June 27, 2022

‘Hit the ground running’: Academy’s Prep School gets new commander

(Josh Armstrong/U.S. Air Force Academy) From right: Col. Michael Cornelius, commander of the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory school, shares a moment with Col. Melissa Youderian before the official change of command ceremony which saw leadership of the Prep School transfer from Youderian to Cornelius, June 24, 2022. Story by Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A career weapons systems officer and graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy began his tour of duty as commander of the institution’s Prep School June 24. Col. Michael Cornelius takes over the duties of the Prep...

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June 16, 2022

Cadets rely on skills, teamwork during annual Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory

(Justin Pacheco/U.S. Air Force Academy) Story by Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The top officer at the U.S. Air Force Academy told cadets that the Russian challenge in Europe and the growing multi-domain threat posed by the People’s Republic of China makes clear the Defense Department’s need for expert civil engineering officers. “Your ability to operate in any conflict is critical to our National Defense Strategy and supports Air Force Chief of Staff CQ Brown’s priority of providing the Defense Department with agile combat employment,” Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, the Academy's superintendent,...

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June 14, 2022

The Azimuth Summer Space Program: What You Need to Know

By Rachelle Stoll, Strategic Communications Azimuth students jump on the flightline at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport June 6, 2022 before their parabolic training flight in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Courtesy photo/Steve Boxall) Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy just completed the Academy’s inaugural summer space program on 10 June, 2022. Azimuth is a unique summer program for Academy cadets as well as Navy, West Point and ROTC students considering a commission in the U.S. Space Force. The two-week opportunity provides an immersive introduction to operations in the space domain. Modeled after NASA’s two-year Astronaut Training Program, Azimuth introduces...

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June 7, 2022

Top Academy experiences to enjoy this summer

By Rachelle Stoll, U.S. Air Force Strategic Communications Photos by Joshua Armstrong The U.S. Air Force Academy, 60 miles south of Denver in the city of Colorado Springs is a must-see on your Colorado trip. Whether an out-of-town visitor, cadet parent, or frequent local guest, here's our top Academy experiences to add to your summer itinerary. Free Planetarium show Enjoy an immersive experience featuring high-tech surround sound and projection capabilities in the Planetarium’s state of the art, hemispheric dome. The Planetarium is open to the general public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Movies start at noon and 4 p.m. Mondays...

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May 26, 2022

Vietnamese citizen takes part in DoD, Air Force Academy international programs

Cadet Xuan "An" Nguyen (left) is an astronautical engineering major at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (Photo/Josh Armstrong) Story by Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - An astronautical engineering major at the U.S. Air Force Academy said the school’s international programs strengthen relationships between the U.S. and its allies. Cadet Xuan “An” Nguyen attends the Academy as the first cadet from Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense to be enrolled in the Secretary of Defense Four-Year International Cadet Program. “The program brings different perspectives from different countries to the American cadets and gives the international...

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November 8, 2021

Space Force detachment opens at Academy with high-altitude celebration

(Photo by Cadet 3rd Class Connor Brezenski) Story by Ray Bowden U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Guardians at the Air Force Academy hiked to the top of Eagles Peak Nov. 5 to celebrate the activation of a Space Force detachment at the school. The group displayed the Space Force flag at the summit to herald the opening of Space Force Delta 13, Detachment 1 - the first Space Force unit authorized at the school, also displaying the detachment’s flag at the peak. The Academy is the top commissioning source for Space Force officers, and roughly 200 Space Force officers have...

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October 18, 2021

‘A Republic, if you can keep it’: Assembly panels advance discourse on civilian-military relations, future challenges

Colonel Suzanne Nielsen, a political science professor at West Point, speaks at a panel discussion during the U.S. Air Force Academy's Assembly, Oct. 13, 2021. The topic of the discussion was "The Profession of Arms and the Preservation of Democratic Norms." By Rachelle Stoll, Strategic Communications, photos by Trevor Cokley. The sociopolitical fallout from a global pandemic and the increasing polarization of American culture underpinned the expert panel discussions at the Air Force Academy’s 63rd annual Assembly. The cadet-planned assembly, held 12-14 October, commenced with the theme “The City on the Hill,” bringing to light the contemporary challenges of democracy...

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April 7, 2020

Combating COVID-19: Academy tailors make masks for cadets

Dinia Clemons of the cadet tailor shop at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Story by Ray Bowden, photo by Trevor Cokely, April 7, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- If all goes as planned, senior cadets who stayed at the Air Force Academy to complete their bachelor’s degree during the COVID-19 outbreak will get face masks before the weekend. “Our goal is to distribute these masks to every cadet by close-of-business, Friday,” said Steven Norman, flight chief for cadet logistics. Tailors are making the 10-inch by 6-inch cotton masks at the cadet tailor shop in Sijan Hall. Norman said the...

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August 7, 2020

Air Force Research Laboratory supports cadet research

Story by Whitney Wetsig, Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs, Aug. 7, 2020  WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – With support from the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Air Force Academy expanded its summer research program for undergraduate cadets and is provided virtual research opportunities to the largest group ever in the school’s history. “Thanks to AFRL, many more of our future Air Force and Space Force leaders will be exposed to research during their undergraduate studies,” said Col. Chris McClernon, the Academy's associate dean of research. Seventy-four scientists and engineers from the AFRL advised 165 cadets and worked with them remotely to...

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September 25, 2020

Air Force Academy releases statement on Mountain West Conference decision to play football

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs, Sept. 25, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Following the Mountain West Conference’s decision to play football, the Air Force Academy is providing the following statement. Anything further on the decision should go to the conference, and any questions on schedules, fan attendance, etc. should go to the Athletic Department website. “I support the Mountain West Conference’s commitment to keep medical guidance, standards and testing at the forefront of their decision to begin playing football next month," said Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent. "Everyone should know that my number...

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