November 15, 2022

Class of 2023 unveils official painting

The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2023 official painting contains six elements that represent life as an academy cadet. The painting was created by Colorado artist Steve Weed after he won a public call for artists. (Courtesy photo) U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. Air Force Academy cadets unveiled the Class of 2023 official painting during a ceremony in Fairchild Hall, Nov. 8, 2022. The “Piece” The piece, painted by local artist Steve Weed, features six elements that represent the Academy. The focal point of the painting is a graduating cadet holding the Falcon mascot, Nova. The secondary...

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August 7, 2023

The Breakdown: Class of 2027 Stats

Class of 2027 basic cadets battle through the Obstacle Course during Basic Cadet Training at Jacks Valley July 24, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) By Randy Roughton  U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications    U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - More than 1,130 cadet appointees arrived for U.S. Air Force Academy In-processing Day June 28, 2023. The training concluded Aug. 4 and the basic cadets will enter the Cadet Wing during the Acceptance Day Parade Aug. 9. The breakdown This information is based on data from the Academy’s Operations and Analysis Directorate, released Aug. 3. — In...

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July 20, 2022

Academy illuminates impact of interstellar mission

The general public are given an opportunity to learn about space exploration at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado July 18, 2022. The academy planetarium hosts a variety of educational experiences for the public as well as cadets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachelle Stoll) Story by Staff Sgt Seth Stang U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Through cutting-edge facilities and educational experiences leaders at the Academy seek to engage and inspire future space explorers. Future Guardians, Airmen and faculty, along with members of the general public, have a variety of resources and opportunities to learn about...

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March 2, 2020

United States Air Force Academy Coronavirus Updates

Throughout the pandemic, the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) has not wavered on its mission to educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers and leaders of character. As one of the first and only universities in the nation to have its entire student body return to campus, our cadets, faculty and staff have shared the responsibility of keeping our community healthy and safe. We remain committed to an in-person academic and extracurricular experience for Spring 2022. We are slowly reopening the installation services, activities and workplaces, including welcoming back the general public to visit. You may...

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April 30, 2021

Cadets study Americanness through new interdisciplinary minor

By Ashley D. Murphy, Strategic Communications U.S. Air Force Academy — Cadets can now dive deeper into understanding the country they are preparing to serve and defend. American Studies has been added to the list of minors available to cadets; making the U.S. Air Force Academy the first and only service academy to offer such a minor. “It is always important for future officer-citizens in a democratic country to know and grapple with the complex truths about their nation. But given everything that is happening in our country, it is hard to imagine a more pressing time for such a...

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December 22, 2021

Air Force Academy grad embraces new NASA role, future of spaceflight

Kelvin Manning was named deputy director at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center after serving as the Florida spaceport’s associate director for more than a decade. (NASA photo/Kim Shifle) Story by Jim Cawley, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center public Affairs   KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Kelvin Manning has served in several critical roles in his nearly 30 years at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. He was the Florida spaceport’s associate director for more than a decade. He also held multiple key positions within the Space Shuttle Program, was the first division chief for the agency’s Orion spacecraft, and served on the last three NASA...

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February 8, 2022

Want to fly without being a pilot? Here’s how.

1st Lt. Abraham Eaton goes inverted on a T-38 test flight. Photo courtesy 1st Lt. Abraham Eaton. By Rachelle Stoll, Strategic Communications. Did you know the Air Force Academy is a pipeline for the Air Force Test Pilot School? The process has been recently been optimized and two former cadets share their experiences with TPS and tell us how the Academy prepared them for success. 1st Lt. Abraham Eaton recalls getting motion sickness on playground swings as a young child, but that never kept him from wanting to fly. Once he became a cadet at the Air Force Academy, he found...

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March 1, 2022

Wing Open Boxing Championships: Your questions answered

Cadet Don Angelo Piasecki lands a punch onto Cadet Will Winstead in the 132-pound men’s weight class during the 2021 Wing Open Boxing Championships. By Rachelle Stoll, Strategic Communications Cadets and boxing fans are convening under the bright lights of Clune Arena for the 64th annual Wing Open Boxing Championships on March 4, 2022 at 7 p.m. This year’s competition will be open to the public. Below is a run-down on this storied championship and your guide to boxing at the U.S. Air Force Academy. 1. What is the Wing Open? Since 1958, cadets from all forty squadrons have been...

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March 12, 2022

Sully returns with lessons for cadets

From left to right: Cadet Keane Singleton, Cadet Maria Norman, Ambassador Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, Cadet Connor Portlock, and Cadet Garrett Dean. Sullenberger receives a soaring instructor patch from the 94th Flying Training Squadron (FTS) in the Davis Airfield hangar at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. By Rachelle Stoll, Strategic Communications Photos by Joshua Armstrong. Ambassador Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger returned to the United States Air Force Academy’s Davis Airfield, Feb. 25, 2022, to connect with four aviation program cadet leaders while answering their questions about his time at the Academy. A 1973 Academy graduate and...

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March 7, 2022

Five life and innovation hacks from a cadet inventor

By Rachelle Stoll, Strategic Communications Photos by Josh Armstrong Cadet Schlichting stands in front of the United States Air Force Academy’s aeronautics laboratory. Cadet First Class Grant Schlichting, a senior at the United States Air Force Academy, holds a patent-pending for a device that will change how we fight the wars to come. Schlichting is the creator of the Aerial Tow Rehookup (ATR), an invention with a provisional patent under the US Patent and Trademark Office. The ATR involves the utilization of a military cargo plane to tow multiple aircraft at any given time, from the smallest of unmanned drones...

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