October 13, 2017

Class of 2020 unveils ‘exemplar’

U.S. Air Force test pilot and flying pioneer 1st. Lt. Robert Hoover (bottom center), poses for a group shot with other U.S. test pilots. He's the Class of 2020's exemplar at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (Courtesy photo)  By Maureen Welch, Oct. 13, 2017 Sophomore cadets honored their class’ ideal Airman Oct. 4 at the Exemplar Dinner. Cadets in the Class of 2020 selected 1st Lt. Robert Hoover, a former Army Air Corps, Air Force and civilian test pilot, to be their exemplar. Hoover, of Nashville, Tennessee, was taken captive by the Germans after being shot down by the Luftwaffe...

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August 19, 2020

Academy cadets unveil class of 2023 exemplar

Col. Leo Thorsness By Ray Bowden, Aug. 19, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The exemplar for the sophomore cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy is a pilot, prisoner of war and Medal of Honor recipient. Each year, cadets vote-in their class’s exemplar, or role model. Previous exemplars include Gen. Carl Spaatz, Lt. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, Brig. Gen. William Mitchell and Capt. Lance Sijan. “The exemplar program is important because it gives each Academy class someone who represents the values and character traits they want to internalize and live by,” said Cadet 3rd Class Joshua Scahill, head of the...

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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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September 19, 2023

Class of 2026 makes history with first enlisted Exemplar

Photos and memorabilia from Master Sgt. John Chapman are displayed at the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2026 Exemplar Dining-In at Mitchell Hall Sept. 14, 2023. Chapman remains the only U.S. Air Force Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War. He is the first enlisted Airman named an Exemplar for any Academy class. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Pacheco) By Randy Roughton U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.- The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2026 hosted Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. John Chapman’s family and 24th Special Operations Wing members at...

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