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| FEATURES
IS NO LONGER A SANCTUARY
As orbit becomes a battlefield, Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman details how the U.S. Space Force is working to safeguard the invisible infrastructure America depends on and explains what future officers must bring to the fight.
TAKING FLIGHT
From Silicon Valley boardrooms to Wall Street trading floors, U.S. Air Force Academy graduates are helping shape one of capitalism’s most critical moments: taking companies public.
LASER-FOCUSED
Newly confirmed Undersecretary Matthew Lohmeier ’06 discusses leading the Department of the Air Force through rapid global change, prioritizing readiness, modernization and servicemember welfare.
GUARDIANS AT THE GATEWAY At Vandenberg Space Force Base, USAFA graduates are driving America’s space future amid record launches and new threats.
Cadet 1st Class Cole Rassas trains on a flight simulator in the Multi-Domain Laboratory. (Photo by Ryan Hall)
| THE FLIGHT LINE
GRAD CONNECTIONS
AOG UPDATES, YOUR FEEDBACK, NEWS AND FUN
CEO Mark Hille ’97 column p. 8
A message from Congressman August Pfluger ’00 p. 10
Letters, check-ins and more p. 14
The Transmission: News from USAFA and grads p. 88
ROLL CALL
HERITAGE AND GRADUATE PROFILES
‘An extraordinary roll model’ p. 48
Institute for Future Conflict update p. 52
From investment to gift p. 54
Meet your new Foundation board directors p. 56
The Hon. Sean O’Keefe ’10 p. 58
AOG Honorary Member Duane Boyle p. 62
My Cool AF/SF Job: 1st Lt. Feiyu Xue ’23 p. 64
The gift of FLIGHT p. 66
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial p. 70
The path to legislation p. 72
Full circle p. 74
FROM THE TERRAZZO
CADET LIFE AND THE LATEST FROM THE ACADEMY
Game changer: Madera in action p. 60
From the Hill: News of significance from the Academy p. 76
PHOTO ESSAY: Welcome back, Falcons! p. 80
PHOTO ESSAY: Fall sports in full swing p. 84
PHOTO ESSAY: Chasing the Chief’s trophy p. 86
Visit usafa.org/checkpoints_online for additional content!
LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST
Season 4 of the Long Blue Leadership podcast is underway. Scan the QR code below and subscribe today!
CORRECTION: The September 2025 Checkpoints biography of Air Force Undersecretary Matthew Lohmeier ’06 contained a typo introduced during the editing process. The third paragraph should have stated “airmen.” We regret the error.
YOUR U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION
BOARD OFFICERS
SENIOR STAFF
Chief Executive Officer: Mark Hille ’97
Chief Financial Officer: Katie Willemarck, CPA
Executive VP, Alumni Relations: Col. (Ret.) Michael “Baja” Cornelius ’00
Deputy Managing Editor/Class News & Gone But Not Forgotten Editor: David Bitton
Graphic Design: Amy Davis
Photography & Videography: Ryan Hall, Ted Robertson
Social Media/Digital: Brittany Weinzierl, Sam Hastings
Copy Editor: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Edie Brantley ’92
Writers: Sam Hastings, Steven Lincoln, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77
CONTACT US
719-472-0300
EMAIL
To email a staff member, use the first and last name. Example: Steve Simon | steve.simon@usafa.org
Volume 54, Number 3
Checkpoints (ISSN 0274-7391) USPS 898-080 is published quarterly in March, June, September and December by the Association of Graduates, U.S. Air Force Academy, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475 (Phone: 719-4720300; DSN: 333-2067; FAX: 719-344-5705; Email: editor@usafa.org). Additional magazine copies may be purchased for $2.50 each, plus $4.60 for shipping. Periodicals postage paid at the U.S. Air Force Academy, CO, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Checkpoints Association of Graduates, Doolittle Hall, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475. Graduates can update their records at recordupdate@usafa.org. The editorial board serves the Checkpoints mission by providing a top-quality magazine to the Air Force Academy’s broader community. Together, the editorial team and editorial board collaborate to ensure all articles meet the standards of excellence readers expect from Checkpoints The AOG reserves the right to publish or omit submissions at its discretion. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policy or attitude of the AOG, its officers or the editorial staff. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the AOG of the products or services advertised. Copyright, Association of Graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy, December 2025.
SOAR HIGHER
What graduates are saying about working with Roger Hill ’70
Roger Hill made buying our second home in Colorado Springs an absolute joy — his warmth, dedication, and incredible knowledge of Colorado’s housing market helped my wife and me find our perfect home with ease. As an Academy grad, Roger felt like an old friend, bringing that shared sense of trust and commitment to every step of the process. He went above and beyond, handling construction inspections for us with such care and saving us several trips from Texas. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner in this journey! If you’re looking for a realtor in Colorado who’s as skilled as he is genuine, Roger’s your guy—you’ll be so glad you chose him.
Maj. Gen. Perry Lamy, Class of 1975
Roger was the best and knows his stuff. Helped me and my two daughters buy our separate homes in Colorado. He is family to us.
Class of 1970 - X. V. Centennial, CO
Roger is the real deal. He speaks the same language. He delivered during incredibly competitive markets- twice. FAST, NEAT, but certainly NOT AVERAGE.
Class of 2006 - J. S. & M. G., married grads, Fountain, CO
Outstanding Realtor. Helped me buy my home, investment properties, and a vacation home. His vast knowledge and 30+ years of experience are indispensable. Roger truly has our highest recommendation.
Class of 1997 - D. H. Castle Rock, CO
It was great knowing our realtor was a USAFA grad because we knew we could trust him right away. Roger was there every step of the way providing insight and guidance.
Class of 1989 - T. D. Monument, CO
Roger Hill ’70 Associate Broker
Your Castle Real Estatethe largest independent real estate firm in Colorado750 brokers serving the Front Range from Fort Collins to Pueblo.
Buying or selling real estate, you need a Broker you can trust. As a graduate with 44 years of real estate experience and 34 years licensed in Colorado, allow me to be your real estate consultant.
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Transparency and accountability
By Lt. Col. (Ret.) Cathy Almand ’90, Association of Graduates Board Chair
The Association of Graduates proudly and diligently serves the more than 56,600 graduates of YOUR United States Air Force Academy. Young men and women, hailing from across our nation, choose a more difficult path and commit to pushing their limits to develop as leaders of character and contribute to a cause greater than themselves as members of the profession of arms. That’s what our Academy is about. It’s who we are as grads. And it’s what our Association of Graduates represents.
At the heart of a thriving AOG, committed to serving our grads, supporting our Academy and preserving the growing heritage of the institution and Long Blue Line lies the unwavering commitment of its board of directors to transparency and accountability. Transparency and accountability aren’t just buzzwords; they constitute the bedrock upon which trust is built, ensuring the board effectively governs our AOG and remains responsible to the membership.
In this letter, I want to be candid in addressing some challenges we have faced. Recent events, such as the proposal and withdrawal of motions in our Oct. 17 board meeting to posthumously honor Mr. Charlie Kirk, a presidentially appointed member of the Academy’s Board of Visitors at the time of his tragic assassination, underscore the importance of open communication and a willingness to listen. Upon learning of the motions — one sought to recognize Mr. Kirk as an honorary member of the AOG, and the other recommended him for an honorary degree — nearly 1,500 graduates wrote and called in to make their voices heard. Perspectives varied.
While differing viewpoints are an inevitable part of any community, we
ought to never let them fracture our collective spirit. Instead, these moments, however hard they can be, present an opportunity for us to demonstrate, despite our differences, how we can come together, find common ground and set an example of thoughtful, civil discourse for the entire nation.
Indeed, in the Oct. 17 meeting, the AOG board ultimately passed a modified motion that gives our Association some needed time to explore appropriate opportunities — with member inputs in mind — to recognize Mr. Kirk’s service on the Academy BOV. We expect to consider recommendations at the Feb. 19 board meeting.
Our strength as the Long Blue Line stems from active engagement. But engagement is a two-way street, requiring the board’s commitment to transparency and the membership’s willingness to participate.
To foster greater transparency and participation, the AOG board of directors is excited to announce that, beginning in February, board meetings will be livestreamed, allowing members direct insight into the decision-making processes and discussions that guide and shape our Association. This initiative has been in the works for several months and is a crucial step in ensuring that every member feels connected and is heard, and that our board has a new opportunity to listen.
Additionally, the staff will increase efforts to make sure members are aware of meeting agendas and minutes as they post to our website. We have heard from many graduates who want this information, and we are glad to make sure you know when it posts. Fortunately, we have a new website that makes accessing this information easier to do.
In closing, as we think about the twoway street of active engagement, I have a few asks.
First, please encourage any classmates who are not members of the AOG to join. Joining the AOG is not just a formality and benefit of being a graduate; it is a commitment to being an informed and active stakeholder. There is no cost to join, and it is easy to do on our website. Additionally, consider engaging with your local chapter, where you can connect with fellow graduates and contribute to local initiatives. If you don’t have a local chapter, the AOG can help you start one. Provide your valuable inputs to your class advisory senator. Or, for those with a deeper commitment, volunteer to serve as your class’s senator if that position is open. The CAS was chartered to represent every class and advise the AOG board. The CAS president serves on the AOG board and is an active and outstanding contributor. Finally, for any thoughts, suggestions or concerns, please utilize the “Contact Us” form at usafa.org/contact. Your voice matters, and your engagement empowers the AOG to fulfill its mission to support the Academy, serve our graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution.
I wish you and your family a happy, healthy holiday season.
Sincerely,
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Cathy Almand ’90
Give $70 or more to any Academy program that is meaningful to you, and we’ll send you a unique pair of AF socks (made in the U.S.) as a thank you!
Set up a monthly gift of $25 or more, and you’ll receive a pair of socks plus all future thank-you gifts for as long as your support continues.
Step out in style and show off your cool AF socks at the office, while running errands or cheering on the Falcons!
Our vital dedication
By Mark Hille ’97, CEO, U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
In his address to the Corps of Cadets in 1962, Gen. Douglas MacArthur referred to the “welter of change and development” that might tempt future officers to lose focus on their responsibilities. He reminded them that their “mission remained fixed, determined,” that being to “win our wars.” All other concerns — public projects, needs and purposes — would find others for their accomplishment. He concluded that “theirs alone was the profession of arms.” It is truly one of the finest speeches in American oratory. But aside from the message it still sends to future warfighters, I was reminded of the speech as we grapple with the questions about our own priorities. Gen. MacArthur’s words might cause us to consider: What is our “fixed, determined, inviolable” mission? And what concerns, valuable as they may be, must we leave to others and perhaps other organizations to achieve?
I offer these priorities for your consideration:
• First, we inform and engage our graduates, providing them avenues to connect and opportunities to provide their voice. We support chapters, host events, run tailgates and reunions, and publish a magazine, several newsletters and a series of podcasts. We provide relevant services during one’s cadet journey, during career transitions and finally when a graduate passes away.
• Second, we raise and steward private charitable support for our Academy. We build buildings; we support cadet programs and teams, academic departments, and research projects; and, when able, we enhance cadet quality of life. We help to ensure that the training, education and experiences of Air Force Academy cadets are not just sufficient but truly excellent. To do so, we carefully invest, diligently track and responsibly use each dollar provided to us by donors, as intended.
• And third, we preserve the growing heritage of our Academy and its graduates, highlighting their achievements and their service and honoring our shared traditions and values.
In doing these things, we have growing influence and impact on that which we value — the future leaders attending our Academy, and the nation they will serve and protect. Indeed, since 2022, we have welcomed nearly 8,000 new graduate members and now serve graduates from ages 22 to 92. We have launched new
media and freshened our brand. We have introduced a modern mobile-friendly website, created several notable additions to our Doolittle campus and assembled a staff of growing capacity and professionalism. We concluded a $330 million campaign and have completed capital projects for the Academy, established programs and endowments to support cadets, and secured special legal status encoded in federal law. And with smart investment and efficient use of resources, the financial strength of both organizations has continued to grow.
All of this in just a few short years, thanks to the leadership, the engagement and support of so many graduates, parents and friends; and the skill and hard work of our dedicated staff.
Our updated strategic plan for the Association & Foundation builds on these successes and sets our roadmap for the coming three years (scan the QR code below to access our plan). Over the past six months, we have received input and approval from the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation boards. We have also received approval of our 2026 budget, which provides the resources to tackle the strategic imperatives articulated in the plan — a budget that represents no increase from 2025.
This all takes place amid a dynamic time in which perspectives vary widely on many unresolved cultural and social issues. I am not debating the merits of any position, but I do suggest that these times apply additional pressure for us to take positions or not, to make statements or not, and to engage on a specific issue or not.
So back to my opening question. What is our “fixed, determined, inviolable" mission? I believe the answer to that question is simple: serving our graduates, supporting our Academy and preserving the growing heritage of the Academy and the Long Blue Line.
All else, as Gen. MacArthur said, is “corollary to this vital dedication.”
With best wishes,
Mark Hille ’97
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When I recently returned to the U.S. Air Force Academy for meetings, memories came rushing back. As I walked through Jacks Valley, I could picture myself in the front leaning rest reciting John Stewart Mill’s quote on “War.” It felt like just the other day that I was running the strips, marching tours (the first in my class to do so by the way,) or calling minutes and pushing through the assault course alongside my classmates. Though 25 years have passed since my time as a cadet, the values instilled in me at the Academy continue to guide the decisions I make.
After graduation in May of 2000, I began flight training at Laughlin AFB, graduating UPT just a few short days after Sept. 11, 2001. These tragic events changed the course of our country, sending my classmates and me into a prolonged state of conflict, deployments and high readiness levels. But we were ready because the Academy had prepared us for the unknown. It sharpened our minds, forged our character and equipped us with the necessary skills for the battle ahead.
That lesson remains true today. We will never know when or where the next conflict will arise, or even how it will be fought; however, what we do know is that the demand for strong, resilient and
Preparing cadets for the future and advancing the Academy
By Congressman August Pfluger ’00; Chairman, U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors
capable leaders will remain constant. The Academy must therefore ensure that cadets are ready to lead in the air and space domains and to think critically to overcome adversity.
The USAFA Board of Visitors plays a central role in fulfilling that mission, and I am truly honored to be the first member of Congress to serve as its chairman. Established by law in 1956, the board is tasked with ensuring the Academy maintains a gold standard of excellence by inquiring into the morale, discipline, social climate, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and any other matters relating to the Academy that the board decides to consider. The oversight function of the Board of Visitors is extremely important, as evidenced by the emphasis on legislative branch appointees. As chairman, I am committed to carrying out this duty with diligence, and I have conveyed this commitment to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
I am fortunate to serve alongside two fellow Academy graduates: Congressman Don Davis ’94 and Col. (Ret.) Doug “Stoli” Nikolai ’89. Together, we share a passion for ensuring today’s cadets are prepared to lead tomorrow’s fight.
We also had the privilege of serving
alongside Charlie Kirk, a presidential appointee to the board, whose dedication to the Academy and to strengthening the next generation of military leaders truly impressed me. Charlie frequently spoke about American exceptionalism and urged cadets to leave our service academies with an overwhelming sense of patriotism and the resolve that America is worth defending. We will carry forward that legacy of patriotism, leadership and civil discourse at the Academy.
My focus as chairman is to ensure that the Academy not only executes its mission of developing leaders of character but also continually strengthens it. Cadets must be instilled with the warrior ethos and must be prepared to defend this nation with clarity and resolve. As Secretary Hegseth reminded our senior military leaders at Quantico, Virginia, on Sept. 30, our mission must focus on lethality and equipping warfighters — not on distractions. This vision begins at the Academy, and I intend to ensure every activity that a cadet participates in will add value to their development as leaders.
It is no secret that Air Force Academy graduates lead in every domain, from aboard the International Space Station to air combat in the Middle East, and even to the tenacity on the
wrestling mat as we saw earlier this year. Whether in space, in the air or on the ground, whether in uniform, in government or in our communities, USAFA graduates lead. As we all know, the leadership traits instilled at the Academy last a lifetime.
It is also necessary for us to remember the weight of our legacy. Generations of Academy graduates have fought and died for this nation. Their names are etched into USAFA’s Graduate War Memorial, serving as a constant reminder of the price of freedom. We must continue to remember these airmen and honor their legacy.
I believe that the best way we as a Board of Visitors can honor our legacy is to challenge the Academy to continually sharpen its approach to training air and space professionals. We should proudly maintain our traditions while also striving to improve our curriculum when needed. The environment that graduates will face is certain to be complex and will require innovative leaders who possess the utmost character and integrity.
It is an honor to serve as the chairman of the Board of Visitors and to play a role in ensuring that our cadets are ready to lead on Day 1.
U.S. Rep. August Pfluger ’00 is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represents 20 counties in Texas’ 11th Congressional District. After graduating from the Academy, he served in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve for 25 years as an F-22 and F-15 pilot with over 300 combat hours. In Congress, he is chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus on Capitol Hill. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
U.S. Rep. August Pfluger ’00 chairs the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors. Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson appointed the congressman to the board. (Courtesy photos)
FAQ USAFA Board of Visitors
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors?
The U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors is established under Title 10 U.S. Code 9455 and is responsible for inquiring into all aspects of the Academy. This includes evaluating morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical infrastructure, fiscal matters, academic methods and other key areas relevant to the Academy’s mission and operations. It serves an oversight and advisory function, helping ensure the Academy maintains high standards in preparing future U.S. Air Force and Space Force officers. According to the board’s bylaws, “Unlike a corporate board of directors, this board is not directive in nature and is charged with providing Department of the Air Force senior leaders and the secretary of defense independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the Academy.”
Who
appoints the board members?
The Board of Visitors consists of members appointed by the executive and legislative branches of government:
• Six members are appointed by the president of the United States.
• Two members are designated by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
• One member is designated by the minority leader of the House.
• One member each is designated by the chair and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.
• Two members are designated by the Senate majority leader.
• Two members are designated by the Senate minority leader.
• One member each is designated by the chair and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Who leads the board?
The board annually elects a chair and vice chair, who serve for one calendar year or until reelected or succeeded. The vice chair presides over meetings in the chair’s absence and assumes the role of chair if the elected chair is unable to complete their term.
How often does the Board of Visitors meet, and in what format?
The board typically meets four times annually, both in person and virtually. According to its charter, the Board of Visitors must meet at the U.S. Air Force Academy at least once a year.
How long do board members serve?
Members appointed by the president serve three-year terms but may continue until a successor is named. Vacancies due to resignation, death or termination are filled for the remainder of the term by the original appointing authority. Members may be terminated for missing two consecutive meetings without prior approval from the chair. Non-congressional members may be removed by the chair, while congressional members may only be removed by their appointing official. Members serve without compensation (except travel/per diem) and, according to the board’s charter, are expected to act independently, free of conflicts of interest. The board elects its own chair and vice chair.
What reporting requirements does the board have?
The law states that the board must prepare a semiannual report containing its views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy, based on its meeting since the last such report and any other considerations it determines relevant. Each such report shall be submitted concurrently to the secretary of war, through the secretary of the Air Force, and to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
Who supports the Board of Visitors?
The Department of War, through the Department of the Air Force and the superintendent of USAFA, provides the necessary support for the Board of Visitors.
Do the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy also have boards of visitors?
Yes.
Where can I find more information about the USAFA Board of Visitors?
Additional details are available at usafa. edu/about/bov. A summary and agenda of the most recent meeting, held Aug. 7, are posted at usafa.org/content/board-ofvisitors-convenes-for-aug-7-meeting.
STAT E of MIND
FEEDBACK, INSIGHT and FUN from Falcon Nation
BRING GBNF BACK IN PRINT
I’d like to add my name to the list of folks who miss the Gone But Not Forgotten feature in Checkpoints.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brett Wells ’98, in his letter to the editor [Reconsider printing memorial pages, September 2025 Checkpoints] said it much better than I could have — I also start with the class updates and then the GBNF section.
And like Brett, I also like reading a printed page. At my age, I don’t have the patience or attention span for anything online.
Thanks for putting out a wonderful publication.
— Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ernest Fayan Class of 1985
WARFIGHTERS ALL ALONG
As members of the Class of ’65, we were taken aback by the statement of Dr. Andrea Van Nort (Remembering Vietnam, September 2025 Checkpoints,) that “I realized that some of my fourdegrees did not even know what POW stands for.” Given that at least half of those doolies live in a dormitory named in honor of Lance Sijan, our classmate and the only USAFA graduate to receive the Medal of Honor for his heroic resistance as a prisoner of war, our surprise turned to concern.
