October 28, 2016

Academy’s Command Chief Gets Ready for ‘New Adventure’

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Chief Master Sgt. Max Grindstaff, the command chief at the U.S. Air Force Academy, capped-off his 30 year Air Force career with a friendly invite to the family and friends attending his retirement ceremony, Oct. 27 in Polaris Hall. “We’ll take some selfies and we’ll eat some cake … Tomorrow is a new adventure,” he said. Grindstaff told the crowd he’s ready for “new adventures,” but seemed a bit surprised to be attending his own retirement ceremony. “I’m just not prepared,” he said. Grindstaff is...

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October 6, 2016

Academy Grads Swim English Channel

By Tech. Sgt. Brian Kimball, Defense Media Activity-Forward Center Europe DOVER, England (AFNS) --  After training for nearly two years, two Air Force Academy grads swam the English Channel Sept. 27 and Oct. 3, from Dover, England to the western coastline of France. Majs. Simon Ritchie and Casey Bowen, dermatologists at the 59th Medical Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, said they viewed the challenging swim as the culminating point for swimmers across the globe. “This is the pinnacle event in swimming,” said Bowen, a 2004 Academy graduate. “It’s been a long-term goal and just a personal challenge I...

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August 6, 2020

Honoring a Fallen Teammate

By Nicole Cox, USAFA Graduate Liaison Members of the United States Air Force Academy's Flying Team gathered last weekend to remember First Lieutenant Kenneth “KAGE” Allen. A memorial shadow box, paid for by members of the Class of 2017 will be displayed at the 557th Flying Training Squadron. The box includes Kage’s Flying Team patch, retired by the Flying Team members who gathered to remember him. The Flying Team Parents Club also paid for and presented versions of the box to Kage’s parents and his wife, Hanna. Each of the displays show the T-51 and T-41 from his time with...

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August 21, 2023

‘First Falcons’ continue connection with current cadets

Retired Lt. Col. Curtis Cook, a U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959 graduate, talks to Class of 2027 cadets on the Challenge Bridge at Doolittle Hall Aug. 1, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Pacheco)  By Randy Roughton U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.- Each year, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s first graduates meet the newest class of cadets at the Challenge Bridge. The Academy’s “First Falcons,” as retired Col. Max Miller and retired Lt. Col. Don Brooks call themselves and their classmates, funded the bridge at Doolittle Hall on the Heritage Trail...

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