June 26, 2020

Cadet Research Spotlight: The New and Improved Digital Holography Demonstration System

Cadet Research Spotlight: The New and Improved Digital Holography Demonstration System The Digital Holography Demonstration (DHD) project began in 2019 as a partnership between Air Force Research Labs (AFRL), the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and the United States Air Force Academy Physics Department to build, test and improve a hands-on demonstration tool intended to show basic-to-advanced principals in optics, lasers, atmospheric physics and signal processing. The tool is designed to convey these complex topics in an interactive manner for both STEM outreach and for discussing these technologies with high-level leadership.  AFRL funded the project to help encourage more participation...

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July 2, 2020

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark nominated to be next Academy superintendent

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs, July 2, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- President Donald Trump has nominated Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark to become the Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy. “I am extremely humbled and honored by the nomination to serve as the Superintendent of the Air Force Academy,” said Lt. Gen. Clark. “I’m also excited for the opportunity to build on the tremendous work of Lt. Gen. [Jay] Silveria and to give back to the institution that has given me so much. Go Falcons!” If confirmed by the Senate, Clark will direct the Academy’s undergraduate academic program,...

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July 13, 2020

USAFA Recognizes Class of 2020 Top Graduate

On Thursday 9 July Lt Gen Silveria recognized the United States Air Force Academy Class of 2020 Top Graduate, 2Lt Zack Bailey during a small ceremony in Polaris Hall. Lt Bailey was also recognized as the Outstanding Cadet in Mechanical Engineering, the Outstanding Cadet in Engineering and the Outstanding Cadet in Academic Performance. Lt Bailey is a recipient of the Marshall Scholarship and is on his way to King’s College London in the fall. Congratulations Lt Bailey!

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August 19, 2020

Graduate Spirit Mission

Class of 2022 cadets briefly reveal the red side of their masks By Nicole Cox, USAFA Graduate Liaison United States Air Force Academy red classes conducted a COVID-19 themed spirit mission this week. Led by the Class of 1998, RTBs from the Classes of 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990 and 2010 (among others) raised a monumental $12,198 to buy reversible face masks for the red Class of 2022. The average donation to the effort was $98. The masks were purchased through the same company that makes the Academy's issued black masks and are black on one side and red on the...

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November 9, 2020

Training Turnaround – MTIs join USAFA team in effort to better prepare future military leaders

by Jeff Holmquist, Association of Graduates When Brig. Gen. Michele Edmondson assumed the role of United States Air Force Academy commandant of cadets in the summer of 2019, she arrived just in time to witness Basic Cadet Training for the incoming Class of 2023. She appreciated some of the training techniques and tactics of upperclass cadre — handed down from one class to another for years — which contributed to what many felt was the heritage of the institution. However, with Brig. Gen. Edmondson’s steep military training background and experience, she was excited to evolve training and parallel it to...

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September 8, 2021

The notorious ‘Johnny Bravo’: Great leadership starts at the Academy

by Ashley D. Murphy, Strategic Communications “Embrace this. You are going to second guess yourself being here, not think you are good enough, and wonder if you’ll make it to graduation. Trust me – an incredible journey is in front of you.” Brig Gen Michael “Johnny Bravo” Drowley is a war hero, pilot, weapons school expert, and ’96 graduate of the Academy … but his leadership style, charismatic personality, and sense of humility are what he’s best known for. And, he says he owes it all to his time at the Academy. “USAFA gave me far more than I can put...

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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, 2022

Scoring on the soccer field before settling into service

Tristan Trager, Class of 2022, currently plays professional soccer for Atlanta United 2. (courtesy photo by Atlanta United) By Blaire Brush U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Even before Tristan Trager completed his geospatial science degree at the U.S. Air Force Academy, he was drafted by a Major League Soccer team. That was January 2022. Five months later he completed his bachelor of science degree and all other Academy requirements and then joined Atlanta United’s minor league team, United 2. Making the adjustment from cadet to pro athlete took some getting used to. Trager...

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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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