Dr. Van Nort’s dedication to the importance of education — now removed from the Academy’s mission statement — is encouraging with respect to reflecting on the POW experience. Thus, her
LETTER GUIDELINES
Checkpoints welcomes the feedback of our readers. The editorial staff reserves the right to limit the number of letters on a particular topic, decide on the publication of letters, and edit letters for length and accuracy. Letters may include corrections, clarifications or criticisms of specific content.
To be considered for publication, letters must:
• Directly reference content that was published in Checkpoints magazine within the past two issues.
• Be 400 or fewer words in length.
• Include the writer’s full name, phone number and graduation year (if an Academy graduate) and be emailed to editor@usafa.org.
Letters will not be published if they:
• Contain information that is promotional in nature.
• Are anonymous.
• Contain personal attacks.
core course serves to inform the newest members of the Long Blue Line that, despite recent hyperbole, we have been warfighters all along. Unfortunately, although the article credits the AOG and the Class of ’65 for the oral history project documenting the personal experiences of Vietnam POWs, it neglects to reference the movie Return with Honor. That award-winning film was initiated by several of our classmates, who then helped raise the funding for a million-dollar grant to the AOG to finance the documentary. For more details, see the article in the September 1997 Checkpoints [McDonald Douglas provides $900,000 for POW film] and the 1965 Class News in that same issue.
We were informed during our recent 60th reunion that Return with Honor is shown frequently in the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavillion on the Heritage Trail just north of Doolittle Hall. Perhaps viewing that tribute to our Vietnam POWs should be a mandatory formation for those “four degrees” to add some substance to what POW stands for. Some higher-ups might profit from watching it as well.
— Bill Berkman, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bill Bowers, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bill Douglas, Col. (Ret.) Bob Haffa, Jack Hewitt, Col. (Ret.) Gene Korotky, Col. (Ret.)
Mike Lynch, Charlie Marks, Jake Morrison, Lt. Col. (Ret.)
Don Neireiter, Lt. Col. (Ret.) John Sellers, Lt. Col. (Ret.)
Jim Swallow, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Craig Waterstraat, Maj. (Ret.) Bill Wayne Class of 1965
FIND THE FALCON
The winner of last quarter’s Find the Falcon contest is Lt. Col. Tiffany VanDenBroeke ’08. She was among the 25 Checkpoints readers who reported finding the falcon — hidden on page 29 — in the September 2025 edition. Thank you to all the readers who participated in the past quarter’s contest!
Locate the falcon hidden in the magazine and send its location, along with your name and contact information, directly to editor@usafa.org to be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate at Doolittle Outfitters. Deadline for entry is Feb. 5, 2026
CHECKING IN WIT H Checkpoints
Don Brubaker ’77 and spouse, Char Brubaker, checked in from Baranof Island, Alaska, during a Michael W. Smith music cruise.
Steve Knoblock ’83 and spouse, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Karen Knoblock, checked in at the Rock of Gibraltar during a cruise to the Casa del Sol. "Knobs" says the last time he saw the rock was flying over it to support SR-71 refueling during Operation El Dorado Canyon over Libya in 1986.
Bob Welbaum ’70 checked in from the Mount Everest south base
Dave Mann ’68, left, and Steve McPhail ’68, right, checked in with Dario Cecchini at Cecchini’s famous butcher shop and restaurant, Antica Macelleria Cecchini, in Panzano, Italy.
Steve Kolet ’69 and spouse, Fran Kolet, checked in while visiting the salt flats near Trapani, Sicily.
From left: Ernie Haendschke ’79 (CS-20), Greg Nemeth ’79 (CS-20) and Gary Kopacka ’78 (CS-11) checked in during six days of hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc after passing into Italy from France.
Class of 1969 Tiger Ten members checked in with loved ones during a mini reunion in Sedona, Arizona. The group took a train ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad through the red rocks of Arizona.
camp in Nepal.
CHECKING IN WIT H Checkpoints
Joe Gagner ’07, left, and Josh Jordan ’15 checked in on a recent C-17 trip to Antarctica supporting Operation Deep Freeze. Also on this rotation but not pictured were Kyle Jensen ’04, Kate Maffei ’12 and Mikayla Scarboro ’17.
Five ’76 grads from CS-26 and their spouses checked in while celebrating 52 years of friendship during a cruise to Dubrovnik, Croatia. “We were almost as old as the town.” From left: Eric Wigand, Mike Renner, Ron Kirchoff, Roger Widholm and Bill Morris.
Col. (Ret.) Bob Feeley ’72, left, and Col. (Ret.) Jeff “Tank” Patton ’94 checked in at Jena Battlefield Museum in Germany while also visiting the Berlin Tempelhof Airport during a World War II history tour.
Dave Sterling ’70 checked in next to a taxi in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The black taxis offer tours of significant Catholic and Protestant sites. Sterling learned about the issues dividing Belfast and the efforts to forge peace.
Burgess ’82 and spouse, Sandra Burgess, checked in from
in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Renner ’80 and spouse, Marie
Civil Air Patrol Senior Member Ray Haygood ’69 and grandson, Cadet Senior Airman Billy Silva — both holding a Checkpoints magazine — proudly checked in from Fort Devens, Massachusetts, after the Civil Air Patrol New Hampshire Encampment graduation this past summer. Included in the photo are, from left, Col. Nic Goupil, New Hampshire wing commander, and Capt. Julie McAdoo, encampment commander.
Rick
Jenny Lake
Rob
Renner, checked in at the Old Fort in Zanzibar, following a safari.
Col. (Ret.) Chris Krisinger ’78, left, and brother, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kevin Krisinger ’82, checked in from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium during the Air Force vs. Navy football game.
James Samuel, left, and John Newby, of Red Hot ’94, checked in while talking all things life and entrepreneurship over lunch in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.
Monty Lee ’76 and spouse, Terry Lee, checked in from Machu Picchu, Peru.
David Robinson ’76 and spouse, Lori Robinson — the generals — checked in while on a Mediterranean cruise docked in Sicily.
Rob Newman ’74 checked in during a camel ride in the Saraha Desert. Rob and spouse, Robin Newman, spent 10 days flying a Cirrus around Morocco.
Tom ’80 and Jan Ocvirk and their therapy dog, Odin, checked in from Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park during a family vacation.
WANT TO CHECK IN?
Raymond Tyc ’76 checked in from Togwotee Pass, Wyoming, while visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the Buffalo Bill Museum.
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Q&A
Russia and China are turning space into a battlefield, Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman warns, and the U.S. Space Force is racing to stay ahead.
From lasers that blind satellites to spacecraft designed as orbital battering rams, America’s adversaries have transformed the final frontier into tomorrow’s most dangerous warfighting domain.
It’s a domain where losing means going deaf, blind and defenseless all at once.
As Gen. Saltzman leads the defense of this ultimate high ground, commanding nearly 15,000 guardians in a space arms race, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
For Air Force Academy cadets and graduates raised on dreams of space exploration, Gen. Saltzman offers a stark new mission: protecting the invisible infrastructure that powers modern life.
Every drone strike, credit card swipe and emergency call depends on satellites silently circling overhead.
Each one has a target on its back.
The Checkpoints team sat down with Gen. Saltzman, a Boston University grad-
Space is no longer a sanctuary
Gen. Saltzman on defending America’s orbital assets
By David Bitton
uate, at his office in the Pentagon on Oct. 6, for a Q&A. The following is a lightly edited transcript of that conversation.
“What I’ve seen from USAFA graduates is they have a firm understanding of what it means to have core values, what it means to live up to higher standards, what it means to live up to a nation that’s counting on you to do some of its most critical work.”
— Gen. B. Chance Saltzman
You’ve spoken about adversaries investing heavily to close the gap with U.S. space capabilities. How has the threat landscape in space evolved since you became CSO in November 2022?
In a word, the threat landscape since I took over as CSO has advanced dramatically. “Dramatic” is the word. The PRC [People’s Republic of China], for example, has invested in what I’ve described as all six
categories of counter-space weapons. There are three types of weapons that can be executed from space, three from the ground, and those are the same three. It’s kinetic capabilities like missiles; it’s RF [radio frequency] energy, RF jamming; and it’s directed energy. The scale and the speed with which the PRC has put together a pretty vast array of weapons has been amazing. Not to be outdone, the Russians, of course, are also investing heavily in everything from direct-ascent ASATs, which they demonstrated right before the invasion of Ukraine, and also on orbit capability to try to deny us our access to space, and now even the idea of putting a nuclear weapon into orbit. So these are all fairly dramatic and have all kind of taken place since I took over as CSO.
What evidence have you seen over the past five and a half years that space is linked to modern warfare? Well, you don’t have to look too much further than the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The idea that space is critical to the modern battlefield, I think, was evi-
dent from the beginning of that war. One of the first attacks was a ground network attack, a cyberattack against the ground network associated with the Viasat satellite communications. And it had a good effect for the Russians. I think we also saw that when that happened, the Ukrainians turned to a proliferated low-Earth orbit satellite communications constellation provided by SpaceX and Starlink. So we’re seeing that you can’t live without space; you can’t live without satellite communications; you can’t control forces if you don’t have those kinds of capabilities. The Russians knew this, and so they tried to dismantle it in Ukraine. But the United States has come to recognize its advantages in space, whether it’s satellite communications or global precision that the GPS constellation provides for strikes, et cetera, as well as the ISR capabilities, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, weather. It’s just become an indispensable force multiplier for the joint force and any modern warfare is going to be heavily dependent on space capabilities.
What’s your vision for the way industry and the Space Force will continue to expand and improve their relationship?
The relationship the Space Force has with industry is a critical dependency, quite frankly. We can’t do our job if they don’t deliver high-end technology that we need to be successful. In the past, though, it’s been kind of transactional. It’s been us deciding what we want, trying to write re-
quirements and then engaging industry to see if they can meet those requirements. And while that served its purpose in the past, that’s not producing the kind of innovation we need at scale fast enough. And so what I want to do is engage industry in a more collaborative relationship, not as much transactional. I need them involved in the innovation. I need their ideas generated before they see requirements. I need them to come to us with what is the art of the possible, not just what we might think we need in any given time and place. And so that’s a different relationship. I want to involve them from the beginning in our force design. I want to involve them in war games. I want to involve them in our tabletop exercises so they can see firsthand what the operational challenges are and bring their best ideas, their innovative ideas, their new engineering and technology to bear on our problems.
What are the biggest opportunities for the Space Force?
All of our challenges are opportunities. It’s easy to list the challenges sometimes, but our opportunities are quite frankly centered around the fact that the joint force understands how critical space is to how they do their jobs. And that presents an opportunity. As missions continue to be given to the Space Force, as we migrate more and more missions from land, air and sea up into space, these are tremendous opportunities for us to continue to integrate, continue to provide the joint
force what they need to be successful. We’re going to have to be able to achieve some level of space superiority, control the domain, protect what we have, deny the adversary their use of space. These are all opportunities for us to hone our craft, to train [and] educate our personnel so they understand exactly how they contribute to the joint force. It offers opportunities to pull new technologies into, missions that haven’t been done from space before that will need to be done from space for survivability and scale. These are all tremendous opportunities to grow our resources, grow our personnel and contribute to the joint force.
You’re known as the father of multi-domain operations. How should future officers prepare to think across domains rather than in silos?
Yeah, the father of multi-domain operations — I may never escape that. It’s really quite simple, and we’ve talked about combined arms for decades. Success on the military battlefield comes more easily to those that are able to combine different types of effects, different types of warfare, all together to achieve a common goal. And we called that combined arms. Now we call it multi-domain arms, or alldomain arms. But it’s the same concept. You need to create multiple dilemmas for an adversary, have multiple attack vectors coming so the enemy doesn’t know where you’re going to create effects from. And the more vectors you have, the more
U.S. Space Force guardians celebrate during the inaugural Officer Training Course graduation ceremony at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, in August 2025. More than 80 officers completed the yearlong program, marking a new era in how the Space Force trains and develops its commissioned force. (Courtesy photos)
problems for the adversary. The difference is that where we used to kind of rely on air, land and sea, now we’ve had to expand those concepts into cyber and space. Those are new warfighting domains. And we need to build the technologies, the systems. We need to train our personnel to be able to take advantage of those things. And I mentioned that the joint force will rely heavily on space and cyber, but cyber will also rely heavily on air, land and sea to continue to produce the kind of effects that we need. And so we have to build an officer corps, for example, that understands all of these domains, is able to integrate effectively, and understands where they fit and how others can contribute and create the kind of synergies that you get out of all domain operations.
What advice might you have for USAFA cadets interested in serving in the Space Force?
Study hard. You’re going to join a force that’s highly technical. We need to have the technical skills, but that’s not enough. I think that’s necessary, but not sufficient. Yes, I want you to study hard. Yes, I want you to be technically proficient, but I need you to be thinkers. I need you to be leaders. Because it’s more profound of a challenge to introduce and integrate
these capabilities into a joint force. It’s not enough to just simply understand how the technology works. You have to understand how the force operates. And we need leaders. We need leaders who can translate and communicate these highly technical capabilities into meaningful strategies that our decision-makers can understand. And so leadership, communication, critical thinking skills, maybe some of the softer sciences associated with those are just as important. And so take advantage of your time in your commissioning source to practice leadership, to practice communications, to practice all of those soft skills, because we’re going to need them when you get to the force.
What guiding principles do you follow as the chief of space operations?
That’s an interesting one. I never really sought to develop a specific leadership style. I just simply try to address challenges that come up [and] solve problems that arise. And so being asked, “What are the guiding principles that you adhere to,” does seem a little odd, but a couple of things come to mind. One is, first, clearly understanding how I, in the position I’m in, add value to the organization. And if you don’t know how you add value to the organization, you need to do some introspection, because that’s what the organization expects [from] every one of us: to add value. And you have to know what your skills and experience can contribute as you add value. But more importantly for me, I think it’s that I only do what only the CSO can do. Meaning, if I’m trying to do other people’s jobs, then somebody is not doing mine. And so what is
ABOVE: U.S. servicemembers join together during a basewide run at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.
RIGHT: Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, left, observes a Resolute Space exercise at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
it that I uniquely provide, then focus on those things. And I think that boils down to really working hard to establish clarity. And that’s easier said than done. But clarity in our vision; clarity in the processes and the products that we need to produce as a service; clarity in guidance; clarity in my intent; clarity in how the Space Force adds value to the joint force; clarity in how the Space Force adds value to the United States in national security. And working hard so that we clearly articulate those kinds of values, I think, is important. And then keep those in mind as we make all the decisions that come with being in a service. And so those guiding principles are about clear-eyed focus on our priorities. What is it that only I can do? And make the kind of decisions that support the advancement of the force based on those principles.
Standing up a military service is no easy task. What have been some of the greatest challenges and some of the greatest opportunities?
It’s been such a remarkable journey. And of course there are challenges. It was the first time we established a service in almost 75 years. Everybody that knew how to establish a service is long gone, and
so to some degree we were starting from scratch. But quickly I came to realize that there’s no way to accelerate the establishment of experience. I ask people, “How long does it take to develop a 15-year lieutenant colonel?” And the answer, no matter how fast you want to go, is [that it] takes 15 years to acquire that level of experience and wisdom. I can’t really accelerate that, but the Department of Defense requires highly experienced personnel to do the work that’s required. So it’s been a challenge. We’ve had to take younger people and step them up to more senior responsibilities. I’ve just been really proud of how we’ve responded to that. But that’s been a challenge — to make sure we put the right experienced personnel into the right positions, as small as we’ve been. But we’re getting better, we’re getting faster. And the second major challenge that I think about is that we describe ourselves as the invisible front line. To some degree, space is out of sight and out of mind. And so connecting with the American people and telling them exactly how space affects their day-to-day lives, or why the national security of space is so important to them and their broader defense considerations, has been a challenge. And we have to find unique ways to demonstrate what we do [and] demonstrate how we contribute.
We really put a lot of emphasis in making sure that we do connect with people who are important to our process, stakeholders in our national security efforts, but who may not get to see on a day-to-day basis how space contributes. And so that’s been a challenge, but one that I think we’ve been up to.
When you think back over your tenure at the CSO, what are you most proud of?
It’s such an easy question to answer. The thing I’m most proud of is the guardians. It may sound trite or like it’s just something that needs to be said, but I mean it when I say the guardians are what I’m most proud of. The people who were not intimately involved in the establishment of the service will never understand the hundreds of thousands of hours of planning, of execution, of details — details unseen that will never see the light of day. They just happened. They fixed a problem, and we moved on to the next one. But it was a monumental task to establish the service. I tell the story of being employee No. 89. Gen. [John W.] Raymond was the first CSO, kind of employee No. 1. And he hired a chief master sergeant of the Space Force, Toby Towberman, right behind as employee No. 2. And then we
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman salutes cadets ahead of the Air Force Academy’s 2025 graduation ceremony. (Photo by David Bitton)
got 86 second lieutenants from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Well, 86 second lieutenants are going to contribute the way 86 second lieutenants do. I was No. 89. Really, I was the third major employee in this effort. And to think about a service now that’s over 15,000. We put our heads down, we looked at the details, we assessed what needed to be done, we came up with a plan, and we built the service. But it was all those guardians that we’ve pulled into the service that had to do that work, and I just couldn’t be more proud of them.
What lasting impact do you hope to leave with the guardians?
I get that question [a lot]. What’s your legacy? And I’m just not somebody that’s caught up in the legacy. I’m a guy that was asked to do a job, and I’m doing it to the best of my ability. But I will say that I will be proud of the work that was done to build the foundation. Gen. Raymond did an amazing lift, just getting us across the start line. No small effort. And then CSO two had to turn that into an institution that had all the processes, all the products, the ballast in the ship, the institutional credibility to do what we needed to do. And I think we’ve done a nice job of laying those foundations. I think we’ve defined our vision. I think we’ve defined what it means to be successful for the joint force. I think we have a theory of success. I think we defined our mission. I think we talk about the functional activities that a service has to do: force design, force development, force generation, force employment. And we’ve built the key activities that underpin each of those. We’ve documented them so those com[ing] behind us can execute a repeatable process. And I think if you get the foundation right, there’s just no limits to the height the service can go. And I think we’ve done a nice job of laying the foundation. And I think the generations that come behind us will be able to leverage that to their advantage and to the advantage of the Space Force.
More than 570 Air Force Academy graduates have commissioned in the Space Force since 2020. How has USAFA done preparing them to lead?
There’s no question that the second lieutenants that come in have to be ready to lead from Day 1. That’s as much of a mindset as anything else because the first thing we ask them to do is get trained. And sometimes it’s not seen that there’s a lot of leadership opportunities in a training course, and that’s OK. You have to establish the credibility; you have to build your own personal foundations to be successful. But what we can’t train are the qualities and values that our officers bring to the service with them. They’re captured
in our Core Values: character, commitment, connection, courage. If you don’t come with those, boy, the rest of it’s going to be really tough. And so, what I’ve seen from USAFA graduates is they have a firm understanding of what it means to have core values, what it means to live up to higher standards, what it means to live up to a nation that’s counting on you to do some of its most critical work. And if you don’t have the character to follow through, if you don’t have the commitment to handle all the details, if you don’t connect to others and ask for help and try to learn as quickly as possible, and if you don’t have the courage to challenge your assumptions, the courage to kind of get outside of your comfort zone and discover what you could
A graduating Air Force Academy cadet commissioning into the U.S. Space Force shakes hands with another cadet during the 2025 graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium. (Photo by David Bitton)
do, not just what you think you can do, you’re not going to be as successful. And I think what I’ve seen from the graduates, all of our new second lieutenants, is that they do have those values, and that they are ready on Day 1 to put them into effect and do the best they can for the Space Force.
What do you feel are the biggest challenges and threats in space that our nation and partners face today?
