April 24, 2017

Space pioneers visit Prep School cadet candidates April 18

  Ray Bowden/April 24, 2017 Astronauts Susan Helms and Gary Payton gave Prep School students here a look into space April 18. Viewing the Earth from space is “humbling,” they said during their hour-long chat with cadet-candidates at the Community Center Theater. “I was surprised to see the Earth was white and blue, not green and blue like in the movies,” said Helms, a retired lieutenant general. “It’s absolutely stunning.” Payton, a retired colonel, said movies and photos of the Earth from space will never do the sight justice. “The Earth is gorgeous, a deep dark blue,” he said. From...

Continue Reading Space pioneers visit Prep School cadet candidates April 18

April 20, 2017

Former USAFA exchange student ‘flies over’ Academy

  By U.S. Air Force Public Affairs/April 20, 2017 Just after 11:30 a.m. April 19, French air force Maj. Nicolas Lieumont was flying with his Patrouille France team above Colorado Springs and about to enter the Air Force Academy airspace. The former Academy exchange student said he can’t help but feel nostalgia upon seeing the familiar scenery of Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods and the Academy again. “We are here to (celebrate) this brotherhood between our countries,” Lieumont said. “We don’t fight together because we are told to do so or because we receive orders. We fight together because...

Continue Reading Former USAFA exchange student ‘flies over’ Academy

April 18, 2017

Academy grad arrives at International Space station April 20

  By John Van Winkle/April 17, 2017 An Air Force Academy graduate traveled to the International Space Station April 20 to conduct research NASA hopes will eventually lead to a mission to Mars. Astronaut Col. Jack Fischer made the six-hour flight to the station, more than 200 miles above the Earth, with cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin of Roscosmos, Russia’s State Corporation for Space Activities, aboard the Russian-made Soyuz MS-04 spacecraft. Lift-off was just after 1 a.m. (MT), from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in southern Kazakhstan, the world's first and largest operational space-launch facility. When Fischer and Yurkchikin reached the station, they joined the astronauts...

Continue Reading Academy grad arrives at International Space station April 20

April 12, 2017

JCS Chairman Dunford to speak at USAFA graduation May 24

By U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs/Published April 12, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. is scheduled to give the Class of 2017 commencement speech, May 24 at the U.S. Air Force Academy. As chairman, Dunford is the highest-ranking military officer in the U.S. and principal military adviser to the president, secretary of defense and National Security Council. Before his Oct. 1, 2015 appointment as chairman, Dunford served as the 36th commandant of the Marine Corps. He was also assistant commandant of the Marine Corps from 2010 to 2012, and...

Continue Reading JCS Chairman Dunford to speak at USAFA graduation May 24

April 5, 2017

A life less ordinary: Former cadet, Rhodes scholar pushes the limits

By Tech. Sgt. Jarad Denton, 501st Combat Support Wing / Published April 05, 2017 RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom -- The oar blades cut through the cold water of the River Thames as the eight-person team drove their boat in perfect synchronization at the Oxford University Boat House, UK. There was no room for error and time was running out. The Oxford University Women's Boat Club would challenge the University of Cambridge April 2 at the Cancer Research UK Boat Races. The pressure was mounting, but the team held fast and stayed motivated. “Out there on the water it’s all about...

Continue Reading A life less ordinary: Former cadet, Rhodes scholar pushes the limits

April 3, 2017

Wings of Blue to jump into Texas Rangers’ home opener, April 3

By John Van Winkle, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs, Published April 03, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Wings of Blue, the Air Force Academy’s parachute team, will help the Texas Rangers kick off their Major League Baseball season with a jump into the team’s home opener, April 3 at Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas. The WOB will take part in the pre-game ceremonies before the Rangers compete against compete against the Cleveland Indians. Five Academy parachutists are scheduled to jump: Maj. Chase Scully, Master Sgt. James Cain, and Cadets 1st Class Gabriel Dawson, Everett Joiner and Jordan...

Continue Reading Wings of Blue to jump into Texas Rangers’ home opener, April 3

March 23, 2017

4-year restoration project on Cadet Chapel to start in 2018

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published March 23, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Major restorations on the Cadet Chapel are slated to begin in the summer of 2018. The project includes fixing the leaks that have plagued the structure since it opened in 1963. “Renovations are necessary because the structure is nearly 53 years old and has leaked consistently since it was constructed,” said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson. “The repairs are essential to preserve this National Historic Landmark for future generations.” Along with fixing the leaks, workers will replace the...

Continue Reading 4-year restoration project on Cadet Chapel to start in 2018

March 23, 2017

Academy hosts State of USAFA address

By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published March 23, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy’s top officer discussed modernization, improving the school’s communications and ridding its campus of sexual assault, March 22 at the State of USAFA Forum. The forum is an annual update on the school’s state of affairs for civic officials, the media, and the industry partners. Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson also announced the name of the officer selected to be the next commandant of cadets, Col. Kristin Goodwin. Goodwin, a 1993 Academy graduate, was nominated by the...

Continue Reading Academy hosts State of USAFA address

March 20, 2017

Cyber Command’s top officer speaks at Academy Assembly: Speed, agility needed in cyber realm, says Adm Rogers

By John Van Winkle, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Published March 20, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The commander of U.S. Cyber Command gave cadets and faculty here an inside look into the cyber-warfare world during his March 15, 2017 visit to the 58th Academy Assembly. Convened annually since 1959, the assembly is an undergraduate-led conference held by the U.S. Air Force Academy and organized by its Political Science Department. Cadets and faculty organize and take part in a three-day discussion focusing on a major theme in American foreign policy. This year's theme was "Inside...

Continue Reading Cyber Command’s top officer speaks at Academy Assembly: Speed, agility needed in cyber realm, says Adm Rogers

March 20, 2017

Falcons collect seven All-America Awards

By Madeline McGuire, Athletic Communications / Published March 13, 2017.   U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Following the 2017 NCAA Rifle Championships, the Air Force Academy rifle team received a combined seven National Rifle Association Collegiate All-Americans and College Rifle Coaches Association All-American selections this month in smallbore and air rifle. Based on their individual averages for the year, sophomore Spencer Cap, was named NRA first-team air rifle. In 2016, Cap earned honorable mention honors. Senior Ryan Jacobs, earned his second NRA second-team honor in air rifle. Sophomore Anna Weilbacher, earned NRA second-team smallbore, and freshman Logan Ogden received...

Continue Reading Falcons collect seven All-America Awards