -- The 306th Flying Training Group realigns under the 12th Flying Training Wing.  The change was made due to the scheduled inactivation of the 19th Flying Training Wing.  The unit remained under...

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Wednesday, June 4th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, June, 4th-  On this day, back in 1979  --  The first Cadet Professional Ethics Committee Summer Workshop begins.  The primary purpose of the 75 hours of training was to better prepare the Committee representatives for their administrative and instructional roles.  Among the areas of discussion was the increased emphasis on the positive spirit of ethics over the negative discussions of legal aspects of the Honor Code.  …Also on this day, back in 2020 -- The Academy Board approves the creation of a new academic major, Data Sciences.  The interdisciplinary major...

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Tuesday, June 3rd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, June 3rd-  On this day, back in 1959  --  The Class of ’59, the Academy’s first class, graduates.  The ceremony was held in Arnold Hall, and it remains the only indoor graduation in Academy history.  Secretary of the Air Force James Douglas and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Thomas D. White, officiated.  The 207 graduates began the “Long Blue Line.”  …Also on this day, back in 1997 -- The new cadet medical clinic opens in the Consolidated Education and Training Facility after a three-day move...

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Monday, June 2nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, June 2nd-  On this day, back in 1969 -- First Lieutenant James Gilmore Jr. And First Lieutenant Kennard Svanoe, both class of ‘67, are killed during separate missions over South Vietnam when their O-2A “Skymaster” aircraft are struck by ground fire. Their names appear on the Graduate War Memorial on the Academy Terrazzo.  …Also on this day, back in 2017 -- The Captain Lance P. Sijan Memorial is dedicated during ceremonies at the south end of Mitchell Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Captain Sijan, Class of ’65, died while a...

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Weekend of May 31st and June 1st

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Weekend of May 31st-  On this day, back in 1968 -- Peggy Fleming, Olympic gold medal winner, skates at the dedication of the Cadet Ice Rink in the Academy’s new Field House.  The Cadet Wing Commander, Cadet Carl McPherson, Class of ’68, presented Ms. Fleming with a sabre following her performance.  …Also this weekend, back in 1955 -- The Academy architects, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, present the master plan for the Academy site.  The plan included the Pine and Douglass Valley housing areas with the community center between them. ...

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Friday, May 30th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, May 30th-  On this day, back in 1959 -- The Thunderbirds (U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron) makes its first flight at the Academy campus in Colorado Springs.  The show was part of Graduation Week festivities for the Academy’s first graduation, which would take place on June 3rd 1959.  …Also on this day, back in 2002  --  Academy football coach Fisher DeBerry is inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.  DeBerry, coached the Air Force football team for 23 seasons, from 1984 to 2006, leading them to...

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Thursday, May 29th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, May 29th-  On this day, back in 1958  --  The first Ring Dinner and Ring Dance are held.  They were among many traditions adopted from West Point and Annapolis.  …Also on this day, back in 2014  --  The fourth telescope in the Academy’s Falcon Telescope Network is installed in Australia.  The Canberra-Falcon Telescope was the second Academy telescope observatory in the Southern Hemisphere and the first in Australia.  The site was developed in collaboration with the University of New South Wales, Canberra, and Electro Optics Systems.    …for recent...

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