The biggest threats we face, again, there’s the literal challenges of our adversaries, the pacing challenges of the PRC. Right behind them is Russia. It’s certainly an acute challenge that we see in Eastern Europe. But you know, it’s not enough to just say those countries. What is it that they’re doing that really creates the kind of threats that we’re concerned about? I mentioned the six counter space categories of counter space weapons that they’re investing heavily in, the pace with which they’re doing it. But it’s also not enough just to protect our systems from those threats. The PRC has built what we call a kill web. They’ve built space-enabled targeting that really holds at risk our joint force. So if the Space Force can’t deny our adversaries the use of space, then we’re not going to be as effective as a joint force as we need to be. That is a challenge. We have to be able to disrupt, deny [and] degrade those capabilities that our adversaries want to use against us, to harm our force so that we can continue to achieve our military objectives. And that’s going to be a long, detailed — expensive in some cases — proposition, but one that we’re committed to.
What are the biggest cyber security threats facing satellite and space-based systems today?
The cyber threats are real. You cannot effectively execute space missions if you don’t have ground cyber networks to be able to downlink the data, distribute the data to fusion centers, to distribute the data to decision makers, to rapidly make sense of that information. That is all of our cyber network. If those fall prey to cyber threats, then space effects can’t be realized. It’s as simple as that. So we take very seriously the cyber mission defense
of our networks, of our systems that bring these capabilities to bear. And we have focused, initially, our cyber force on the defense of our mission-critical networks. And they are laser-focused on getting that done, mapping out the cyber terrain, making sure we understand exactly what the threats are, and being ready to mitigate them in real time, so that they don’t pose the kind of threats that we see in other parts of the world.
Air Force Secretary Dr. Troy Meink cited readiness as a top concern. What are some Space Force readiness issues?
The readiness issues are like everybody else. What’s the threat? When do you need to be ready? Time, circumstance? It’s a perpetual problem because as soon as you say you’re ready, the adversary decides to do something different or in a different place. You have to be continuously ready; it’s a very dynamic process. So one of the things we focus on is how we generate our forces in the most ready, capable way. We built a model — a rotational model called Space Force Generation — where we realized that day-to-day operations of a SATCOM system or of our GPS constellation doesn’t necessarily get us ready for a highend fight. What it takes to do the data operations isn’t the same as what it will take when you’re in a contested environment. And so what we’ve done is we’ve carved out time for operators to come out of the commit phase, where they’re doing the day-to-day operations, and then focus on threat-based tactics. How are we going to overcome a threat? And so we put them in simulators, we put them on ranges, we put them against a replicated red force so that they can see the threats and they can practice against those threats. Practice gets the reps and sets of their tactics to be effective when called on. And so that model has been very important for us to make sure we’re ready for that high-end fight should it come. The second thing we’ve done is
realize that employed-in-place forces have different readiness requirements than expeditionary forces. The bases that we fight from are the power projection platforms, power, cooling air. These are vital instruments. This is like gas, if you will, to our force. And so defining the weapon-system infrastructure in a way that allows us to have transparency into what the issues are, so that we can be ready and make sure those systems are ready to support our operations. That’s another key piece. And then the last thing I’ll say is we stood up integrated mission deltas. And this may just sound like an org chart — kind of shuffling the deck chairs — but it was not. It was actually a consolidation of all the readiness elements under a lower, more subordinate commander. The colonels and lieutenant colonels in the field now have responsibility for all of the readiness elements: the people, the training, and the equipment and the sustainment of that equipment. It’s not split across field commands. It’s actually at the delta level, where they can be accountable for the full-scale readiness of their units.
How does the Space Force protect U.S. assets from anti-satellite weapons?
The U.S. Space Force has to recognize [and] understand what the threats are, first and foremost. I’ve described our theory of success in three basic tenets. First, we have to be able to avoid operational surprise. If we don’t know what’s going on and attribute bad behavior on orbit, we’re not going to be ready to mitigate threats to our capabilities. And so having the space domain awareness tools, the sensors, the equipment, the data fusion, the decision-making support [is] essential. And then we have to be able to build resilient architectures to try to make it sound like an attack against our systems will not work; it’ll be self-defeating. And if our systems are resilient to that attack, we think we can deny that first-mover advantage that might come if you are more vulnerable. So we’re proliferating our constellations. Instead of having six satellites responsible for a mission, there might be hundreds of satellites, creating a targeting problem for the adversary. That makes us more resilient and starts to deny attacks to
Dr. Troy Meink
an adversary. Those are the basic ways that we’re trying to make sure that we understand what the threats are and mitigate the threats as quickly as possible. The goal, of course, is deterrence, so that an adversary takes a look, realizes they’re not going to get away with it, and they probably won’t achieve the mission effects they’re trying to achieve, so it’s probably not worth attacking at all.
What does “defending U.S. satellites from would-be assailants” look like in practice?
The actual work of defending our assets on orbit starts with understanding the environment. We have sensors that are positioned globally. We have operators that task those sensors to make sure that we’re tracking almost 25,000 objects that are on orbit that we’re paying attention to, and another 40,000 objects, when you start thinking about the debris and things like that. So we have to understand the threats man-made threats, as well as adversary threats. We have to see those in real time. So you have to do the analysis — continual analysis — to make sure you’re ready for it and then characterize the orbits of these things as they shift and move. So if an adversary is trying to maneuver so we can’t find out where it is on orbit, how fast can we determine what the new orbit is? So we have operators, again at our operations centers that are pulling this data in, doing the analytical work and making sure that we have a good picture of what’s on orbit
and what the behaviors are and what’s happening activitywise in space. That’s a big part of defense. And then second is understanding what the current environment looks like, so you can rapidly identify if there is aggressive, irresponsible behavior. Is there a launch that could threaten? We’re always watching for launches. Is there RF [radio frequency] jamming on orbit? What are the indications? Rapidly seeing them, trying to mitigate those effects. And so constantly being on watch is what it really looks like. Operations centers are 24/7, every day of the week, every minute of the day, watching, trying to make sure they understand how the systems are operating. And if there’s any adversaries trying to deny those effects, that we can respond to them.
Anything else that Checkpoints readers should know or that you want to share about the Space Force?
I would summarize by saying we’re at our sixth birthday, which is still pretty junior by all accounts when you have services that have been around a couple of centuries. The Air Force has more decades under its belt than the Space Force has years under its belt. But I’m really proud of the progress we’ve made. I feel like we do have a very capable service that’s not just establishing itself in the Department of Defense, in the joint force, but it’s continuing, and has continued to do the day-to-day missions. We still provide GPS signal every single day. We’re still
U.S. Space Force guardians monitor workstations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in the Combined Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
providing satellite communications and missile warning and nuclear commandand-control capabilities. It’s all happening seamlessly while we continue to develop ourselves and the other missions. And so we’re still a little bit of a work in progress. I don’t want anybody to think you’re done, like we’ve got everything established. We’re looking for more resources. We’re looking for more people. We’re continuing to refine based on the lessons that we’ve learned, and this will be an ongoing process for a while. But while we’re still somewhat establishing, I’m really happy with the foundation that we’ve built. I think we’re in a good place to continue to perform those missions and even acquire new ones, and I’m really excited about the future of the Space Force and the guardians who are joining it.
Scan the QR code or visit usafa. org/checkpoints to view video highlights from our conversation with Gen. Saltzman. The Association & Foundation thanks the chief for taking time from his busy schedule to talk with our Checkpoints team.
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LASER-FOCUSED
UNDERSECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE MATTHEW LOHMEIER ’06 SHARES HIS VISION FOR STRENGTHENING THE AIR FORCE AND SPACE FORCE
By Bryan Grossman
On July 24, the U.S. Senate confirmed the Hon. Matthew Lohmeier ’06 as the 29th undersecretary of the United States Air Force. He now helps guide the department’s strategic direction at a time of rapid change in global defense and technology.
Working alongside Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy Meink, the undersecretary helps manage an annual budget of more than $200 billion to support nearly 700,000 airmen, guardians and civilian employees. He has made it clear that servicemember welfare, force readiness and modernization are among his top priorities.
“Our airmen and guardians sacrifice a great deal to serve the American people,” Undersecretary Lohmeier said following his confirmation. “They deserve all of the best tools, training and support they need to perform their missions in an increasingly complex and quickly evolving threat environment. I’m honored to work alongside Secretary Meink in service of these great men and women."
What are your top priorities as the undersecretary of the Air Force?
My top priority is readiness. I’ve had many months to think about what those priorities should be, and they’ve admittedly continued to morph and develop over time.
The Department of the Air Force’s newest undersecretary recently returned to his alma mater and sat down with the Checkpoints team for a Q&A. The following is a lightly edited transcript of that conversation, which occurred Oct. 31.
But spending the past several months in this seat has driven home the necessity of a focus on readiness, and I think that fits really neatly within the secretary of the Air Force’s priorities. He recently mentioned at the Air & Space Forces Association [conference] that he’s going to have a focus on modernization, readiness and people. And there’s always a tension between modernization and readiness, but I think you have to have a laser focus on readiness. We’ve got a trend that needs to be fixed, and it’s a readiness trend, and so that’ll be my primary focus.
You’ve served as both an airman and guardian. How have those perspectives shaped your leadership philosophy as undersecretary of the Air Force? The air domain and the space domain are
admittedly very different. They require a unique skill set and a unique mindset in each of those domains to successfully operate as warfighters in those domains. And yet, I think my leadership view or philosophy appropriately transcends specific military services and domains. What I mean by that is I think that any military leader, regardless of the domain they operate in, is required to possess — whatever their training was and whatever their skill set was — integrity, authenticity, care for other people and an ability to articulate the mission that we invest all of our time and energy into.
And whether I was in the Air Force on the one hand, or the Space Force, later in my career, the best leaders that I had I thought had a good blend of those qualities, and the leaders that I thought had room for improvement somehow were lacking in those things. And my emphasis,
in fact, while I’m the undersecretary and in working with all of our uniformed leaders, will be to emphasize things like integrity and authenticity and an ability to articulate the mission.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the Air Force and Space Force in the next decade?
I’ve got a couple of ways to answer that, and I’ll start with where we began, which is readiness. Readiness is one of the biggest challenges the Air and Space Forces have. Part of that’s budget-related, of course, part of it is the competition between fielding new capabilities, modernization efforts and keeping healthy the systems that we already operate. Readiness is a perennial problem. It’s a challenge that the Air Force has had throughout its history. Of course, the older those systems get, the more difficult that challenge becomes. On the other hand, it’s the uniqueness of the character of war in the 21st century and the complexity of the threat that we face on the world stage. We are not just facing a single adversary at home or abroad. We’ve got a complex blend of competitors, adversaries, bad actors who seek to undermine the political
sovereignty and legitimacy of our country. And all of our troops who sign up to put on the uniform and defend the Constitution need to grow into an appropriate, healthy understanding for the complexity of those threats. And I think one of the challenges that we’re going to have during this administration, as we come up with a new national defense strategy, for example, and the War Department continues to try and educate the force about its priorities, is to educate the force about the uniqueness of the challenges that we face.
Your background includes experiences in strategy, policy and operations. How do you intend to apply that strategic mindset to address the current challenges facing the Air Force and Space Force?
I had a good opportunity to — it was one of my favorite assignments — attend the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. You mentioned strategy right out of the gate. It’s a strategy school, and their approach to learning and thinking was to sit around a table and to discuss disparate views about things, ideas, books that we had just encountered as warfighters. When we come around the table and talk about disparate views about what we had read, we would discuss unique ways of tackling the challenges that we face. And what that taught me in that environment, which was intended to produce strategists, was that it’s really important that we listen well to others’ views. We listen well to possible solutions, and we come to some consensus or unity about how we can tackle those challenges. We have a lot of challenges in the strategic, complex environment that we find ourselves in right now.
together and find innovative ways to tackle these challenges. And I think we’ve got an excellent leadership team, at least in the Department of the Air Force, because that’s who I work with most closely, of course, but really across the entire joint force, from what I can tell, who are aware of the need to listen well to one another and find great ways to enable the entire joint force to be successful in this new threat environment.
You’ve emphasized the importance of service member welfare and service culture. What are your top priorities to support the well-being of the 700,000 airmen, guardians and civilian personnel under your care?
I’m going to echo something that Secretary Meink said — again, at AFA [Air & Space Forces Association conference]. Because of the uniqueness of the threat environment and because of the complexity of the capabilities that we are fielding, I think we have the challenge before us to provide adequate training to our warfighters to operate those capabilities and to operate within a rapidly evolving, technologically dynamic environment. And so providing all of our people the right training and the right tools that they need to succeed, I think, is going to be tremendously important. So you do what you fund, and you have to think through and talk through and listen to the challenges that we have there, and then you fund appropriately the tools for our warfighters to make sure that they can succeed.
We’ve got to listen to unique and innovative solutions to the problems that we face; absent that listening, I don’t think any amount of experience in strategy or policy or operations is really going to help us much. We have to find ways as a team to come
One of the things I saw on, I think it was Day 1 or Day 2 of being in the seat, I got a briefing on Operation Midnight Hammer. I saw the great work that our airmen and guardians are capable of accomplishing when they have the right tools and the right guidance. And I don’t doubt their ability to accomplish any mission on the world stage. I do doubt, however, a bureaucracy’s ability to always provide them what they need to be successful. So when you get the right leaders in the right seats who are able to work as a team to provide them those tools, I think our airmen and guardians are capable of tackling just about any challenge that they’ll face.
Lohmeier and his family take a photo with the superintendent at the Army/Air Force game.
How will you work with the secretary of the Air Force, the chief of space operations and the next chief of staff of the Air Force to implement key policy decisions?
It’s important that we work well together. And for the record, I’ll say, Secretary Meink and I work very well together. I’ve been in the seat for several months. We communicate clearly and often, and we’ve had a bit of a lag in getting an entirety of Air Force and Space Force uniformed leaders into the seat, but just recently, had our new chief of staff of the Air Force confirmed, and a new vice chief is on the way shortly, I hope. And it’s been great in the few months that I’ve been there, working with Chief of Staff of the Air Force [Gen.] Dave Allvin ’86, who’s retiring. But the “how” comes in the unity that the civilian and uniform team are going to bring to the fight, and knowing the relationship I’ve got already with the Space Force team and with Secretary Meink, I fully anticipate that once our new chief of staff and vice chief of staff of the Air Force are in place, we’re going to be completely synced up with our priorities, and then it’s just a problem of communicating that well to the force, and it’s about selecting the right leaders and enabling them to communicate that to the force. And I have no doubts that we’re going to be able to get that right. One other point I want to make: I happen to know that our new chief of staff, [Gen.
Ken] “Cruiser” Wilsbach, cares a great deal about readiness. I’m really happy to know that that’s been a focus of his while he was the commander of Air Combat Command, and I believe he’s going to bring that focus into the Air Force as the chief of staff, and so our priorities already align very nicely.
What specific modernization efforts do you believe are most urgent for maintaining technological and operational superiority in air and space domains?
Which modernization efforts are most important is almost like asking which of my children I love the most. There’s a lot of exciting things we’re doing. There are some that come to the forefront of just about everyone’s mind when you get a question like that — the new F-47 is an exciting program. The president’s announced it. It’s going to fly before the end of this administration, I think. It’s going to bring an absolutely essential capability, from a power projection perspective, into the Pacific that we need, and that’s chief on the list. There are other capabilities, of course, that come with that, or that complement the F-47 — the collaborative combat aircraft, of course, fits into the answer, because it’s an exciting, complex, nextgeneration capability as well that helps us integrate our long-range kill chain. And I’ll say that there are some exquisite — I
hate throwing that term around too much — and exciting space capabilities that we’re trying to field as well that don’t get the attention that the air capabilities often get. We’ve got a lot of impressive, exciting things going on in space. And there was a point that was driven home to me recently. I went to an air show out at Andrews Air Force Base about a month ago. Everyone in the world wants to show up at air shows and pet airplanes and watch them fly low and fast and perform their maneuvers. You can’t do a lot of that with our space capabilities. And so that’s an arena that I think requires a bit more education effort. We need to better articulate what it is we’re doing here, and we’re working on that, but we’re fielding capabilities, as Secretary Meink pointed out at AFA, right now in space that didn’t exist five years ago, and so there’s a lot of developments there that I think are going to be absolutely critical for our success in maintaining our advantage on the world stage.
What lessons have you learned in leadership since taking on this role that you wish you knew earlier in your career?
I think it’s important as a leader to listen well. When you can, and have the time, suspend judgment when there’s a lot on the line, especially when decisions can be fraught with emotion and a lot of parties are involved. It’s really important to take time to gather data, to listen to all parties involved and to sleep on some things when you can afford to do so and, especially when it comes to senior leaders in the Air Force.
Now [when] making decisions, if and when possible, you have a united front that’s able to come to a mutual agreement about the decisions that we’re making and then throw our full weight behind that in communicating that to the force.
My sense is, the reason I’m answering the way that I have is because, in part, my sense is that we’ve been through a transition period here for about a year, and I haven’t been a part of the Air Force that entire year. But I think that what we’ve had is, people have felt like they’re in limbo. There’s been a period of transition in which there’s been a new politically appointed civilian leadership that’s come in, and a lot of decision-making
As a cadet, Lohmeier, right, was a member of Cadet Squadron 08 — Eagle Eight.
has been suspended in the interim. The force needs clarity from leaders on the direction that we’re pursuing, and as we get a unified leadership team finally seated, I think we’ve had the time and data to reflect on the direction we want the force to go. And now throwing all of our weight behind that and clearly communicating that is going to be really essential to the success of the entire force. There are some pretty weighty decisions that are being made, and no one person is going to make any of those decisions. There’s a leadership team for a reason, and there’s a uniform and a civilian component to that, and we’re all listening well, and we’re trying to be very thoughtful and deliberate about some of these critical decisions that we’re making that are going to impact the country for many years to come, and they certainly imminently impact the force, the people that serve in uniform.
And so we’re trying to get those things right; but as long as it’s taken for some of those decisions, once we move out, we move out with alacrity, and we throw our full weight behind that, and that gives a sense of security to the troops that are actually working these programs, the problems, the training that they’re involved in on [a] day in and day out basis. And oftentimes, I’m aware that they feel like there’s some thrash and that they’re at the end of a whip. And you can’t have that. You need to minimize that.
And I will say this too: Intuition cannot be neglected. Judgment, gut judgment — that’s what I mean by intuition — shouldn’t be neglected as thoughtful as we need to be, as deliberate as we need to be, as serious as some of these decisions are. When you get the right leaders in place at the local level, for example, I want them to have developed their sense for their mission and their people so that they can make intuitive decisions with speed and take risk and move out. And that’s why we pay them the big dollars, because I know they do exceptionally important work. That’s why we trust them with leadership. That’s why they’re in command.
What inspired you to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, and how did it shape your career path?
I was recruited to play basketball at the Air Force Academy. I didn’t know there was an Air Force Academy until I was recruited. God saw to it that I had the best basketball games of my life when the Air Force coaches were watching. I had some of the worst games of my life when other coaches were watching. And so it seemed it was destined that I’d come this direction. But what inspired me to come here was, first of all, a really exciting exposure to cadet life. They didn’t show me much of the four-degree life. They showed me the football games and the rigor of the academic program here. And they foot-stomped integrity and “we do not lie, steal or cheat.” That was driven home while I was a high school student when I was first introduced. And the sense of purpose that cadets are initiated into when they go through basic training, that was really appealing, even to a young man who never had ambition for military service. I didn’t have parents that served. Once they hooked me and I got here, then the question becomes, what kept me interested in an Air Force career? And it’s the same answer: It was my belief in the values that the institution was trying to instill in me as a young man, and I’ve shared publicly elsewhere, that, you know, I really learned to be honest while I was here, really for the first time in my life. It’s not that I didn’t care about those things before I came here, but that there’s enough preaching that goes on here, so to speak, and enough good examples here that you, if you’re willing, learn to take it seriously for the first time in your life, and I did, and it shaped who I was. I left one world behind. I came here to the wood between the worlds, to use C.S. Lewis’ phrase from The Chronicles of Narnia. This was a place of transition for me between worlds. And I left here and commissioned and went out into a new world, which was a commissioned officer in the Air Force, and I was a different person for it. And so I was inspired at first, because of the values that we teach here.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a cadet?
The biggest challenges, you know, they strip everything away from you when
you come here. Every young four-degree recognizes that when they come here, you lose some bit of your liberty. You get your hair taken from you in the first place. You get all your clothes taken from you, and you get a new set of clothes. And that’s hard. It’s hard to set aside what you perceived was your freedom to act and move and to speak freely, and you leave some of that behind to come here. It’s all for good purpose, of course, but those are the biggest initial challenges. You get that back, of course — the more lasting lessons that you learn are something that you only get after a whole four-year experience here. And it wasn’t until I left here that I got to reflect on the difficulty of this place that I grew to appreciate it the most.
