July 25, 2022

Ceremonial groundbreaking for new Academy visitor center

The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new visitor center took place at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. July 25, 2022. From left to right: representing the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation, Mr. Jerome Bruni, Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera, Project Developer Mr. Dan Schnepf, Superintendent Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations Mr. Robert Moriarty. (Joshua Armstrong/U.S. Air Force Academy) Story by Tali Burress U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new U.S. Air Force Academy...

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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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July 14, 2022

Summertime course provides cadets combat survival training

Cadets and cadre members stand near orange flare smoke during combat survival training at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado July 12, 2022. CST includes training on medical care, food preparation, aircraft signaling and navigation, all of which are essential for survival when service members are isolated in the field. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo.) U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – More than 1,000 U.S. Air Force Academy cadet trainees are learning to survive in austere environments during Combat Survival Training, June through July 2022. Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists and cadet cadre train four...

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July 8, 2022

Basic training starts for more than 200 potential prep school cadet candidates

(Photo by Joshua Armstrong) Story by Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Parents and relatives were not supposed to get out of their vehicles while dropping off their sons and daughters at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School for basic cadet-candidate training July 8, but it’s hard to blame them. “Love you son,” said a woman after getting out of a car near the school’s parade field to hug a young man carting a hefty backpack. “See you at graduation,” said a man getting out of a pickup truck to hug...

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July 6, 2022

Annual field lab prepares civil engineering majors to serve ‘anytime, anywhere’

Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre (third from right), the U.S. Air Force Academy's dean of faculty, chats with Maj. Paige Blackburn (fifth from right), a senior instructor of civil engineering at the school, and cadets taking part in the department of civil and environmental engineering's Field Engineering Readiness Laboratory in Jacks Valley, June 14, 2022. (Photo/ Trevor Cokley) Story by Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- A workshop for civil engineering students in the department of civil and environmental engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy wrapped up with controlled explosions late last...

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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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December 10, 2021

Aeronautics cadets, faculty celebrate high-tech aerospace lab upgrades

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent, and Cadet 1st Class Justin Yates cut a ribbon to celebrate the installation of two new flight simulators and a shock combustion tube in the school's aerospace laboratory, Dec. 7, 2021.   Story by Ray Bowden, all photos by Justin Pacheco U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Cadets researching aeronautics at the Air Force Academy showed off two newly installed $2.2 million simulators and a $1 million combustion shock tube used for hydrocarbon combustion experiments, Dec. 7 Lab director Lt. Col. Judson Babcock said cadets use the Merlin P521 engineering flight simulators...

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May 18, 2020

United Launch Alliance launches 6th orbital test vehicle for U.S. Space Force; project contains satellite built by Air Force Academy cadets

United launch Alliance, May 18, 2020 CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Colo. -- A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 501 rocket carrying the USSF-7 mission for the U.S. Space Force lifted off from Cape Canaveral May 17. This marks the 84th successful launch of an Atlas V rocket, 139th launch for ULA, the second launch for the U.S. Space Force and sixth flight of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle or “OTV-6.” “The success of this mission resulted from collaboration with our customer while working through challenging, and ever changing, health and safety conditions,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of government...

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August 17, 2020

Academy grads celebrate bond after motorcycle crash

Story and photo by Senior Airman Noah Sudolcan , 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Aug. 17, 2020 OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- [Editor’s note: this report is based on a news story written by Senior Airman Noah Sudolcan] Two Air Force Academy graduates stationed at Osan Air Base were not about to let a motorcycle accident get in the way of their friendship. Capt. Louis Bloom, an F-16 pilot assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing, suffered a knee injury after a motorcycle crash. Bloom’s high school friend and Academy classmate, Maj. Christopher Ng, a surgeon assigned to the 51st...

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October 23, 2020

Academy to host 12th Annual SoTL Forum

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, photo by Sarah Goldblum, Oct. 23, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy will host its 12th Annual Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Forum virtually, Oct. 27 and 29. SoTL uses a systematic research approach to understanding teaching and learning to improve student’s academic outcomes. For example, instructors might examine the impact of adding technology to the classroom or the implementation of team-based learning. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Jeff Karpicke, a renowned cognitive psychologist from Purdue University who has researched learning and memory in laboratory settings. Results from his lab illustrate the...

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