AFA Officer Wins Cyber Defense Award
Academy instructor Capt. Michael Henson participated as a member of the red team in a cyber capture the flag event held by the New York City chapter of InfraGard July 21-22. He returned with a Bokken Katana sword for dominating the competition and placing first among the red cell. - continued - 17 August 2009
Historical Exhibit Showcases 'Father of the Air Force'
When visitors and Academy members alike enter Arnold Hall they now get a closer look at the 'Father of the United States Air Force.' An exhibit honoring Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold has been in the works for three years and has come to fruition. According to Museum Specialist Paul Martin, who serves as curator of collections, the exhibit is designed to inform visitors about the life and career of the General of the Air Force. - continued - 17 August 2009
Fire Department Open House Draws Hundreds
About 700 people attended the annual Fire Department Open House in Pine Valley's Fire Station #1 Saturday. "It was our chance to educate our community on common fire hazards," said Ernst Piercy, Academy fire chief." It gave the public opportunity to visit the fire station and see our equipment and to become educated on common fire hazards. - continued - 17 August 2009
Academy instructor Capt. Michael Henson participated as a member of the red team in a cyber capture the flag event held by the New York City chapter of InfraGard July 21-22. He returned with a Bokken Katana sword for dominating the competition and placing first among the red cell. - continued - 17 August 2009
Historical Exhibit Showcases 'Father of the Air Force'
When visitors and Academy members alike enter Arnold Hall they now get a closer look at the 'Father of the United States Air Force.' An exhibit honoring Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold has been in the works for three years and has come to fruition. According to Museum Specialist Paul Martin, who serves as curator of collections, the exhibit is designed to inform visitors about the life and career of the General of the Air Force. - continued - 17 August 2009
Fire Department Open House Draws Hundreds
About 700 people attended the annual Fire Department Open House in Pine Valley's Fire Station #1 Saturday. "It was our chance to educate our community on common fire hazards," said Ernst Piercy, Academy fire chief." It gave the public opportunity to visit the fire station and see our equipment and to become educated on common fire hazards. - continued - 17 August 2009
Mass Meal Prep Requires Coordinated Effort
Food, food, glorious food. How 200 or so food service staff members in Mitchell Hall manage to prepare, serve and clear 4,600 breakfasts, 4,500 lunches and up to 3,800 evening meals for hungry cadets during the school year is neither a mystery nor a miracle. "It's a system and a system that works", said dietician Shelly Morales. - continued - 14 August 2009
NASA Assigns '84 Grad to Pilot Shuttle
Courtesy of NASA. NASA has selected an Air Force Academy graduate to pilot space shuttle mission STS-134 to the International Space Station. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly will command the STS-132 mission. Retired Air Force Col. and Class of 1984 Academy grad Gregory H. Johnson will serve as the pilot. Mission Specialists are Air Force Col. Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff and Andrew Feustel. European Space Agency astronaut and Italian Air Force Col. Roberto Vittori also will serve as a mission specialist.
- continued - 12 August 2009
Inaugural UAS Class Pins on Wings
Members of the first class of the Academy's Unmanned Aerial System and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Education Program received their UAV wings during a ceremony Tuesday in the conference room of the dean of the faculty in Fairchild Hall. "You are pioneers," Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. Dana Born told the graduates. "You are going to set the sky as the limit--and beyond."
- continued - 7 August 2009
Food, food, glorious food. How 200 or so food service staff members in Mitchell Hall manage to prepare, serve and clear 4,600 breakfasts, 4,500 lunches and up to 3,800 evening meals for hungry cadets during the school year is neither a mystery nor a miracle. "It's a system and a system that works", said dietician Shelly Morales. - continued - 14 August 2009
NASA Assigns '84 Grad to Pilot Shuttle
Courtesy of NASA. NASA has selected an Air Force Academy graduate to pilot space shuttle mission STS-134 to the International Space Station. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly will command the STS-132 mission. Retired Air Force Col. and Class of 1984 Academy grad Gregory H. Johnson will serve as the pilot. Mission Specialists are Air Force Col. Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff and Andrew Feustel. European Space Agency astronaut and Italian Air Force Col. Roberto Vittori also will serve as a mission specialist.