What was bitter at one time, and I’ll tell you a lot of the time you come back from a Thanksgiving or a Christmas break, it’s bitter to return to the Air Force Academy. It’s difficult here, and all of that bitterness, put it that way, that’s the word that comes to mind, but the difficulty, the trial of the Air Force Academy, is somehow turned sweet with each passing year as you reflect on the experience that you’ve come through. It was the same thing I went through in SERE training. It’s difficult. What challenges, what opportunities did you have there? Well, you don’t really enjoy it when you go through survival, and evasion, and resistance and escape, you just don’t, and you get through it, and everyone goes out for dinner and talks about the thing they’ve just been through. And the more time you reflect on it, the more grateful you had the experience. You develop lifelong friends here, and you’ve been through the same hard things together, the same kinds of things. This is an incubator of sorts, the same kinds of things you go through here, on a much more serious scale, you’ll go through as an officer at some point, leading troops in the Air Force or in the Space Force. And we’ve got real-world missions that we go out to lead, and something deep inside of you draws on what you experienced here at USAFA, and you’ve become more capable because of the leadership laboratory that is the Air Force Academy.
How did your time here at the Academy prepare you to lead throughout your career?
One way in which I think the Academy prepared me to lead when I left was that I had a few examples of other leaders from my time at the Academy who I tried to imitate. I’ll share one example. For some reason, it’s an unlikely example. I don’t know why, but it was my cadet squadron [air officer commanding]. He was a helicopter pilot. I was the cadet squadron commander, I’ll add in. And we were getting ready for an inspection, some inspection that you get ready for on a weekend, and we’re all making our beds, and we were folding our socks, and the cadet squadron AOC came in and asked how my prep was going for the inspection. I was living by myself; I didn’t have a roommate at the time that I was the cadet squadron commander. He said, “How’s your prep going?” I said, “It’s going great.” I was pretty satisfied with my progress. I thought I was going to be an impressive example to the other cadets of just how put together my room is. He said, “How’s everyone else’s preparation coming along?” I said I didn’t know. And he asked me, “Why not?” He says, “What’s your job here?” I said, “I’m the cadet squadron
commander.” I was pretty proud of that. And he says, “How come you don’t know what the progress of the others is?” And I didn’t have a good answer.
And he says he thought about going to help them.
And I said, “Yeah, maybe when I get my room put together, I’d be happy to go help other people.”
And he says, “What do you think of this idea of service before self?” And I didn’t even think I agreed with his approach of like leaving my stuff behind to go help others. But he asked me then because I knew he could tell I wasn’t buying in, so he asked me if I’d consider stopping what I was doing to go help others.
First, I was bothered by it. Actually, I thought it was the wrong order of things. I needed to get my own house in order before helping others. But he basically held my hand, so to speak, and walked me down the hall, showed me what it looks like to check in on others, make sure they’re getting ready before I took care of myself, and it’s been 21 years, I think, since I had that conversation, and I’ve reflected on it probably at some point every single year since leaving USAFA.
Again, to this day, I don’t know if I had the order right there, but he was trying to drive home a point, and it’s the idea of service before self, and I didn’t know what the status of the other people in my unit was. All I knew was how well I was doing on what I was working on. And I’ve occasionally had opportunity to reflect on whether or not I’ve got that priority right. Do I know how others are doing in my unit? When I thought about it, when I was a squadron commander of a space-based missile warning squadron, how are my people doing? It does no good if I think I’ve got all of my ducks in a row but don’t know how my people are doing, and so I had to ask myself, “How are they doing? Is there anything I can do to help them?” And I’ll
worry about some of my needs later. You can’t always get it in that order, but something about the way in which he approached me — and he knew how to approach me about this — really struck a chord with me. And I think, at USAFA, you’ve got an opportunity as cadet squadron air officer commanding; you’ve got an opportunity as cadet squadron leadership. We’ve got an opportunity as senior enlisted leaders at USAFA to influence very moldable young men and women who are 19 and 20 and 21 who are going to be future leaders of our Air Force. We have great ways, great opportunities to influence them and teach them what it means to be men and women of integrity and to serve others before themselves and be excellent in what they’re doing in ways that we just don’t have anywhere else in the Air Force. This is a unique incubator, and so [I’m] really grateful for that time I had, and I’m sure that all of our cadets, many of them, if they’re applying themselves, have that same opportunity today.
If you could go back in time and offer Cadet Lohmeier advice, what would that be?
I don’t know if my answer will be satisfactory because questions like this are just really tough for me. We all make good decisions and bad decisions. We all look back and wish we could have done something differently. For example, I was in the end a social sciences major. There have been many times that I’ve thought I should have taken advantage of the aeronautical engineering program, for example, or done physics. I study that stuff for fun in my free time now, and I can honestly say I’ve thought about regretting the decision to pursue the path that I did while I was here, but I don’t regret any bit of my journey. There [were] good times and there were bad times, and they’ve all been an important part of my life journey.
I think the healthiest approach would be, I could go back and pat myself on the back and say, “You’re on the right path. And however hard things become each year, it’s OK, because it’s all a part of shaping who you’re going to be.” And if people have the right mentality, however many tours they march or however many difficult classes they get in trouble with, or however high they
The undersecretary accumulated more than 1,200 flight hours in the T-38 and the F-15C.
think they’re flying while they’re here, things are going to change, and the wheel of fortune keeps turning; you can’t always control the good and the bad that’s going to come your way, but we ought to reflect in gratitude on the things that are shaping us. And, so, I don’t know if I would try and encourage the old me to change anything about my path. I’d simply encourage me to press on.
“You’re going to get it right and keep your values intact. The things you’re learning here are correct — meaning integrity, service and excellence — and if you keep those things dialed in, come hell or high water, there’s going to be a way through. You’ll be able to rely on your peers to see you through any challenge, and you’ll be able to make a positive impact on the world stage.”
What qualities do you believe Academy graduates must have today to meet the demands of modern service?
I’ll beat this drum happily for my entire time that I’m the undersecretary — it’s integrity, service and excellence. This is the unique laboratory that trains cadets [that] those things really matter. In fact, I plan to talk more about them as the months go on, because integrity isn’t just doing the right thing when nobody’s watching; it’s doing the right thing when everyone’s watching, and they don’t necessarily agree with you.
And it’s somehow continuing to develop your character and then aligning your speech and your thought and your conduct outwardly with the inward conviction. And the Academy can do that exceptionally well for our future leaders.
After nearly two decades in uniform and a career as an author and speaker, what motivated you to return to federal service in this high-level civilian role?
I’ll say, probably more than anything, a sense of duty, because I was very happy to be a private citizen. Being perfectly candid about it, I didn’t have ambition to return to government service, but the president asked me to serve, and I was happy to do that. And I believe in the direction we’re going as a department — we’ve got exceptionally challenging decisions that we’re facing and we’ve got a uniquely complex threat environment, as we’ve discussed earlier, and there is a real part of me that would actually like to leave to other poor souls to face those challenges and make the hard decisions and to enjoy private life as a citizen.
That’s why the state exists in the first place. It’s to protect the citizens so they can enjoy their private affairs.
Now I very much enjoy private affairs. I just went to Mount Vernon with my family recently and heard that George Washington was always seeking the next opportunity to get back to Mount Vernon and to tend his garden and to take care of matters at home, and yet was willing, out of a sense of duty, to serve the people. And in whatever small sphere of influence I have the opportunity at present to occupy, it’s a sense of duty that draws me back into public service, and I’m happy. And having said all of that, and being candid about all of that, I’m genuinely happy to be here and really like the people I’m working with in Air Force and Space Force senior leadership. They’ve got their priorities intact. They’re really trying to serve the men and women in uniform. I like working with Secretary Meink. The country should be grateful to have Secretary Meink as the secretary of the Air Force. He’s exceptionally bright. He’s very clear-eyed about the challenges
we face, and he’s very thoughtful in his approach to how to solve those problems. So I really couldn’t have asked for a better team of people to integrate into to do this job, which just sweetens the deal when I’ve made the decision ultimately to be a public servant. And having said all of that, I really do look forward to the chance to return to being a private citizen someday and turning over the reins to other people, and yet understand that there’s always the possibility that you’re asked to be a public servant in other ways. And so you weigh that, and you see if duty calls you to other directions.
Anything else you’d like to add that we didn’t touch on?
I’ll foot-stomp something that we’ve already talked about and it’s integrity. Something about that is deeply important to me. I suppose what I’ll say about it is I’m grateful for the Air Force Academy experience, as hard as it was, as bitter as it was, to return year after year. I really believe in the program. However, it’s changed over the years, whatever nuance that any leadership team brings to the Academy program. I really believe in what we’re doing here, so I want to cheer on all of our cadets [to] learn earlier in life than later that your integrity matters, because it’s something that even after you put down the uniform, you will take with you the rest of your life, and you can do great things in your sphere of influence if you’ve got your integrity intact, and you can destroy a great many things if you don’t.
And so I want to share that, and if there’s anything I leave behind as a legacy — I’m at the very beginning of my tenure — but I really hope to beat this drum early and often, so that when I leave someday, people recognize that I actually focused on integrity while I was here, and authentic leadership that’s fueled by integrity.
Editor's note: Find the full Checkpoints conversation with Undersecretary Lohmeier at usafa.org/Checkpoints_online.
Lohmeier earned a bachelor's degree in social science.
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SULLENBERGER AWARD FOR COURAGE
G UARDIANS AT THE GATEWAY
USAFA graduates are helping to shape America’s space future at Vandenberg
By David Bitton
The ground shakes as another rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, its fiery exhaust painting a brilliant streak across the California sky.
For Col. Krista St Romain ’03, commander of Space Delta 1, it’s a teaching moment for students witnessing the spectacle during a 2-mile morning run.
“We slowed down for a second to watch the launch,” she recalls. “It is an incredible opportunity to deepen our connection to the Space Force mission by observing spacepower dominance in action. This experience inspires our newest guardians to excel in their training and develop into the tactical experts for mission success in operations.”
This scene of new guardians training while rockets launch overhead captures the transformation underway at America’s western gateway to space.
What began as a Cold War missile base has evolved into a bustling spaceport where U.S. Air Force Academy graduates are building the future of space operations amid record-breaking launch tempos and evolving threats.
THE NEW SPACE RACE Space has transformed from a sanctuary to a warfighting domain.
“The Chinese Communist Party, through the
People’s Liberation Army, expects space to play an important role in future conflicts,” warns Brig. Gen. Frank Kincaid ’94, deputy commander of U.S. Space Forces-Space, who oversees command and control of space operations through five geographically dispersed operations centers.
Established in December 2023, Space ForcesSpace serves as the Space Force component to U.S. Space Command, leading approximately 17,000 personnel across 50 tactical units.
Brig. Gen. Frank Kincaid ’94
R ECORD-BREAKING LAUNCH TEMPO AND EVOLVING THREATS
T RANSFORM CALIFORNIA’S HISTORIC SPACEPORT INTO THE
SPACE FORCE’S PROVING GROUNDS
The first 21 U.S. Space Force satellites in the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture are launched into low Earth orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Sept. 10, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
(Photo courtesy SpaceX)
The command operates around the clock, presenting combat-ready forces to combatant commanders worldwide.
“Space is of vital national interest, and the intensifying strategic competition presents a serious threat to U.S. national security interests in, from and to space,” Gen. Kincaid says.
The threats have multiplied since 2007, when China destroyed one of its own weather satellites with a direct-ascent anti-satellite weapon, creating thousands of pieces of debris that still endanger spacecraft today.
China has launched objects 30,000 kilometers into space and, in January 2022, demonstrated its ability to grapple and move other spacecraft when its Shijian-21 satellite moved a derelict BeiDou navigation satellite.
Russia also views space as a warfighting domain and has tested air-launched systems from MiG-31 aircraft, such as the Burevestnik anti-satellite missile capable of destroying targets in near-space.
For Gen. Kincaid, protecting and defending space capabilities against threats is personal.
His journey from cadet to general officer included a transformative deployment in 2007 with the Marines to Fallujah, Iraq, where he experienced space capabilities on the ground: satellite imagery, GPS, SATCOM radios and UAV feeds.
Sitting in a Humvee under fire, using all those space effects, changed his perspective forever.
“There is some 19-year-old Marine out there who is getting to the right place, surviving and getting home, which is completely enabled by these space capabilities,” he says. “It has to be taken seriously, and it has to be protected, because they can’t do that job without it. That experience changed how I approach leading in the space domain.”
‘BUSINESS IS BOOMING’ Vandenberg’s operational tempo tells the story of America’s response to these threats.
The base launched 51 rockets in 2024, breaking its own record from 1974.
“We’ll likely hit around 70 launches this year, breaking the record again,” says
Col. James Horne III ’00, commander of Space Launch Delta 30, Vandenberg’s host unit, who also oversees the Vandenberg Spaceport and the Western Range. “Business is booming.”
A business management major who later became chief engineer for the Atlas V rocket, Col. Horne embodies the Academy’s ability to produce adaptable leaders.
“I wanted to be an engineer, but my math background was a little weak and I couldn’t recover in time to get the fouryear degree,” he recalls.
Yet he occupied engineering billets throughout his career, learning from sharp engineers and building on his Academy foundation.
Even this launch veteran, who was previously stationed at Vandenberg in 2017, was surprised by Vandenberg’s transformation when he took command in July.
Beyond the launch pads, the base now coordinates all Pacific test operations, supports Edwards Air Force Base flight tests, lands hypersonic vehicles at a rate of about two a month, hosts homeland defense alert operations and houses the 18th Space Defense Squadron tracking every object in space.
A COMPLEX ECOSYSTEM
This growth requires orchestrating 42 mission partners, each bringing unique capabilities to Vandenberg’s expanding portfolio.
Team Vandenberg meets regularly to deconflict everything from rocket
launches to road construction.
“It literally takes the entire base to launch a rocket,” Col. Horne emphasizes.
Fire protection, security cordons, emergency operations, safety personnel and logistics must all synchronize perfectly.
“At any given time we could be doing utilities or road work that could block certain operations from happening,” Col. Horne says.
The mission partners span the national security space enterprise.
NASA uses Vandenberg exclusively for polar orbit satellite launches.
The Missile Defense Agency conducts missile defense testing while maintaining on-alert interceptors.
The 377th Test and Evaluation Group brings intercontinental ballistic missile expertise from Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
Space Forces-Space maintains a major presence while commanding combat forces in space superiority operations.
Boeing and Lockheed Martin operate facilities.
The Combined Space Operations Center executes 24/7 command and control of space forces.
Infrastructure improvements totaling $800 million next fiscal year support this growth, including a massive Sentinel facility for next-generation nuclear missile testing.
For the first time in Vandenberg’s history, a cyber squadron — the 630th —
Col. James Horne III ’00
will be stood up to defend launch networks from attack.
Digital innovation and artificial intelligence help optimize operations through the first digital model, or “twin,” of a spaceport.
CREATING THE GUARDIAN CULTURE
While rockets dominate the skyline, Space Delta 1 shapes something more enduring: the Space Force’s culture.
Unlike traditional services producing specialists, the Space Force creates multidisciplinary leaders who understand space, cyber, intelligence and acquisitions.
“Our mission is to create our nation’s guardians,” says Col. St Romain. “They are uniquely trained from Day 1 for space operations in a warfighting domain.”
The energy from these first-generation guardians keeps leaders motivated.
“It’s an energy I’ve never felt before,” Col. St Romain says. “That’s what gets me up in the morning.”
Capt. Devin Doyle ’20 helps channel that energy as part of Delta 1’s Commander’s Action Group.
Part of USAFA’s first cohort to commission directly into the Space Force, Doyle eventually taught enlisted, officer and civilian courses.
She was handpicked to develop the first-ever civilian guardian training over three proof-of-concept iterations.
“Being part of the first generation is about defining what it means to be a guardian,” Doyle explains. “We’re not just transferring practices from other branches; we’re forging our own identity, values and culture.”
The Space Force pioneers radical departures from traditional military structures.
Members can shift between sustained duty (full-time) and non-sustained duty (part-time) status without bureaucratic delays.
Since September 2024, all newly commissioned officers attend a 12-month Officer Training Course at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, covering all space disciplines — satellite operations, intelligence, cyber operations and acquisitions — rather than specializing immediately.
Even families participate in the service’s culture. At Basic Military Training graduations, new guardians present Delta-shaped Space Force family lapel pins to their loved ones — a tradition that began in December 2023.
Col. Amy Horton ’01, an Air Force reservist who serves as backup commander for Space Launch Delta 30, witnessed this cultural innovation firsthand.
“I know that I cannot serve without the support of my family,” Col. Horton says. “My parents and children step up and support me while I am away. As a small service, the Space Force recognizes the value of the families of our guardians. Our success depends not only on the dedication of our guardians but also on the support of their families, who stand behind them every step of the way.”
TESTING AMERICA’S ARSENAL
Beyond launches, Vandenberg serves as America’s premier aerospace testing range.
The 377th Test and Evaluation Group — the only dedicated intercontinental ballistic missile test unit in the Department of War — validates the nuclear deterrent through end-to-end testing.
“Our weapon system is utilized every single day to deter the adversaries of the United States and reassure our allies,” explains Maj. Jacob Seabury ’15, chief of ICBM Ground Test and Evaluation. “These test launches are routine and periodic, designed to demonstrate that our most responsive nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, reliable and, most of all, effective.”
Four times yearly, his team launches ICBMs to Kwajalein Atoll, 4,200 miles away.
The weapon system components, as well as a contingent of operators and maintainers, travel from the operational ICBM wings to prepare and execute these flight tests.
For safety, operational test launch sorties are capable of in-flight commanddestruct to terminate the launch during the boosted phase of flight.
While not present on operational ICBMs at the missile wings, this function reaffirms Vandenberg’s commitment to conduct operationally realistic, yet safe, operations.
The juxtaposition between space-age operations and Cold War-era technology creates surreal moments.
“Our operators in the Launch Control Center continue to use an integrated trackball to interact with the weapon system,” Seabury notes. “While many of our infrastructure systems continue to use some form of magneto-optical media, we are seeing a lot more modernization efforts.”
Maj. Jacob Seabury ’15
Col. Krista St Romain ’03
WHERE GOVERNMENT MEETS COMMERCIAL
The Space Force’s commercial partnerships have revolutionized space access.
After failures in the 1980s and 1990s costing billions, the government created mission assurance programs that put military personnel directly into commercial operations.
First Lt. Katherine Crabtree ’23 exemplifies this new model.
A business management major drawn to innovation, she monitors rocket propulsion as a launch vehicle manager for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.
The Vulcan rocket launched in August from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying Space Force satellites into orbit.
“I never thought I would be learning rocket science in my day-to-day life and be held accountable for that,” Crabtree says.
The amount of responsibility so early in her career surprises her.
“You often hear that as an LT, you’re
only going to be stocking the snack bar and not have responsibility,” she says. “This morning, I was out at the launchpad looking at the construction on Space Launch Complex 3. I was accountable for the daily report. It’s the best surprise ever to get actual work experience at the age of 24. I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Government teams partner with SpaceX, ULA, Firefly, Relativity Space and Rocket Lab, creating accountability while fostering innovation.
They support launches from both coasts simultaneously, leveraging technology to be on console at Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral.
THE HIDDEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Every mission depends on support functions most never see.
“I was actually the most surprised at how integrated the Air Force support functions are into space launch,” Col. Horton says. “Without the civil engineers, the security forces, the firemen, even our weather folks, we cannot launch anything.”
Her diverse background — flight test, teaching, acquisitions and joint operations — brings fresh perspectives to entrenched problems.
One night, as acting commander, she handled an unexpected crisis: A human
skull washed up on a nearby beach along the Pacific Ocean.
After determining the remains were 150 years old, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians — a federally recognized tribe of Indigenous people from that region — handled them according to their customs.
Environmental stewardship at Vandenberg adds complexity.
Space Launch Delta 30 personnel carefully protect 16 endangered species while launching rockets weekly.
Civil engineers balance these competing demands, working with federal agencies to be, as Col. Horne puts it, “good stewards of the environment while still enabling us to do all the things we must do for the nation.”
Supporting this ecosystem requires expansive contracting.
Second Lt. Noah Blake ’24 manages everything from sonic boom wildlife research to $800 million in infrastructure improvements.
A USAFA wrestler who sells real estate and trains jiu-jitsu on the side, he credits the Academy for his ability to rapidly research unfamiliar topics.
“Knowing how to do research, I can rip through different documents on Google and break things down really well,” Blake says.
1st Lt. Katherine Crabtree ’23
A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket carrying Space Force satellites into orbit lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. (Courtesy photos)
LEADING INNOVATION
Young officers across Vandenberg carry unprecedented responsibility.
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman (see p. 18), chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, confirmed this is intentional.
“The Department of Defense requires highly experienced personnel to do the work that’s required,” Gen. Saltzman told Checkpoints. “We’ve had to take younger people and step up to more senior responsibilities, and I’ve just been really proud of how we’ve responded.”
They brief Congress, interface with Fortune 500 CEOs and shape billiondollar programs.
Unlike traditional deployments, they deploy in place, driving from their homes to operate satellites or counter threats thousands of miles overhead.
Building warrior ethos without deployment hardships requires creative leadership.
Gen. Kincaid found the answer from a Marine colonel in Iraq.
“If you do anything to find, fix, target, track, engage or assess an enemy, you are part of this fight, and that makes you a warfighter,” Gen. Kincaid remembers the colonel saying.
International partnerships multiply America’s space power.
Operation Olympic Defender brings together the Five Eyes nations [Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States] plus France and Germany.
“One of our greatest advantages is our allies and partners around the world,” Gen. Kincaid emphasizes. “Being able to cooperate and have a mature space defense partnership allows us to do some burden sharing and leverage capabilities across the board.”
FORGING THE FUTURE
As these graduates shape the future from California’s Central Coast, transformation shows in details large and small — from building a digital twin of the spaceport to spontaneous “Ask Me Anything” sessions in dining facilities, where young guardians pepper leaders with questions.
For Col. Horton, the Reserve offered unexpected fulfillment after leaving active duty.
“My first Reserve assignment with the 302nd Maintenance Group left me reinvigorated and inspired to serve,”
Col. Horton says. “During my time at USINDOPACOM, I gained a deeper understanding of how the Space Force mission is vital to supporting the warfighter. Now, I have the privilege of contributing to the Space Force mission at Vandenberg. Witnessing the incredible accomplishments of the entire team during each launch or test mission has been an honor and an adventure.”
For Crabtree, joining the first Space Force generation means pioneering uncharted territory.
“Being a part of the first of anything means that you are on the ground and your opinion is very heavily noted to shape the future of space.”
The mission’s importance resonates across generations, from Gen. Kincaid, whose first orders still said Strategic Air Command, to Blake managing contracts months after commissioning.
As Vandenberg prepares for more growth, including new launch complexes, expanded training pipelines and hypersonic test facilities, these Academy graduates stand ready.
In an era when space enables everything from emergency response to global commerce to homeland defense, their work has never been more critical.
They’re not just launching rockets or tracking satellites.
They’re securing America’s future in a domain where one day’s advantage might determine the next century’s balance of power.
Looking toward a future where terrestrial conflicts will potentially be won or lost in orbit, Gen. Kincaid emphasizes, “If you can find ways to enhance our ability to ensure freedom in space, then do it, because space is definitely something worth fighting for.”
2nd Lt. Noah blake ’24
NAVIGATING CAREER TRANSITIONS
The Association & Foundation is committed to helping you make the most of your service and navigate every phase of your career with confidence. Whether you’re active duty, furthering your education or building a career as a civilian, we’re here to support you and help open doors.
WHAT CAN CAREER SERVICES DO FOR YOU?
• Connect you with our employer partners
• Offer career coaching
• Review your resume
• Translate military skills and leadership to civilian competencies
• Tailor an individual career transition plan
• Provide networking training
• Conduct mock interviews
• Create an educational gap analysis and suggest continuing education opportunities
• Help you access the Long Blue Line Portal
USAFA grads navigate the high-stakes world of IPOs
By David Bitton
times Square pulsed with afternoon crowds streaming past honking taxi cabs and street vendors.
Matt Kuta ’05 stood in the middle of it all. His team huddled around him as he raised a bottle, his thumb working the cork. It exploded upward with a pop that turned heads, champagne shooting into the air as Voyager Technologies supporters applauded and roared.
started a company with no money, no revenue and no employees — just an idea in a PowerPoint presentation,” Kuta says. “We started Voyager six months before COVID, and then we had interest rates rise and two land wars kick off in Europe. To look back on everything that the team accomplished and be able to successfully have a traditional IPO on the New York Stock Exchange is quite the milestone.”
MATT KUTA ’05
Above their heads, a jumbotron the size of a multistory building blazed with an image of Starlab, the commercial space station that Voyager is building to replace the International Space Station orbiting 250 miles overhead.
Hours earlier, Voyager co-founder and president Kuta and CEO Dylan Taylor stood flanked by their executive team as they rang the New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell, marking the company’s debut as a publicly traded corporation.
“It is really surreal to think back that we
or acquisition office to IPO isn’t obvious, but the skills forged on the Terrazzo and in operational assignments translate remarkably well to the high-stakes world of public markets.
FROM COMBAT MISSIONS TO MARKET DEBUTS
The ability to lead under pressure, execute complex missions with precision and
From Silicon Valley boardrooms to Wall Street trading floors, U.S. Air Force Academy graduates are helping shape — with integrity, service and excellence — one of capitalism’s most critical moments: taking companies public.
Whether as founders ringing the opening bell, investment bankers orchestrating billion-dollar debuts or early-stage investors spotting the next breakthrough, these graduates bring leadership to an arena where thousands of jobs hang in the balance.
The path from the cockpit of a fighter jet
maintain composure when things go sideways makes Air Force Academy graduates uniquely suited for the controlled chaos of taking a company public.
For Kuta, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Jabara Award winner, the pressure of an IPO paled in comparison to what he experienced leading combat missions in the F-15E Strike Eagle.
Flying almost exclusively at night over Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, he performed high-risk maneuvers like night low-illumination strafing while supporting troops on the ground.
(Photo courtesy NYSE)
(Photo courtesy NYSE)
“In combat, the pressure is making sure I’m going to bring my guys home,” Kuta says. “When I pushed the ‘pickle button’ to release a bomb for the first time in Afghanistan during a troops-in-contact, I had this knot in my stomach because you won’t know until the bomb goes off whether you did everything right.”
That perspective serves him well when navigating the unpredictability of Wall Street.
When a company goes public, the executive leaders don’t know for sure until the night before whether the offering will price at a sufficient level and raise enough money to proceed.
Family and friends are already in town, employees have gathered and the pressure builds.
“During the IPO process, some of the investment bankers and lawyers said, ‘You seem so calm, so unflappable,’” Kuta recalls. “I’m like, ‘This is just me. Everything’s going to work out. If it doesn’t, the world’s not going to end.’”
Jason Kim ’99 echoes that sentiment.
As CEO of Firefly Aerospace, he led the company through the largest space IPO in history in August, raising nearly a billion dollars just months after Firefly became the first commercial company to fully successfully land on the moon.
For Kim, watching his team celebrate that historic moon landing in the Mission Operations Room stands as a proud mo-
’99
JASON KIM
ment he will never forget.
Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander touched down upright and stable — a feat only five countries had accomplished before Firefly — and then conducted the longest commercial surface mission in history at 14 days.
“It showed all the hard work, all the sacrifice, all the smart thinking,” Kim says. “All the simulations and rehearsals that the team did over many months came to fruition with something that was worldinspiring.”
THE BANKER’S PERSPECTIVE
While founders like Kuta and CEOs like Kim experience IPOs from center stage, investment bankers orchestrate the complex logistics that make those moments possible.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bobby Wolfe ’99, who serves as a director and global head of cybersecurity investment banking at his firm, has advised many industry-leading companies through some of the sector’s most highprofile public debuts and transactions.
The work starts well before the opening bell.
Bankers help draft the prospectus, meticulously craft management presentations, hand-select investors, coordinate coast-tocoast roadshows, build order books, allocate shares and debate the right price.
“It is really surreal to think back that we started a company with no money, no revenue, no employees, just an idea in a PowerPoint presentation.” —Matt Kuta ’05
“While everyone loves the sound of the bell and pictures from the first day of trading on the floor, it’s all about logistics,” Col. Wolfe says. “The banker’s job of managing the IPO process and providing critical advice starts months in advance. Each IPO brings back memories of long days and nights with founders, investors, board members,
lawyers, fellow underwriters and company executives. It’s a hectic and exciting time with a lot that goes on behind the scenes, but it’s only the beginning for a public company.”
Col. Wolfe retired in 2019 after serving more than two decades in the Air Force across active duty and the Reserve while building his banking career.
He found balance through flexibility and, as he puts it, very little sleep.
His path wasn’t traditional. After earning his Harvard MBA in 2011, he started at the bottom, entering banking as an associate without a clear career trajectory.
His transition from military to Wall Street came with more than a few culture shocks.
An early boss — the global head of his group — was adamant that business is done on a first-name basis, which was the opposite of everything he had learned in the military, and nonchalantly threatened to fire Col. Wolfe for addressing a client as “sir.”
“He may have been joking, but that was an eye-opener and a hard habit to break,”
Col. Wolfe says.
The software IPO landscape has evolved dramatically since Col. Wolfe entered the field.
Early in his career, software companies could go public before reaching $100 million in revenue, sell $100 million in stock and target a $1 billion market capitalization.
Today, companies are materially larger, often above $300 million in revenue, can sell $500 million to $1 billion in stock, and can likely expect a $5 billion market capitalization on Day 1.
What makes software companies attractive to investors is their business model, which provides recurring revenue that gives investors visibility into the future,
strong gross margins and key performance indicators around customer retention that other sectors struggle to replicate.
“Software companies today are attacking huge markets and are efficient at the grossmargin level, and software companies often disclose metrics, such as annual recurring revenue and customer retention, that other sectors may not be able to disclose,” Col. Wolfe says.
The moments before pricing an IPO test everyone involved.
The roadshow runs about two weeks, with bankers shuttling management between meetings, investor calls in cars, presentations, meals and flights, while the CEO and CFO stay constantly on the go working to balance running the business back home.
“Everything culminates when the underwriters present the stock purchase order book to management and actually price the IPO the night before the stock starts trading,” Col. Wolfe explains. “That pricing meeting usually occurs in a nondescript conference room at the top of a New York City skyscraper, and everyone is exhausted. The next morning is a blur as the company rings the bell and starts trading, followed by a full sprint with reporters, talk shows and news outlets. Throughout that first day, everyone watches every minute
movement of the stock.”
Through it all, bankers serve as trusted advisers.
The best bankers play a unique role as a key partner to decision-makers, executives and investors in an industry.
“Investment bankers monitor, track and transact in the capital markets every day,” Col. Wolfe says. “From that unique vantage point, investment bankers can provide perspective, serve the ecosystem and shape the landscape of industry for years to come.”
SPOTTING WINNERS EARLY
Paul Madera ’78 — namesake of USAFA’s Madera Cyber Innovation Center and a Distinguished Graduate — sees companies long before they’re ready for Wall Street.
As managing director at Meritech Capital, he co-founded one of the first firms focused specifically on late-stage venture capital.
When he started in 1999, the firm raised the first billion-dollar venture fund, though he’s quick to note it was their worst-performing fund, given it was invested at the height of the tech bubble.
But that experience helped validate the concept of later-stage venture capital and launched a career that continues today.
“All the training and practice with flying fighters is focused on one thing: getting to the target or the area on time and employing whatever you have effectively,” Madera says.
of traction and they’re headed down the right path.”
W hen Meritech invests, companies are still five to seven years away from going public.
Software companies need several key elements to be IPO-ready. First, they must approach $300 million in annual revenue to near profitability. They also need to maintain at least 20% annual growth while demonstrating clear business models with strong gross margins and efficient sales and marketing. Finally, their market must offer a significant runway to sustain this growth for several years.
Madera’s role is hands-on but measured, and his firm never replaces management of successful companies because there’s a magic element they haven’t figured out themselves. Instead, they act as counselors around the edges.
“A lot of these entrepreneurs tend to be brilliant engineers who haven’t managed many people,” Madera says. “They’re in a very lonely job. They’ve got to put up a front of success and confidence to their team. We seek to be counselors, providing guidance, helping with introductions to round out the team.”
Madera says one quality gained from military service proves invaluable in what he does: the ability to work with anyone.
In the military, you don’t get to pick who you work for, how long you’re in a position or what job you’re given, so you just make it work.
“That’s really similar to what I look for in companies today.”
Madera searches for companies with interesting early traction, business models that work, gross margins that make sense, and measurable sales and marketing efficiency, but the human element matters most to him.
“ These entrepreneurs tend to be particularly smart and charismatic in terms of recruiting other team members,” he says. “They’ve got huge goals and have this determination that presses on even when all their family and friends say, ‘No, it’s crazy, don’t do it.’ We actually like to see those, particularly when they’ve gotten a little bit
“You develop an ability to work with all kinds of people, which is different than most civilians,” Madera says. “In the civilian world, [if] you don’t like your boss, you quit and go somewhere else. The military says you’ve got to get through, keep your eyes on the target, keep your eyes on the mission and do it. That tends to be a really helpful quality in my world.”
Madera sat as a board observer at Facebook from 2006 to 2012, watching the social network’s development through its IPO.
The investment almost didn’t happen, as Meritech was negotiating with MySpace when that company was sold to Fox Interactive. They pivoted to the next-best option: a startup with 30 colleges on its platform called Facebook.
LT. COL. (RET.) BOBBY WOLFE ’99
“I think the lesson really is you can’t do it all, but if you prioritize your time and fully commit, you can excel and things can really take off.”
—Samantha Sarkis ’11
miss several that end up being successful,” Madera says. “We don’t want to be in every company. We just want to be in companies that work.”
Today, the biggest trend reshaping venture capital is artificial intelligence.
Currently, more than 50% of all venture capital is invested in AI, Madera says, and it could change the world as much as the internet did starting in 1998.
But it’s also incredibly early in the development of AI-based companies.
“Many of these companies who are
The path to success wasn’t obvious, as most investors were ready to sell for a modest gain.
At one board meeting, it was revealed that Facebook was spending four times as much supporting each account as they could generate in revenue, and the advertising model on social networks was unproven.
“Thank God we hired Sheryl Sandberg [a technology executive who served as Facebook’s chief operating officer from 2008-2022] from Google,” Madera says. “She brought real business savvy that made it work.”
Over 26 years investing in tech companies, Madera has learned humility, as no one gets it all right.
He points to Netflix, HubSpot, Uber and DoorDash as examples of companies he missed. But Meritech did manage to invest in Salesforce, Datadog, Roblox, Coupa, Flock Safety, MuleSoft and 10x Genomics.
The key, he emphasizes, is having a framework and sticking to it rather than chasing every deal.
“We look to have a screen in our business that is high enough that we’re going to
Her path to finance wasn’t linear.
Growing up in Minnesota, she was recruited to play tennis at the Academy and drawn in by the opportunity for a top-tier education and a nontraditional path.
After graduating, she served as an acquisition officer managing procurement and sustainment programs on large cargo planes worth tens of millions of dollars.
Balance didn’t come easily at the Academy.
Her freshman year GPA was 2.7, and she felt overwhelmed by everything coming at her.
raising tens of millions, if not billions, of dollars, don’t really have a fully fleshed out business model yet,” Madera says. “So there’s a huge maelstrom of activity and investment that is just not very clear where it ends up, and it’s going to be fascinating to watch.”
BUILDING THE FOUNDATION
Samantha Sarkis ’11 works even earlier in the investment cycle.
As a vice president at Atlantic Pacific Capital, one of the largest independently owned private equity placement and advisory firms, she helps raise capital for private equity, private credit, real estate and other alternative investment strategies not accessible to typical retail investors.
The money she helps raise comes much earlier than IPO capital and gives companies resources to grow by recruiting talent and pursuing mergers and acquisitions that make them more attractive candidates when they eventually go public.
“I think the capital that I get to help raise helps build the foundation for them to get there,” Sarkis says.
Sarkis turned the corner when her adviser told her about a corporate internship program requiring a 3.0 GPA.
She stepped back from tennis after her three-degree year, and once she took something off her plate, her GPA immediately improved to a 3.0 and above, placing her in the top 10% of her class academically by graduation.
“I think the lesson really is you can’t do it all; but if you prioritize your time and fully commit, you can excel and things can really take off,” Sarkis says.
The transition from Air Force acquisition to equity capital markets at Bank of America, she says, humbled her.
“You go from managing teams, and then you get put at the bottom of the totem pole,” Sarkis says. “Even though I was an associate, I was placed at the bottom with all the analysts. It was jarring, but it taught me to prove myself all over again.”
It was even harder because she started in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
What would normally be on-the-job training became clunky Zoom screen-
(Photo courtesy Nakajima.photo.office)
(Photo by Bryan Grossman)
PAUL MADERA ’78
shares showing Excel models, data searches and file hierarchies.
The steep learning curve stretched longer.
The saving grace was starting through a small veteran cohort rotation program, where everyone felt the same pressures and leaned on each other.
At Bank of America, Sarkis joined the equity capital markets team, which advises companies on raising capital through the public markets, including IPOs, followon offerings, convertible bonds and block sales.
When companies want to go public, coverage bankers will bring in the equity capital markets group to advise on timing, size, target investors and positioning of the story.
One aspect she loved was “testing the waters.”
Before a company goes public, the banks working on the IPO arrange practice meetings, where management pitches their story to potential investors.
Sarkis’ role was to follow up with investors afterward, calling to understand their real concerns and reactions, and then translating that feedback into actionable insights the company could use to refine their messaging and address investor hesitations.
She loved this investor relations work but wanted to move away from the demanding market hours, and Atlantic Pacific
’11
SAMANTHA SARKIS
offered the perfect intersection: storytelling, relationship building and entrepreneurial agency over her work.
That relationship-driven approach now shapes how she evaluates opportunities. hen considering whether to take on new mandates, Sarkis looks at team, strategy and track
e team’s background and experience must authentically align with what they’re doing. The strategy must offer clear differentiation in a crowded field. The track record needs to demonstrate consistent performance with minimal blemishes.
One trait proves surprisingly important: marketing ability.
“If a team is strong at telling their story, it goes a long way,” Sarkis says. “Management teams shape the first impression, and that narrative strength can sometimes offset weaker areas in the pitch.”
She says the most challenging aspect of her role is capturing attention and mindshare, as investors in New York receive hundreds of emails per day.
Breaking through that noise requires close relationships where you can call and get an answer.
Sarkis credits her Academy training for preparing her for capital markets, as the cross-functional structure mirrors her work environment. Juggling multiple projects under pressure became second nature through years of balancing academics, athletics and military training.
“Operating in the military on high-stakes missions gives you per-
spective,” Sarkis says. “It teaches you how to stay composed when the stakes are high. So in this industry, even when the work is intense, it never feels unmanageable. I know I’ve handled more demanding situations before.”
THE ROAD AHEAD
The IPO market is opening wider than it’s been since before COVID, and companies that have been preparing behind the scenes are seizing the moment.
For defense and space companies in particular, investor interest is surging.
Voyager’s IPO demonstrated that appetite, as the company initially targeted a price range in the upper $20s per share.
Strong demand during the roadshow pushed the stock price to $31 at IPO — above the initial range — and Voyager also increased the amount of capital raised beyond the original target to roughly $400 million.
“We did the roadshow, and because we had so much interest and demand, we increased the share price and increased the amount of money we raised,” Kuta says. “I think we opened the IPO window for some of the other companies that chose to follow us shortly thereafter.”
Starlab, the commercial space station that Voyager is building to replace the International Space Station, gets significant publicity, but it’s the smallest part of Voyager’s business.
The largest and fastest-growing segment focuses on defense and national security: missiles, rockets, advanced hardened avionics, and deep application and involvement with programs like Golden Dome and Next Generation Interceptor.
Firefly Aerospace is similarly positioned at the intersection of space exploration and
“Grit is the difference maker. Everyone who earns an appointment has the smarts and athleticism to do great things, but it takes grit to survive, thrive and graduate from the Academy.” —Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bobby Wolfe ’99
national security.
The company delivers rockets and satellites for the hardest missions, all to keep America first in space.
“We’re doing a lot of great things to support our nation and keep ahead of the threats,” Kim says. “You’re going to see us contributing to big programs like Golden Dome and national security missions.”