- continued - 12 August 2009
Inaugural UAS Class Pins on Wings
Members of the first class of the Academy's Unmanned Aerial System and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Education Program received their UAV wings during a ceremony Tuesday in the conference room of the dean of the faculty in Fairchild Hall. "You are pioneers," Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. Dana Born told the graduates. "You are going to set the sky as the limit--and beyond."
- continued - 7 August 2009
2013 Best to be Seen …
The Air Force Academy Class of 2013 completed BCT last week and started classes this week. Shortly after in-processing earlier this summer, they began chanting, "2013 Best to be Seen … big, bad and mean," while marching and transitioning from activities; following a tradition to choose a class-specific motivational motto. And in many ways, at least to date, they are the best class the Academy has seen. - continued - 7 August 2009
Surviving Your 1st Year:
The transition from basic training to the rigor of academics is one of conformity to responsibility. As basic cadets, the teamwork mindset is drilled relentlessly; you rely on your classmates to walk anywhere, greet upperclassmen, and even use the restroom. Taking orders from cadre is second nature, and the thought of making a decision on your own becomes foreign. However, on the first day of class, newly ordained fourth-class cadets will venture out onto the strips with books in hand, alone. - continued - 7 August 2009
Academy's New First Family Takes to the Skies
The Air Force Academy's superintendent and his spouse got an even deeper perspective of the USAFA mission last week as they both performed tandem jumps and she added a sailplane ride to the mix. Lt. Gen. Mike Gould and wife Paula, a retired Air Force colonel and pilot herself, mingled with permanent party staff and cadets alike in getting an up-close and more personal understanding of cadet programs. The tandem jumps were conducted by 98th Flying Training Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Aldru Aaron and Lt. Col. Alexander Cos also representing the 98th FTS. - continued - 7 August 2009
The Air Force Academy Class of 2013 completed BCT last week and started classes this week. Shortly after in-processing earlier this summer, they began chanting, "2013 Best to be Seen … big, bad and mean," while marching and transitioning from activities; following a tradition to choose a class-specific motivational motto. And in many ways, at least to date, they are the best class the Academy has seen. - continued - 7 August 2009
Surviving Your 1st Year:
The transition from basic training to the rigor of academics is one of conformity to responsibility. As basic cadets, the teamwork mindset is drilled relentlessly; you rely on your classmates to walk anywhere, greet upperclassmen, and even use the restroom. Taking orders from cadre is second nature, and the thought of making a decision on your own becomes foreign. However, on the first day of class, newly ordained fourth-class cadets will venture out onto the strips with books in hand, alone. - continued - 7 August 2009
Academy's New First Family Takes to the Skies
The Air Force Academy's superintendent and his spouse got an even deeper perspective of the USAFA mission last week as they both performed tandem jumps and she added a sailplane ride to the mix. Lt. Gen. Mike Gould and wife Paula, a retired Air Force colonel and pilot herself, mingled with permanent party staff and cadets alike in getting an up-close and more personal understanding of cadet programs. The tandem jumps were conducted by 98th Flying Training Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Aldru Aaron and Lt. Col. Alexander Cos also representing the 98th FTS. - continued - 7 August 2009
Forbes Ranks Academy 7th Best in Nation
As cadets begin their fall semester today, they do so at the #7 undergraduate institution in the nation, according to Forbes. Forbes released its second annual America's Best Colleges rankings Wednesday. - continued - 6 August 2009
Faculty Ranked #4 Nationwide in Professor Availability
The Air Force Academy's professors are among the most accessible in the nation, according to The Best 371 Colleges text, released this week by Princeton Review. Faculty availability is an expectation at a military service academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy ranks fourth in the nation in professor availability. The student-faculty ratio here is 9:1, average class size is 20, 100 percent of the faculty is full-time and zero classes are taught by teaching assistants. - continued - 30 July 2009