Kim sees the planets aligning for space, as the White House strongly supports the sector.
The Space Force, U.S. Space Command, NASA and the entire industry are growing toward a $2 trillion space economy by the end of the decade.
“It’s a great place to start and grow your career,” Kim says. “I think in the future, every company is going to have something to do with space.”
For graduates interested in venture capital, private equity or investment banking, the advice from these veterans is remarkably consistent: Excel in your current assignment first.
“Don’t even think about this world,” Madera says to cadets and young officers who reach out. “You’re in the Air Force now. You need to think about doing your current job the very best you can. You don’t just happen into this after you tread water for several years. It doesn’t work that way. You’ve got to be focused on being great and being recognized as a terrific contributor.”
Wolfe agrees, and added, “My advice has always been to hit the ground running after graduation and be the best version of yourself during your time in uniform.”
Kuta offers a counterintuitive perspective for those considering entrepreneurship.
Starting your own company is lower risk than working for a corporation, he argues, because when you work for another company, strategic decisions five levels above you can eliminate your position without warning.
When you start your own company and bet on yourself, you know exactly where you stand, he says.
“If you apply the grit and warrior ethos that you learn at the Academy to your own thing, then odds are you’ll have a much higher probability of success,” Kuta says. “The end product might not be what you thought it was going to be, and the dura-
tion might be faster or slower than you thought. But if you provide the tenacity and no-fail attitude, odds are you’ll find a way.”
What most people say is their biggest fear about starting a company is running out of money, Kuta observes, but that’s not actually true.
“We’re doing a lot of great things to support our nation and keep ahead of the threats.”
—Jason Kim ’99
The real fear is putting yourself out there to the world, talking about how great your company will be and then publicly failing embarrassingly.
“Most people are actually scared of that,” Kuta says. “It’s like an ego thing. So as soon as you can get over that, it’s much lower risk to go start and run your own company.”
Most bankers and fundraisers will need an MBA from a top school to open doors, and timing matters too.
The economy needs to be strong for the market to be wide open, with banks hiring.
For investment banking specifically, graduates should consider going to a Top 10 business school, if possible, or a regional business school, if focused on opportunities outside of core finance hubs.
A few structured on-ramping opportunities come through veteran rotation programs at firms like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Bank of America, among others.
These programs offer training, mentorship and unique opportunities to help veterans transition into the financial services industry.
Bank of America’s program is highly competitive and accepts only 15 candidates annually.
“Start laying breadcrumbs,” Sarkis advises. “Use the Skillbridge for an opportunity in investment banking or private equity. Work at a startup. Get certification exams. CFA is a good one you can do on your own time that is rigorous and respected. Show initiative and demonstrate you’re familiar with the work. It enables you to show people you’re a top-tier candidate.”
The thread connecting all these graduates is resilience, as the Academy and Air Force taught them to persevere through challenges, maintain composure under pressure and keep their eyes on the mission regardless of obstacles.
“If you can get through the Air Force Academy, you come out really strong,” Kim says. “It allows you to be resilient against a lot of challenges you experience, both in your career and your personal life. It prepares you for being resilient and being able to get back up and learn from all of your challenges and just keep going forward.”
Col. Wolfe puts it more simply.
“Grit is the difference maker,” he says. “Everyone who earns an appointment has the smarts and athleticism to do great things, but it takes grit to survive, thrive and graduate from the Academy.”
They’ve trained for pressure their entire careers, and an IPO is just another mission: Get to the target on time, execute effectively and bring everyone home safely.
“The best investment bankers become a trusted part of the community and an important thread in the very fabric of the ecosystem they serve,” Col. Wolfe says. “I wake up every day excited knowing I’ll make a positive impact on the sector.”
In Times Square that June morning, as champagne sprayed and the team cheered beneath the image of the space station, Kuta felt that impact.
This was a major milestone, but not the finish line.
“An IPO is nothing more than a capital structure event,” Kuta says. “It’s definitely a great milestone and recognition of everything that the team’s accomplished. But we have a lot of work left to do.”
‘AN EXTRAORDINARY ROLE MODEL’
Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment will support Falcon football
By Steven Lincoln
During his first week as the Air Force Academy’s 14th superintendent, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Tad Oelstrom ’65 took a visit from the Academy’s head football coach, Fisher DeBerry.
“As I remember, the first words out of his mouth were, ‘Boss, what can we do for you?’” Gen. Oelstrom says.
DeBerry’s focus on service instead of his own needs stayed with Gen. Oelstrom throughout his tenure as superintendent, and even decades later when he decided to become a major supporter of the new Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment.
“Fisher had a lot greater influence on the Academy than what could be measured by his contribution on the field,” Gen. Oelstrom says. “It was the focus that he thought cadets ought to have; it’s far greater than football, and it also extends far beyond the Academy, to the way you
treat people and your family.”
DeBerry was the winningest football coach in Air Force Academy history. The new endowment honors him, his accomplishments and his influence on cadets.
The fundraising effort is a collaboration between the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation and the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation.
The nonprofits created the Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment this year to support the Falcon football program’s priorities.
“This deserved honor is perhaps overdue. With Coach retiring in 2006, his election to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Air Force Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, it’s certainly appropriate now. Coach DeBerry has positively impacted thousands of young men during his career, and I would say, even beyond young
men, in advancing this entire Academy,” says Nathan Pine, director of athletics at USAFA. “For us to now be in a position to honor his legacy in a very visible and public way at Falcon Stadium is important not only for him but also for the Academy, and it will be a true celebration of all that he has meant here.”
The descriptions Gen. Oelstrom and Pine offer of DeBerry are not hyperbole. Ask the coach’s players from his 23 years as the Air Force head coach, and you’ll hear hundreds more stories of his impact.
Chad Hennings ’88, who in 1987 won the Outland Trophy — presented annually to the best defensive or offensive college football interior lineman — went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Hennings says DeBerry was far more than a football coach.
“He was an extraordinary role model,
FISHER DEBERRY AT A GLANCE
showing every player what it truly meant to be a devoted husband, a loving father, a loyal friend and a master of your craft — whatever that craft may be,” he says.
As part of the fundraising initiative, the Department of Athletics will further honor DeBerry with a statue at Falcon Stadium, pending approval. The statue will highlight DeBerry’s career and his impact on his players and other cadets. The department will work with an artist to propose concepts before production begins.
DeBerry is flattered by the project, especially if it can benefit the Academy.
“I am campaigning for the Academy and for anything we can do to improve the athletic programs at the Academy for all cadets,” DeBerry says.
His 27 years at the Academy shaped football players as they prepared for their Air Force careers. DeBerry, who was inducted into the Association of Graduates in 2001 as an honorary member, believes strongly that the fields of friendly strife are the perfect training grounds for future conflict.
“There’s a lot of correlation between competing with Notre Dame, Army or Navy, for example, and going to war,” he says. “I think guys learned how to compete by the success we had. That indicates that they’ve got a great foundation, if there’s a bigger opponent, for being prepared and willing to go. And that was my whole agenda.”
His players, including Jemal Singleton ’99, Super Bowl-winning assistant head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, can at-
test to the lessons they learned while playing for DeBerry and representing the Air Force Academy on a national stage.
“Coach DeBerry is a once-in-a-lifetime coach who truly cared more about the type of man I was becoming, not just what type of football player I was becoming. A true role model for how to be a father, a husband and a man of God,” Singleton says. “I was truly blessed to play for him and to start my coaching career on his staff. Coach DeBerry played a huge role in my development in life and football, and I thank God I can call him coach and friend.”
THE GOAL LINE
The organizations have set an initial $2.5 million fundraising goal for the DeBerry Endowment. The interest from the endowment will pay for the program’s greatest operational needs at the time, Pine says.
“In some years, that might be in our recruiting efforts and making our ability to travel efficiently work to our advantage,” he says. “In other years, it might be more around video analysis, equipment breakdown and technology tools. ... We are a developmental program, and so we need to invest in technologies that are going to help us coach, teach and improve our athletes.”
The focus for athlete development at a service academy is different than at other Division I programs. As the rest of the NCAA is dealing with revenue sharing with athletes and name, image and likeness opportunities, service academies are focused on developing athletes to be bet-
• Air Force Academy head football coach from 1984 to 2006
• 17 of his 23 teams recorded winning records
• 12 captured a bowl bid, posting a 6-6 record
• Named an honorary member of the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates in 2001
• Career record of 169-109-1
• Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2011
• Led the Air Force Academy to 14 of its 21 Commanderin-Chief’s trophies
• Chairman of the Fisher DeBerry Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to the support of single-parent families
ter leaders and physically fit. They also are making investments in their programs to help attract players in a highly competitive arena of collegiate-level athletes.
“We understand that how we go about success looks very different from other institutions,” Pine explains. “What is not different is our need for private investment and resources to be able to take advantage of opportunities when we see them.”
SUPPORT THE FISHER DEBERRY FOOTBALL EXCELLENCE ENDOWMENT AT USAFA.ORG/DEBERRYENDOWMENT.
ABOVE: Fisher DeBerry announces his retirement in 2006 after coaching 27 seasons at the Air Force Academy, 23 as head coach. (Air Force photo by Dennis Rogers)
RIGHT: DeBerry coached the team to 14 Commander-in-Chief's trophies. (Courtesy photo)
HELPING USAFA’S AMAZING CADETS
Beth Ferrill ’98 credits the U.S. Air Force Academy with teaching her resilience and equipping her to succeed. After separating from the Air Force, she pursued a career in law. Ferrill found her specialty in patent law while studying at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Now, as an Air Force Academy Foundation board director, she sees the impact donors make. Ferrill is recognized as a Polaris Society member, having made a legacy bequest in her will. Her advice: Don’t wait to give back. READ
You don’t have to reach a certain wealth status to help the Foundation support the Academy. All gifts, regardless of size, make a positive impact.
— ELIZABETH FERRILL ’98
To learn more about supporting the Academy with a gift or by making a future bequest in a will or trust, contact:
THE IFC
AN UPDATE ON USAFA’S IN-HOUSE WARFIGHTER LABORATORY
By IFC staff • Photos by Ryan Hall
Six years ago, Dr. Paul Kaminski ’64 had an idea. The United States was transitioning out of a period of small wars in the Middle East.
No one knew what the future held, but everyone understood it would look different — more complex, more challenging, and more demanding of the men and women in the United States Air Force and Space Force.
How, Dr. Kaminski wondered, could the Academy better prepare cadets to meet future demands? How could they, using a famous quote from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, skate to where the puck was going to be instead of where it already was?
Over the course of several months, Dr. Kaminski met with a “coffee cabinet” of like-minded individuals. They included leaders such as Gen. (Ret.) Ronald Fogleman ’63, Gen. (Ret.) Gregory “Speedy” Martin ’70, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Erv Rokke ’62, John Fox ’63 and Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Gary Packard ’82, Ph.D. Together, they helped to shape Dr. Kaminski’s “Big Idea,” which eventually took form as the Institute for Future Conflict.
Four productive years later, the IFC’s core mission — to prepare cadets to prevail in armed conflict, regardless of what form it may take — has taken root. The IFC works across all three major units at the Academy, helping to prepare cadets in the classroom, on the military training ground and through athletic competition.
The IFC is far more than a place or thing at the Academy. It’s a state of mind.
THE FUTURE CONFLICT MINOR — AND BEYOND
As a measure of the IFC’s growing impact, Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind ’91, superintendent of the Air Force Academy, recently approved a Future Conflict minor — designed, staffed and stood up by the IFC with the support of the Dean of Faculty. The minor, which includes four unique courses, is structured to ground cadets in the current operating environment, teach them how our adversaries fight, and ultimately train them to know and understand our adversaries — from how they think and see the world to factors that influence their decision-making. Cadets then put these skills together in a classified capstone course, where they work on providing new and innovative solutions to real-world problems. The problems are sent to USAFA from the Department of the Air Force and combatant commands.
The IFC also holds monthly research talks, conducted over cadet free time to maximize opportunity for attendance, bringing difficult lessons learned from the modern battlefield to the Academy. In the past year, the IFC hosted a panel of active Ukrainian military officers to discuss drone warfare and innovation, a presentation on the Houthis and the ongoing Red Sea crisis, and a top-secret dialogue with United States Air Force pilots, mission planners and intelligence specialists who participated in Operation Midnight Hammer, the 2025 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
“Being able to talk to members of this operation was really fascinating,” Cadet 1st Class Logan Kelly said after attending the Midnight Hammer briefing. “We learned details of the operation, had questions answered, got insight to what our futures hold in the Air Force. … The knowledge and information gained was extremely rewarding.”
Another popular IFC offering is its annual writing competition. Cadets, as well as undergraduate students at colleges and universities elsewhere in Colorado, are asked to write either a policy-focused essay or a short fictional story. The winners of each contest receive a cash prize. The IFC takes the top three winners of each competition to the Pentagon, where they brief senior military leaders on their work.
The goal of the contests is to get the young writers to more clearly and more specifically imagine what future conflict could look like tactically and strategically, and feel like in terms of the human experience. And it’s not just a thought exercise for the sake of itself. For anything to be possible, it must first be imagined, after all, as was the case with H.G. Wells writing about the atomic bomb in 1914, or William Gibson coining the phrase “cyberspace” in his fiction and envisioning its manifold possibilities decades before the spread of the internet.
“The most important thing I learned is the value of fiction as a vessel for conveying the emotional aspects of conflict,” Cadet 1st Class Sampson McClung wrote in an email. McClung won the 2025 IFC fiction competition with his short story, Are You There?, which explores the lasting consequences of snap decisions made in combat.
“Military fiction allows me to expose these realities to myself and others before we are forced to comprehend them at the instant of their occurrence,” McClung says.
ON THE TRAINING GROUND
To meet the superintendent’s intent of creating warfighters to win, leaders of character and quality, and critical thinkers to adapt, the IFC has been expanding to serve as connective tissue with the Cadet Wing. Brad Philipbar, the Fox Exercise & Wargame senior fellow at the IFC, has already proven crucial to cadet development
thanks to the fall VALEX (Validation Exercise), where he helped plan operations involving multiple drones over Jacks Valley to supply hands-on, practical field training.
In the Athletic Department, IFC Human Performance Optimization Fellow Dr. Harry Cintineo collaborates with academic departments, military organizations and Department of War agencies to identify and implement strategies that enhance warfighter readiness and resilience. His work focuses on integrating evidencebased human performance principles, from strength and conditioning to sports nutrition to recovery, into cadet education, training and Academy curriculum.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Front Rage Consortium is another growing program falling under the purview of the IFC. Headed by its director, Col. (Ret.) Erin Staine-Pyne ’98, the FRC is a coalition of colleges and universities along the Rocky Mountain Front Range dedicated to establishing the area as a center for U.S. national security debates.
True to its collaborative mission, one of the FRC’s first initiatives, the National Security Scholars Program, has brought together 12 undergraduate students from institutions across Colorado (to include the Air Force Academy) to participate in a yearlong series of seminars, workshops and immersive learning experiences aimed at developing the knowledge and skills required for entering the U.S. national security workforce.
The IFC has four intermediate professional development officers assigned to the organization who are brought in every year from the active Air Force and Space Force. During the fellows’ first year, officers complete Air Command and Staff College and
work on a research project that is based on their operational experience. The experience allows officers to take a step back and work on connecting day-to-day challenges to broader strategic concerns. They then publish their findings in policy-focused outlets.
In their second year at the Academy, the fellows are embedded in academic departments to instruct and interact with cadets in the classroom.
THE FUTURE OF CONFLICT
What will the future of conflict look like? The short answer, as Dr. Kaminski and his distinguished “coffee cabinet” discovered, is that no one knows. Instead of trying to predict the next conflict and training toward that, the IFC is working to help USAFA ensure that cadets are trained and ready to win on Day 1 regardless of the form conflict may take.
“I got the opportunity to brief the PACAF [Pacific Air Forces] commander and brief a ‘murder board’ of professionals who were challenging my strategy as North Korea during a tabletop exercise,” Cadet 2nd Class Katelynn Kinney said when asked about various IFC opportunities she’s been a part of. “After that experience, I think I can face anything.”
The IFC is not resting on these laurels, either. Future positions to be hopefully filled in the coming year include an economic warfare fellow, a drone fellow and a space warfighting fellow. Long-term goals include prototyping and experimenting within the new Madera Cyber Innovation Center, a Future Conflict Library housed at the Academy, and cadet participation in outside wargames, to continue its outreach to broader national-security spaces.
To learn more about the IFC and to read articles and columns about future conflict, visit ifc.usafa.edu.
FROM INVESTMENT
r nearly 50 years, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Chris Inglis ’76 had held on to the s a first assignment instructor pilot assigned to Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. Through many roles during his Air Force and Air National Guard career and subsequent civilian life, the prop-
“I always felt it was a gift more than an investment,” the former national cyber director says. “It had always been my intention to give it back to the Air Force, because I felt like I got it from the Air Force, which taught me my
Agift tothe AirForceAcademyRealEstate Trust
Gen. Inglis and his spouse, Anna, updated their estate plan in 2025, and they wanted to include the property in their wills. Their estate planner pointed out some financial aspects that could negatively affect the final amount intended for use by a nonprofit, such as the Air Force Academy Foundation. Giving it as a gift while they were still living, they were told, would be beneficial for their taxes and the
“It’s just a wonderful way to give back to the institution,” Gen. Inglis says. “My wife and I decided that this would be the moment to do that and be able to see the money applied to
After getting an assessment on the property,
he transferred the deed to the Air Force Academy Real Estate Trust, created in 2021 by the Air Force Academy Foundation. The entity’s focus is handling gifts of property as philanthropic donations benefiting Academy programs.
When the Trust completes the sale, the proceeds will support the Hosmer Visitor Center and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gen. Inglis’ home department as a cadet.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for us to create a new channel for graduates and other supporters to donate,” says Evan Dadosky ’08, chair of the Real Estate Trust. “It certainly is a much-needed channel that we were missing out on that has benefited other colleges and universities.”
Col. (Ret.) Leonard “Lucky” Ekman ’63 and his spouse, Kaye, also used the Real Estate Trust to make a property gift to support the construction of Wecker Hall, the Air Force Academy Foundation headquarters.
“We realized that our time in our second house was coming to an end, and so we set about doing this absolutely right before we passed it over to the Real Estate Trust,” Col. Ekman says. “It was important because Bill Wecker is my dear friend and classmate. It made sense to have one real estate asset converted to a standing real estate asset that benefited the Foundation.”
Dr. Bill Wecker ’63 and Col. Ekman serve together on the Air Force Academy Foundation board of directors.
Gen. Inglis and Col. Ekman learned a few lessons as they went through the property donation process that could help others. Both agree, for example, that donors need to get an assessment of the property before they start the donation process — something they were unaware of. The Real Estate Trust can then
help expedite the gift acceptance process.
Additionally, the donor should talk with a local tax attorney or financial adviser who can provide guidance on state and federal tax issues before starting the process with the nonprofit.
Gen. Inglis is excited to see the impact of his gift now that it is complete.
“Having served on military academy faculties at West Point, Annapolis and the Air Force, I’m keenly aware of the challenges that those departments have always had to conduct their academic research or to travel; they’re essential to sustain the innovative insights and intellectual capacity of not just the faculty but also the students,” he says. “I love the Hosmer Visitor Center because it presents the Academy to the world. I think that first impressions really matter.”
The board directors of the Air Force Academy Real Estate Trust are continually planning how they want the entity to operate. Their main goal is making the process as seamless as possible while benefiting both the donor and the area they wish to support at the Air Force Academy.
“There are a lot of options available to someone who is considering a donation of real estate to the Academy,” Dadosky says. “Whether it is an outright gift with an immediate charitable tax deduction or a gift outlined in an estate plan, it is an incredible opportunity for donors to make an impact in a different way.”
Ready to turn your property into a charitable gift?
Here
are some tips as you start the process:
• Consult a tax attorney or financial adviser to understand the consequences of different giving scenarios.
• Reach out to the nonprofit that will receive the gift early so it can work with you throughout the process.
• Research and understand IRS and state regulations that govern the process.
• Consider a variety of gift planning options to maximize the value of your gift and personal tax benefits.
• Provide photos and general location information to the nonprofit to assist in its gift acceptance decision.
• Communicate any homeowner association covenants to the nonprofit and inform your HOA of a pending sale.
Col. (Ret.) Leonard “Lucky” Ekman ’63 and Dr. Kaye Ekman
Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Chris Inglis ’76
Stuppy-Toogood, Stewart join Air Force Academy Foundation Board
By Steven Lincoln
Two U.S. Air Force Academy graduates have joined the Air Force Academy Foundation board of directors. The board is the governing body of the Air Force Academy Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the Academy through philanthropy.
The new directors are Jamesina “Jaime” Stuppy-Toogood ’06 of Southlake, Texas, and Matt Stewart ’08 of Hermosa Beach, California.
JAIME STUPPY-TOOGOOD ’06
Stuppy-Toogood is president and CEO of Joint Strategic Technologies, a defense enterprise support and transformation partner serving the Department of Defense and federal agencies since 2013.
“I have always been drawn to service, from my time at the Academy and in the Air Force to my current role supporting the nation’s defense infrastructure,” Stuppy-Toogood says. “On the Foundation board, I hope to translate these experiences to helping cadets and graduates continue to succeed.”
Under her leadership, JST has built a reputation for mission performance in both unclassified and classified environments, supporting modernization, cyber and readiness efforts across the Air Force, Navy, and other national defense organizations. The firm unites advisory and assistance services and advanced integrated IT solutions into a single, low-risk offering, helping agencies modernize faster, reduce mission risk and
sustain enterprisewide readiness.
Prior to founding JST, Stuppy-Toogood led global engineering and operations teams as general manager for Ulm Corporation and innovation, and reliability-centered maintenance as product manager at Atlas Copco. Her Air Force career included assignments in contracting and acquisition at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and a deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, where she led contingency contracting operations supporting forward bases and medical facilities.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in management from the Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University.
MATT STEWART ’08
Stewart is a senior managing director and co-head of the Orange County office of JLL Capital Markets, Americas, where he specializes in commercial real estate finance. Stewart is primarily responsible for origination and execution of both debt and equity placement transactions for all property types throughout the United States. In all, Stewart has been closely involved in more than $9 billion in transactions since 2013.
“Throughout my career, I’ve realized that every obstacle I’ve faced has been easier to navigate because of the foundation built at the Academy,” Stewart says. “The lessons in perseverance, teamwork, discipline and accountability translate far beyond the Hill and into every challenge that follows. As graduates, we owe it to the next generation to carry forward that legacy. It is my goal to
provide mentorship and open doors to our networks.”
As a captain in the U.S. Air Force, he served as a launch systems integration program manager. He led a team of 100+ people and was responsible for the cost, scheduling and performance of the launch component of a $4 billion national defense satellite program.
He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California. He graduated from the Academy with a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering management and earned his MBA from USC with a concentration in real estate finance.
“Matt and Jaime have packed a lot of experience into the years since they graduated from the Academy. They have embodied the Academy and Air Force Core Values throughout their careers, and they both bring a breadth of perspectives to the board that will be very beneficial.”
—
Alex Gilbert ’87 board chair Air Force Academy Foundation
STAND WITH CADETS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
Join fellow graduates in supporting the U.S. Air Force Academy with your year-end giving. Your tax-deductible contribution ensures that the Academy continues to forge airmen and guardians ready to serve and defend our nation.
Your generosity — whether it is a first-time gift or renewed support — empowers the next generation of leaders of character, from inprocessing to commissioning.
MAKE A GIFT ONLINE AT USAFA.ORG/EOY25 . IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR TEAM AT 719-472-0300.
Graduates march back from Jacks Valley with the Class of 2029.
Sean O’Keefe ’10
Deputy undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness
The Hon. Sean O’Keefe ’10 was sworn in Sept. 25 as the deputy undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness. He was nominated by the president of the United States on March 11 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Sept. 18.
In his new role, O’Keefe serves as the primary assistant to the undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness on force management; health affairs; National Guard and Reserve affairs; education and training; and military and civilian personnel requirements and management, including quality of life matters.
Prior to his confirmation, O’Keefe served since 2017 as a professional staff member on the Republican staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee. In 2022, he began his service as the Republican staff lead for the Subcommittee on Personnel, which has jurisdiction over military and defense civilian personnel policy and the military health system, as well as oversight of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness). O’Keefe has had a key role in drafting eight National Defense Authorization Acts, which included major reforms to the laws governing military and defense civilian personnel and the military health system.
Before being appointed to the SASC staff, O’Keefe worked as a senior policy analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center. In this role, he served as the lead staff support for a task force that made dozens of recommendations to improve defense personnel management. O’Keefe researched, presented and wrote about the history and evolution of the American all-volunteer military force, the military health system and the personnel-related components of the defense budget.
Following his graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2010, O’Keefe
served as an active-duty Air Force financial management officer for six years. He was stationed in Europe and the United States and completed a deployment to Afghanistan.
“These experiences provided a firsthand appreciation of the men and women who serve the United States in a military or civilian capacity,” O’Keefe said in his Senate Armed Services Committee advance policy questionnaire.
In response to a question regarding the scope and importance of the USD(P&R)’s oversight duties and powers with respect to the military services, O’Keefe writes: “USD(P&R) should assist the secretary of defense in managing the total force, including regular and reserve military forces, civilian employees, and their families. Additionally, the USD(P&R) can be a useful integrator of ‘best practices’ and lessons learned as the military departments work through their unique manpower and personnel-related challenges.”
A native of Lake Oswego, Oregon, O’Keefe was a member of USAFA’s swim team while a cadet. A member of Cadet Squadron 26 — the Barons — he majored in social sciences at the Academy before earning his master’s degree in political management from George Washington University. He is the author of numerous reports on military and civilian personnel policy, military health care, military families, readiness and compensation.
O’Keefe tells Checkpoints, “I’m delighted to have the honor of serving as deputy undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness. The P&R portfolio affects every servicemember and War Department civilian employee in a personal way on a daily basis. We are responsible for policies governing military and civilian compensation, promotions, the military health system, education, commissaries, childcare and much more.
We also produce readiness analyses that inform the chain of command as they make decisions relating to the use of various elements of the total force. I go to work every day to ensure our military is ready for any mission they may be called on to achieve.
“I have always been fascinated by the American political process, but USAFA provided valuable exposure to how the U.S. military intersects with our political leadership at the highest levels of our government. The Academy also helped launch my career after I separated from active duty. I was hired for my first job in Washington largely because I stood out from other applicants with my USAFA degree and military experience. But everything in D.C. cuts both ways. [Former Senator] John McCain nearly revoked my job offer to work for him on the Senate Armed Services Committee when he found out I was a USAFA grad, although he got over it when Navy beat us in football that year.”
The Hon. Sean O’Keefe ’10, deputy undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness
Where Legacy Meets Luxury
Welcome Back to the Academy
At Hotel Polaris, every stay is a salute to your service, your family and your Academy memories. Just outside the north gates of the U.S. Air Force Academy, our retreat offers refined comfort, panoramic mountain views and warm hospitality that feels like home. Whether you’re here to reconnect with classmates, cheer on the Falcons or introduce your family to the place where your journey began, you’ll find a setting worthy of your legacy.
Four-Diamond Accommodations with Mountain & Academy Views Six Indulgent Restaurants and Bars
Three Unique Flight Simulator Experiences
Heated Resort Style Pool, Spa and Wellness Center
Family-Friendly Offers and Specials
GAME CHANGER
MADERA CYBER INNOVATION CENTER PROVIDES HIGH-TECH ADVANTAGES
By Steven Lincoln • Photos by Ryan Hall and Bryan Grossman
The U.S. Air Force Academy dedicated the Madera Cyber Innovation Center in April 2025. It is now fully operational, serving as headquarters for the Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences and Air Force CyberWorx.
Checkpoints recently talked with two members of the cadet cyber warfare team to hear how the new facility has impacted their work as a competitive academic team and cadet club. The team, supported by the Class of 1968, won the National Security Agency Cybersecurity Exercise in 2025, notching its fourth win in six years.
TRAINING OF NEW CLUB MEMBERS
“When we start every year, we take people who have no experience in cyber, people who have some or a lot of experience in cyber, and teach them from the very basics of how to use a Linux terminal and how to run basic commands to how to use exploitation tools like Cali, which is an operating system for exploitation, or Nmap to scan networks. We teach them the foundations, and we grow them to where they need to be to be a successful cyber operator on our team.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE CYBER WARFARE TEAM, AKA DELOGRANDE
“My favorite part of being on Delogrande is probably teaching. When I teach, it also involves teaching myself, so I have to prepare myself, and I have to know the important concepts before I can confidently teach other people what they need to know. It’s a really great feeling when you spend hours and hours on one problem — this one target that you’re trying to
break into — and once you actually get in there and break into whatever machine you’re hacking into, it’s a feeling like no other. It’s a great feeling to just sit down and really work at a problem for hours and finally get it.”
HOW THE MADERA CENTER HAS CHANGED THE TEAM
“Before, we were in Fairchild Hall. We were kind of just in a regular classroom. We didn’t really have access to many cyber resources. Now that we’re here at the Madera Cyber Innovation Center, we’re in this incredible ecosystem that’s all focused on cyber. So we have cyber classes going on here. We have Air Force CyberWorx doing all their contracting work, which is really amazing. We have a new Cyber City on the second floor, which is really cool. Everything we need is better here, because it’s specialized, and it’s made for cyber and for learning cyber.”
From left: Cadets Third Class Nicholas Camperos, Neil Kumar and Paige Ramage look over the Madera Cyber Innovation Center's Cyber City.
MAKING CONNECTIONS AROUND THE WORLD
“The cyber team has a relationship with [Thailand’s] NKRAFA [Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Air Force Academy], ... and we’re trying to foster it and take it to the next level by actually visiting them, which happened this year. We were able to conduct a joint cyber training with them. It was five of us USAFA cadets with 11 NKRAFA cadets, and we competed on teams with [them]. We learned from them, and we taught them some skills, and we also met high-ranking officials within the academy itself.”
HOW THE CLASS OF 1968 HAS IMPACTED THE TEAM
“The Class of 1968 has been a very impactful part of our team. Without them, we wouldn’t have access to travel to as many competitions as we do. Already, this month [October] we’re traveling to eight competitions, which wouldn’t be possible without their
RECENT NOTABLE CYBER WARFARE TEAM ACHIEVEMENTS
• Third at the CyberBay Capture the Flag competition against academic, industry and government teams.
• First among universities — seventh overall — at RSTCON Capture the Flag.
• Second behind training partner University of South Florida at the University of North Dakota CyberHawks National Finals Capture the Flag
• Cadet Kumar was part of the top-ranked American team in the CSAW Capture the Flag competition. The team tied for first in the world, qualifying for the final round in New York City.
• Cadet 4th Class Andrew Ronsman placed sixth out of 70 in the Peak Cyber Symposium Capture the Flag competition in Colorado Springs.
generous donations and funding. As a team, we’re really grateful to all the support that they give us with their funding.”
HOW THE MADERA CENTER HAS CHANGED THE TEAM
“Madera has really been a game changer for the cyber team. Back in Fairchild, we didn’t have good network infrastructure. We were getting bad internet connections. We were getting lag. And in Madera, we have far newer technology, stuff that is made within the past year compared to within the past 10 years, and that’s really been a game changer for our team. We don’t have to worry about configuring old level hardware to support our team. We can focus on actually hacking itself.”
A life of service
Duane Boyle becomes the newest honorary AOG member
By Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steven A. Simon ’77 and Bryan Grossman
To look almost anywhere around the U.S. Air Force Academy is to see the impact of the Association of Graduates’ newest honorary member, Duane Boyle.
The B-52 looming inside the North Gate? Boyle identified the site and designed the display.
The renovated Air Garden on the Terrazzo? Boyle oversaw the project, ensuring it complied with the intent of original landscape designer Dan Kiley.
The soaring Polaris Hall tower housing the Center for Character and Leadership Development? Boyle conceived and managed a competition among designers to elicit the resultant structure.
The Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion
on the Heritage Trail at the Doolittle Campus? He developed several design concepts, including the one ultimately selected.
These are just a few of USAFA’s landmarks that bear the imprint of the Academy’s longtime architect, who retired in December 2024 after four decades of service and became the 48th person recognized with honorary membership in the Association of Graduates. The AOG board of directors approved the distinction during its July 25 meeting.
A MASTER PLANNER
Boyle grew up on the Air Force Academy, utilizing facilities such as the Field House and the cadet library while a student at Air Academy High School. Those experiences inspired him to become an architect. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture at the University of Colorado and then returned to Colorado Springs.
While awaiting licensing, he took an internship in Colorado Springs with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the Chicago-based architectural firm that had designed the Air Force Academy. Shortly thereafter, the Academy asked SOM to prepare a master plan, as there hadn’t been one since the original construction in the late 1950s and early ’60s. Boyle worked on that project.
That involvement reinforced Boyle’s interest in modernist architecture. Upon completion of the master plan, SOM departed, leaving no one at USAFA to oversee the Academy’s architectural in-
tegrity and ensure that future structures maintained the necessary design qualities to keep the base thematically intact.
To address that shortcoming, prescient Academy officials brought Boyle onto the Academy staff, even though there was no architect position at the time.
Over the ensuing 40+ years, he oversaw every project that would alter the Academy’s basic look. He conducted most of the Academy’s master planning, ensuring that every new proposal took into consideration how the structures relate to and complement each other.
Boyle led the Academy’s application process for inclusion in the Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places. That designation, authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, is part of a national program to protect America’s historic and architectural resources worthy of preservation. The Academy’s iconic Cadet Area received this distinction on April 1, 2004, the 50th anniversary of the Academy’s founding.
Even closer to home, Boyle generously gave his time in support of the Association of Graduates, contributing his design work for the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion. He contributed vital architectural facts and figures for many Checkpoints stories over the years, to include articles about the Air Garden restoration and the Cadet Chapel. This year, he also participated in a Heritage Minute Special podcast, a 90-minute oral history in which he described his career at the Academy.
Nominator Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77, during the honorary membership ceremony, shared details of his working relationship with Boyle.
“Over two-plus decades, Duane and I collaborated on several projects,” Col. Simon said. “Usually, it was me asking him for information for a tour script or a Checkpoints article. Sometimes, it was just me being nosy, wanting to hear the inside scoop on future projects. He was of course very busy, but he always made time to provide me with the details I needed.”
Col. Simon said that when he and Boyle began the Heritage Minute Special podcast, having Boyle on as a guest was “a necessity, a no-brainer.”
Col. Simon explained that Boyle had retired from the Academy and moved to Boulder, so they conducted the podcast interview remotely.
“Typically, these Heritage Minute podcast chats take 20 to 30 minutes,” Col. Simon said. “This one lasted an hour and a half! There was so much to discuss, so many architectural rabbit holes to explore!”
The show became a multipart podcast separated into three episodes.
“When Part I dropped, the first person to respond was Col. Dick Rauschkolb, a member of the Class of ’70 Gift Committee,” Col. Simon said. “He commented that Duane deserved to be an honorary AOG Member. I instantly agreed and got mad at myself. I’ve always prided myself on identifying and nominating worthy individuals. I had already prepared five successful nomination packages, but I missed this big, important one.
“I got right to work drafting Duane’s nomination.”
ON THE BOOKS
During his remarks, Boyle showed the audience two books to help describe his
journey. One helped provide him with the motivation to become an architect, while the other served as a prime example of the valuable contributions he made to the Academy.
Boyle held up Architectural Drawing, by Lawton Patten and Milton Rogness, while reflecting on how the Academy influenced him to be an architect. After regularly wandering around the Terrazzo and attending basketball games, he decided to take a technical drawing class at Air Academy High School. He still has that very copy of the book after all these years.
“In the middle of the book,” he states, “there is a chapter on polyhedra. In that chapter is a photo of the Cadet Chapel and a discussion of tetrahedrons.”
Boyle also mentioned the 1994 volume Modernism at Mid-Century: The Architecture of the United States Air Force Academy. Boyle was heavily involved in that seminal work about the design and construction of the Academy. He served as the Academy’s primary contact with the editor and other individuals involved in the project. The book’s acknowledgement page thanks “Duane Boyle who, charged with overseeing the preparation of this book from the Academy’s side, made it a personal crusade.”
The book also contains an interview Boyle conducted with the then-superintendent, Lt. Gen. Bradley Hosmer ’59. That interview included Gen. Hosmer’s thoughts on the Academy both as a cadet and as the superintendent, as well as both men’s appreciation of the planners’ foresight that brought geographically separated facilities such as the power plant and the community center into the Academy’s integrated design.
RARE AIR
The Honorary Member program permits the Association of Graduates to recog-
nize non-graduates “who have rendered outstanding and conspicuous service to the Air Force, the Academy and/or the AOG,” according to the organization’s bylaws. The bylaws limit this accolade to 25 living individuals.
To become an honorary member, individuals must be recommended by a member of the AOG board of directors and receive approval of at least 80% of all directors.
Boyle’s induction as an honorary member took place Oct. 16 at Doolittle Hall.
“Duane Boyle has met and exceeded the requirements for being named an honorary member,” said Mark Hille ’97, Association & Foundation president and CEO, at the ceremony. “Thank you, Duane, for all you’ve done for our Academy, and congratulations on your honorary membership.”
AOG Board Chair Lt. Col. [Ret.] Cathy Almand ’90 also spoke at the ceremony, saying, “Over 40 years, Mr. Boyle has offered an invaluable perspective of the Academy’s design history and is committed to working with the AOG to preserve these stories for future generations. Awarding Mr. Boyle honorary membership formally acknowledges his decades of meaningful contribution to the Air Force Academy graduate community and aligns with the AOG mission.”
Boyle said he was honored to be recognized. He joins such luminaries as former Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, Gen. Jimmy Doolittle and Brig. Gen. Robert McDermott.
“I want to thank the United States Air Force Academy for allowing me to be a part of this amazing base for so many years,” Boyle said. “I’d really like to stay involved with the Academy community, the Foundation and the AOG. ... I’m only a phone call away.”
In the company of friends, family and colleagues, Duane Boyle received honorary membership in the Association of Graduates on Oct. 16. Only 48 people have received honorary membership. (Photos by Ryan Hall)
[ My Cool AF/SF Job ]
RANK, NAME AND CLASS YEAR:
1ST LT. FEIYU XUE, U.S. SPACE FORCE, CLASS OF 2023
MY COOL JOB:
WHAT MAKES MY JOB SO COOL?
My job at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base is so cool because it directly enables one of the Space Force’s most special mission sets: launching rockets! At Vandenberg, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to serve as a Space Force responsible engineer in the 2nd Space Launch Squadron. In this position, I’m responsible for verifying and assessing all technical modifications made by Vandenberg’s launch service providers. Specifically, my focus centers on providing engineering and technical oversight over launch pad systems, such as the electrical and mechanical components on the ground that allow a rocket to launch! Although I’ve only been at Vandenberg for a little over two years, I’ve overseen fleet surveillance
SPACE FORCE RESPONSIBLE ENGINEER, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS - BRAVO, 2ND SPACE LAUNCH SQUADRON, SPACE LAUNCH DELTA 30, SPACE SYSTEMS COMMAND MY CURRENT ROLE: Space Force Responsible Engineer & Chief Innovation Officer
for commercial launches and provided mission assurance for several national security space launch missions. Each and every launch from Vandenberg helps fulfill strategic national security objectives, and it’s awesome to support that by guaranteeing launch precision and reliability.
HOW IS MY ROLE IMPACTING THE AIR FORCE OR THE NATION?
At the heart of my work is one simple goal: 100% mission success. Every launch mission from Vandenberg represents the collective effort, dedication and technical excellence of countless professionals. During a threemonth space launch internship, I had the opportunity to gain firsthand experience with complex launch systems, deepening
my understanding of risk assessment and mission assurance. Each successful launch is more than a technical achievement; launches from Vandenberg strengthen our nation’s communication networks, expand global awareness, and fortify the defense systems that protect the United States and its allies. Supporting these launches and watching them unfold in person provides a powerful reminder of why the work our squadron does is so important. Every connection I verify and every risk I assess directly supports the broader Space Force mission, ensuring that the satellites Vandenberg launches reach orbit and operate optimally in support of our nation.
One particularly meaningful moment came in 2023, when Vandenberg launched the FalconSAT-X satellite via the Transporter-9 rideshare mission. As a rideshare mission, Transporter-9 included a diverse set of satellite payloads, but FalconSAT-X was special to me. I still remember seeing that satellite up close during my time at USAFA, where several friends and classmates contributed to its development. Seeing their collective hard work take flight during Transporter-9’s launch was awesome, and it represented an unforgettable bridge between my past as a cadet and my present role.