Field training at Jacks Valley
Basic cadets participate in the field training portion July 21 at the Jacks Valley Assault Course near here. Basic cadet training started June 25 and continues through Aug. 1. The fall semester begins Aug. 6. For additional photos view the Jacks Valley Slideshow on AF.mil 30 July 2009
As cadets begin their fall semester today, they do so at the #7 undergraduate institution in the nation, according to Forbes. Forbes released its second annual America's Best Colleges rankings Wednesday. - continued - 6 August 2009
Faculty Ranked #4 Nationwide in Professor Availability
The Air Force Academy's professors are among the most accessible in the nation, according to The Best 371 Colleges text, released this week by Princeton Review. Faculty availability is an expectation at a military service academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy ranks fourth in the nation in professor availability. The student-faculty ratio here is 9:1, average class size is 20, 100 percent of the faculty is full-time and zero classes are taught by teaching assistants. - continued - 30 July 2009
Field training at Jacks Valley
Basic cadets participate in the field training portion July 21 at the Jacks Valley Assault Course near here. Basic cadet training started June 25 and continues through Aug. 1. The fall semester begins Aug. 6. For additional photos view the Jacks Valley Slideshow on AF.mil 30 July 2009
Academy Officials Add Unmanned Aircraft System Into Curriculum
U.S. Air Force Academy officials here integrated unmanned aircraft systems into the school's curriculum. "The Air Force has made unmanned aircraft systems a priority for our service, and the value of these capabilities is evidenced on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould, the Academy superintendent. "So it is only fitting that our cadets have a keen understanding of this vital piece of our national security," he said. He added the Academy's UAS program is designed to educate cadets and interest them to serve as UAS leaders after graduation.
- continued - 28 July 2009
MIT, Academy Announce New Scholarship
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Graduate School of Engineering and Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, in cooperation with the Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, announced two new fully-funded graduate scholarships for graduates of the USAFA FalconSAT program July 16, at the Air Force Academy. Cadets in the Class of 2010 will be the first eligible for this opportunity. - continued - 27 July 2009
Solar eclipse research could save DoD, energy industry billions
Air Force Academy researchers are in Japan for the July 22 solar eclipse, to help U.S. spacecraft better predict solar activity. Academy physics professors Maj. Robert Lee and Lt. Col. D. Brent Morris are at Kadena Air Base, Japan for this summer's solar eclipse, work to solve the a mystery about the sun's possible influence on radioactive decay. - continued - 20 July 2009
U.S. Air Force Academy officials here integrated unmanned aircraft systems into the school's curriculum. "The Air Force has made unmanned aircraft systems a priority for our service, and the value of these capabilities is evidenced on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould, the Academy superintendent. "So it is only fitting that our cadets have a keen understanding of this vital piece of our national security," he said. He added the Academy's UAS program is designed to educate cadets and interest them to serve as UAS leaders after graduation.
- continued - 28 July 2009
MIT, Academy Announce New Scholarship
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Graduate School of Engineering and Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, in cooperation with the Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, announced two new fully-funded graduate scholarships for graduates of the USAFA FalconSAT program July 16, at the Air Force Academy. Cadets in the Class of 2010 will be the first eligible for this opportunity. - continued - 27 July 2009
Solar eclipse research could save DoD, energy industry billions
Air Force Academy researchers are in Japan for the July 22 solar eclipse, to help U.S. spacecraft better predict solar activity. Academy physics professors Maj. Robert Lee and Lt. Col. D. Brent Morris are at Kadena Air Base, Japan for this summer's solar eclipse, work to solve the a mystery about the sun's possible influence on radioactive decay. - continued - 20 July 2009