WHAT ELSE HAVE I BEEN UP TO?
Recently, I transitioned into a new role as the chief innovation officer within the squadron. I lead initiatives that aim to streamline operations and accelerate the delivery of creative solutions to guardians and airmen! My efforts focus on integrating AI and data-driven automation into the squadron’s engineering and mission assurance processes. By leveraging AI to detect potential anomalies and optimize documentation workflows, we’re building systems that allow engineers to focus more on decision-making and less on repetitive tasks. It’s a small but powerful step toward transforming how the Space Force at Vandenberg operates: faster, smarter, and with even greater agility and precision. Every day I am reminded of what a privilege it is to serve in the Space Force. Whether it’s through ensuring launch success, advancing next-generation satellite networks or driving innovation across the Space Force’s launch enterprise, I’m so proud to be able to contribute to securing the United States’ interests in, from and most especially TO space!
LEFT:
1st Lt. Feiyu Xue ’23 in front of a USSF-62 mission patch cutout at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
RIGHT:
(Courtesy photos)
The USSF-62 mission, carrying a weather monitoring satellite, launches aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
THE GIFT OF
flight
Class of ’67 grad helps young people soar
By Bryan Grossman
Since retiring from active duty in 1991, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bill Powley ’67 has worn out two pickup trucks and added more than 400,000 miles to his current vehicle. The wear and tear are almost entirely due to his frequent 80-mile roundtrip commutes between his eastern-Tennessee home in Unicoi County and the Greeneville Municipal Airport.
It’s at that airport that Col. Powley, a 2023 Flight Instructor Hall of Fame inductee, has helped thousands of young people slip the surly bonds of earth since even before he founded the Flight Lesson Instructional Grants Helping Teens Foundation in 1998.
“I try to solo most of the kids. That’s all I do,” Col. Powley says. “So I basically get the adrenaline rush of teaching these kids to land, and once they learn how to land and solo, they go to another instructor, wherever that may be.”
Col. Powley says retiring from active duty nearly 35 years ago merely marked the beginning of a new chapter of service.
“It really feels like I never left the military, which is kind of a nice transition,” he says,
adding he retired from the Air Force with ambitions of becoming an airline pilot, but the stars did not align, so he pursued a career as a Junior ROTC instructor instead.
“Those guys get paid by the military half their salary, and they have to wear the uniform,” he says. “And so the Air Force essentially paid me 50 years to wear the uniform — from 1963 to 2013. I’ve just been doing what I’ve loved doing my whole life.”
NEXT IN LINE
“With emphasis needed on math and science skills, character education, discipline, leadership, team building, and motivation, FLIGHT Foundation provides an excellent opportunity to accomplish all of these goals as well as provide the basis
for future careers in aviation and service to our country in the armed forces.”
This is the nonprofit’s mission, and the results speak volumes. Among the many young people who have climbed into a cockpit thanks to the foundation, eight solo students have received appointments to USAFA, three to West Point and one to Annapolis, and 18 solo students have enrolled in the flight program at Middle Tennessee State University to pursue careers as professional pilots. Several others have studied aviation at colleges and universities including Embry-Riddle, Purdue, Auburn and Liberty. And, thanks to the foundation, young people and their families pay about half of what the experience would normally cost.
ABOVE: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Bill Powley ’67 as a second lieutenant.
LEFT: Col. Powley’s U.S. Air Force Academy cadet photo.
FAR LEFT: Col. Powley takes to the skies with a few FLIGHT Foundation students.
Col. Seth Bennett ’02 met Col. Powley through Col. Bennett’s father, Fain Bennet, before the FLIGHT Foundation’s official launch. Fain Bennett now serves as the foundation’s secretary and treasurer, and Col. Bennett, who is assigned to the 616th Operations Center under the 16th Air Force in San Antonio, Texas, recalls being one of the first students Col. Powley took skyward.
“I’m not a pilot — I had an opportunity to be a navigator,” Col. Bennett says.
“My eyes were bad enough that [the Air Force] offered me the navigator position, and I said, ‘No, thanks.’”
Pilot-rated or not, Col. Bennett says one of the major reasons he attended USAFA was because of Col. Powley’s influence as his Junior ROTC instructor at Unicoi County High School in Erwin, Tennessee.
“There’s no question that Col. Powley and flying in high school — all combined — were the reasons I went down that path,” Col. Bennett says. “And so I went off to the Air Force Academy at that point.”
Another Tennessee native, Capt. Tyler Despard ’18, says he wasn’t interested in aviation until his parents gifted him a
flying lesson from an unaffiliated school when he graduated from the eighth grade. Today, Despard is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base as a flight test engineer.
“I was able to do that one flight, which was great,” Despard, who flew with Col. Powley after the FLIGHT Foundation’s inception, says. “But high school got busy, and I was really just blessed to run into Col. Powley’s foundation through a friend of mine who had recently completed the solo program.”
Despard says he was fortunate enough to get a slot after he joined Junior ROTC in high school.
“Five flights in that little brown plane … I still don’t know how two of us got in that little plane, but it was great,” he says.
Conversations with the colonel in that “little brown plane” had an impact; Despard later decided to pursue military service.
“Talking to him, I came to the realization that the Air Force Academy was the only path that I wanted,” he says. “It’s the only academy I applied to.”
Despard says that at about the same time he completed the foundation’s solo
ABOVE: FLIGHT Foundation participants receive training for about half the cost of a traditional flight school. Several have gone on to pursue aeronautical careers.
LEFT: Col. Powley with one of his more recent students, Sarah Waddell.
BELOW LEFT: Col. Powley with Capt. Tyler Despard ’18, a student who went on to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.
program, he discovered he had a USAFA appointment.
“At that point, [Col. Powley] sponsored me for my private pilot’s license,” he says, adding he achieved that goal before ever setting foot on Academy grounds.
Sarah Waddell shares a similar story. Waddell is a senior attending Daniel Boone High School in Johnson City, Tennessee. Her father, who had earned his own private pilot’s license, encouraged his daughter to do the same after hearing about the foundation.
“The first flight, I was really nervous because I didn’t know what to expect,” she says. “But it went really great. … I was really lost, but I was also in awe of the plane because it was so cool. I could not believe I was flying. And now I’m really close to getting my license — like, setting up my check ride and everything. … It’s been a really great experience.”
Waddell earned her private pilot’s license before receiving her high school diploma.
“It feels surreal when I try to explain to my friends just how awesome it is,” she says. “They don’t really understand how much work gets put into it. But I’m so happy. I feel very proud of myself for pursuing it all the way through and then being able to actually have my license and fly a plane all by myself.”
Waddell says her experience has motivated her to explore service academies as the next stop on her life’s flight path. In fact, she’s in the middle of the USAFA application process.
“I’ve been applying this year, but I might have torn my ACL, so I may have to wait a couple of years and then I’ll reapply,” she says.
BUT WHO’S COUNTING?
As the aviation industry strives to keep up with pilot demand, the foundation provides a critical service.
Since April 1992, the organization has made more than 5,100 orientation flights with more than 14,000 students, most with Col. Powley, a former F-4, A-7 and F-16 fighter pilot and Vietnam veteran. All flights are sponsored by grants and donations. Grantors include the Ray Foundation, the Tennessee State Partnership
LT. COL. (RET.) BILL POWLEY ’67:
• 2010: A. Scott Crossfield Award (Top K-12 aerospace science instructor, U.S.)
• 2010: Tennessee Aviation Person of the Year
• 2011: Tennessee Career Contributions to Aviation Award
• 2013: Inducted into Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame
• 2023: Inducted into the Flight Instructor Hall of Fame
• 2025: Author of the book Let’s Take ’Em Flyin’
Grant, and Greeneville pilot and philanthropist Scott Niswonger. The grant money is combined with regional and national donations to sponsor the program.
Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Woods ’64, a former Air Force pilot and one-time director of the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s aeronautics division, said he met Col. Powley in 2000. Gen. Woods was inspired to find ways TDOT could support the foundation’s work, and early on, the department approved a grant to assist Col. Powley’s Junior ROTC program.
“We brought that up in our meetings with our aeronautics commissioners and they approved the funding of the grant,” Gen. Woods says. “I recall it was $10,000. In my mind, I’m sure I was thinking that was probably helping to pay the rent on all the small airplanes that were being flown.”
Gen. Woods adds, “I respect what [Col. Powley] has done for the state of Tennessee and aviation, because certainly this state’s in better shape than most states for early aviation training.”
‘A DIFFERENT LEVEL’
Col. Powley says he plans on teaching until it’s no longer feasible, but he’s already looking at ways to ensure the foundation carries on even after his fini flight.
“My funding stream is pretty secure, so I have been helping other older people become flight instructors, because they’re the ones who are going to help me. And when I say older, they’re young, they’re in their 60s — so they’ve got another 20 years left,” he says. “The problem right now with instruction is that all the instructors are kids who just graduated from getting their private license or their flight instructor license about two hours ago.
They instruct in the flight schools, and then they leave in a year and a half. And so there’s just a revolving door of instructors, and that kind of hurts continuity.”
Col. Powley says he has a handful of successor instructors in mind.
“It’s going to take more than one person to do it,” he says. “I just do this because I love doing it. … But I need somebody eventually to take over the management, which will be the most difficult thing, because I can do it in my sleep. Hopefully the transition won’t take place for a few years — and I can do that very gracefully with them.”
Speaking of gracefulness, Col. Bennett shares one of his more memorable Col. Powley stories.
“I’m practicing my touch-and-gos and a storm surprises us out of nowhere,” Col. Bennett says. “There are dark clouds and lightning in the distance and I am not experienced enough to be going through that. So [Col. Powley] says, ‘We have to get the plane down,’ and he performed an F-16 spiral maneuver in the Cessna; so he literally got to the end of the runway and spiraled us all the way down and turned the last spiral, lining it up perfectly to hit the runway. We’re doing roller coaster stuff … and I thought to myself, ‘Holy moly, this guy’s on a different level. This is not your old man flying a Cessna. This is an F-16 pilot.’ … So yeah, I have no doubt that people are inspired after hanging out with him.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information, contact the FLIGHT Foundation at flightfoundation.com.
RED TAILS CELEBRATED AT TUSKEGEE MEMORIAL GROUNDBREAKING
By Steven Lincoln • Photos By Bryan Grossman
Speakers at the Sept. 27 groundbreaking for the U.S. Air Force Academy’s new Tuskegee Airmen Memorial shared admiration and respect for the storied World War II pilots and airmen.
With Pikes Peak and a clear blue Colorado sky as a backdrop, Academy leaders and donors turned the dirt to ceremonially start the construction of the memorial. Situated at the entrance to Davis Airfield near the South Gate, the memorial will feature full-scale models of a P-51 Mustang, which was famously flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, and a Boeing T-7A Red Hawk, which will be the newest trainer aircraft for the Air Force. The T-7 will also feature a red tail, mimicking the look of the P-51s that gave the Tuskegee Airmen their Red Tails nickname.
Five individuals representing the Tuskegee Airmen and their heritage attended the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new memorial: Col. James Harvey, a Tuskegee Airman; Peggy Shivers, wife the of the late Lt. Col. Clarence Shivers; Shirley Edwards, wife of air trainee Randolph Edwards; Leon Butler Jr. ’91, national president of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc.; and Gabrielle Martin, president of the Colorado Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. The nonprofit works to preserve the heritage of the Tuskegee Airmen and inspire youth to consider STEM, aviation
and aerospace careers.
Charles ’81 and Karen Phillips are the lead donors for the project. Charles Phillips, managing partner and co-founder of Recognize, a technology investment and transformation company, spoke during the ceremony, framing the historic importance of the Tuskegee Airmen.
“When America called in its hour of need, the Tuskegee Airmen answered, first with courage, then with excellence so undeniable that it pierced the clouds of doubt and prejudice,” he said. “In red-tailed Mustangs arcing over Europe’s skies, they wrote a chapter of American history that could never be again edited out.”
The Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American flying unit in the U.S. military, flew fighter aircraft in the European and African theaters during World War II, escorting bombers. Nearly 1,000 pilots graduated from the program, training at Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), and they went on to fly over 15,000 missions.
Other speakers, including Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind ’91 and former Commandant of Cadets Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Sam Cox ’84, vice president of Air Force systems at the Boeing Company, paid homage to the Tuskegee Airmen.
“As we move forward to meet our intent to develop lethal warfighting teams to defend this great nation, I am absolutely honored and inspired to know that we will have this memorial that we will drive past daily to help remind us of those incredible giants that paved the way for all of us and on whose shoulders we now stand,” Gen. Bauernfeind said.
He also highlighted the significance of the Davis Airfield setting. In 2019, the Academy named the airfield for Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., leader of the 332nd Fighter Group, an African American unit, during WWII.
Gen. Cox spoke on behalf of the Boeing Company, a major donor to the project, and said the T-7 Red Hawk will highlight the history of the Tuskegee Airmen and inspire future fighter pilots during their training journey.
“When those aspiring pilots go out onto the flight line and see that T-7 with the red tails, they’re going to know the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, and they’re going to remember that,” Gen. Cox said.
He said the completed memorial, which will include a double-V sculpture between the two aircraft to signify the Tuskegee Airmen’s double victory during the war, “is going to be where stories are told and dreams are going to be formed.”
The USAFA classes of 1986, 1990 and 1996 also contributed to the memorial through their reunion class gifts, and many class members attended the groundbreaking.
ABOVE: Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Sam Cox '84, Phillips, Gen. Bauernfeind, Jamie Burgess of Boeing, and Mark Hille '97 turn the first shovels for the construction project.
PREVIOUS PAGE: Attendees representing the Tuskegee Airmen and their heritage celebrate the groundbreaking of the memorial.
TOP LEFT: Lead donor Charles Phillips '81 framed the historic importance of the Tuskegee Airmen.
TOP RIGHT: Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind '91 greets Tuskegee Airman Col. James Harvey.
Photo by Vince Greco
THE PATH TO LEGISLATION50years
The
admission of women to the Air Force Academy
By Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steven A. Simon ’77
For a variety of reasons, the late 1960s and the early 1970s was a period of great social upheaval in the United States. Out of that tumult sprouted the conditions that led to legislation allowing female students to attend the nation’s military service academies.
At the time, male-only universities and colleges around the country were going co-ed. More than half of the heretofore allmale Ivy League schools opened their doors to female students between 1969 and 1974.
That push included the service academies.
Perhaps due to its relative youth, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s administration was more proactive than its West Point and Annapolis counterparts.
That’s not to say there was wholesale acceptance of the idea of female cadets. Some opponents argued that, since women were not eligible for combat positions, they should not take Academy slots from men. The logistical challenges that would ensue with women in the Cadet Wing was another argument against the change.
The nation, however, was not interested in excuses. The public was increasingly supportive of women at the academies. Motivated young women were using the courts to challenge the status quo, including Joan French.
According to Col. (Ret.) George Fagan in his book The Air Force Academy: An Illustrated History, “As a result of the publicity, the Cadet Wing decided to invite Joan French to visit the Academy. The Wing provided a second classman to serve as her escort in touring the Academy and for attending the Dean’s Ball in Arnold Hall.”
Nothing came of that initiative, but at about that time, thenSuperintendent Lt. Gen. A.P. Clark concluded that the Academy’s eventual transition to a co-ed institution was a foregone conclusion.
A POW at Stalag Luft III in Poland during World War II who had seen the ravages of war, he was philosophically opposed to the admission of women but understood the need for contingency planning and directed preparation for that eventuality.
In fact, Gen. Clark was not the first superintendent to recognize that women could become cadets. That concept even predated the arrival of male cadets. Lt. Gen. Hubert Harmon, the Academy’s first superintendent, was supportive from the outset.
In a Nov. 16, 1954, letter to Maj. Gen. (Ret.) W.W. Welsh, Gen. Harmon wrote, “The Air Force Academy Act prescribes that our institution shall be for the training of ‘selected young men.’ If you can get that changed, I shall be delighted to take in young ladies as well.”
Among his actions, Gen. Clark put the Directorate of Plans and Programs in charge of the preparation. He appointed Lt. Col. Robert Hess as the project officer for the contingency plan. An air training officer for the male cadets when they reported to the Academy in 1954, Col. Hess had a unique perspective on the situation.
The first product to come out of the research was Operational Plan Number 36-72, Integration of Females into the Cadet Wing, published on Sept. 15, 1972. The plan had a pink cover and came to be known as The Pink Plan. It addressed the educational and training programs, as well as the modifications to facilities that would be required. It also recommended the use of air training officers, or surrogate upperclassmen, as had been used at the Academy’s inception.
The follow-up document, Operations Plan 7-73, was published on Dec. 10, 1973. It refined some of the points made in the 1972 plan. By that time, word of the Academy’s preparations had reached Washington, D.C., and Academy officials had to respond to congressional criticism by clearly stating in the document that they had no intentions of admitting women until specifically authorized by Congress.
The following summer, Maj. Gen. James Allen became the Academy’s seventh superintendent. He indicated his support
of the change and received praise for his leadership during the transition.
Then-Col. James McCarthy, who had previously led cadets as an air officer commanding, also arrived in the summer of 1974 and assumed the position of vice commandant.
Gen. (Ret.) McCarthy, reflecting on his planning role at USAFA, was quoted in the Fall 2004 Checkpoints article about his honorary AOG member induction.
“Probably the most significant thing,” he said, “is that I was given the responsibility for planning for the admission of women at the Air Force Academy. ... And so our biggest challenge was to design a plan that recognized that acceptance of women was probably our principle [sic] hurdle. The rest of it would fall in place. And so we spent about a year, year and a half, planning and preparing for women at the Air Force Academy. And, of course, the women that came in were superstars and did very, very well.”
In her 2011 article The Integration of Women in the United States Air Force Academy, then-Capt. Allison Gawlinski ’07 writes, “Colonel McCarthy thoroughly researched the issue so that he could develop a well thought out plan. He had the library create a bibliography of literature on women in the military so that he could build his knowledge. Additionally, he toured coeducational universities to conduct onsite observation of how men and women learned together.
“A concern was that women would react dangerously to firing weapons, so Colonel McCarthy observed training of women ROTC cadets at Lackland AFB [Texas] and discovered they did as well in training as men.”
Another noteworthy officer is Capt. Judith Galloway, who had joined the commandant of cadets’ staff in February 1974. The commandant, Brig. Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg Jr., tasked her with studying all aspects of the current academy curriculum and helping identify needed
changes.
“Captain Galloway became a human guinea pig,” Col. Fagan writes. “She decided to do everything that male fourth classmen were required to do.”
She studied the mental, physiological and psychological aspects of training. She also examined how male cadets might respond having female cadets in their midst.
Among Galloway’s achievements during this intense time, she was the first female to graduate from the cadet parachute program, AM-490, thereby becoming the first female to earn a DOD-approved set of jump wings.
Many of her recommendations made it into Operations Plan 7-75, issued on July 1, 1975, which was primarily intended to implement many of the points made in the first two plans.
All of this prescient activity came to fruition on Oct. 7, 1975, when President Gerald Ford signed Public Law 94106, the Military Procurement Bill, authorizing the admission of women to the service academies.
In January 1976, 15 female Air Force officers began a five and a half month training program to become air training officers, and Jacqueline Olivia Ware became the first female cadet candidate to enter the Academy Preparatory School.
Finally, on June 28, 1976, the Class of ’80, consisting of 1,593 appointees, to include the first 157 female cadets, reported to the Academy for inprocessing. Joan Olsen was the first female cadet to be sworn in. By mere days, the Air Force Academy was the first Department of Defense service academy to admit women.
While the admission of female cadets to the Air Force Academy was far from uneventful and required some program and facility modifications, the years of planning ensured that the Academy was as prepared as it could be.
Editor’s note: Throughout 2026, Checkpoints magazine will cover the 50th anniversary of the admission of women to the Academy.
LEFT: Julie (Richards) Apfel with her iconic photo in front of what is now the Core Values Ramp. ABOVE: Women from the Class of '80 study Contrails (Courtesy photos)
Full Circle
From cadet footprints to the closing bell
By Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99, P’27, P’28
At 3:56 p.m. on Oct. 7, the buzz of the New York Stock Exchange grew louder as a group of service academy graduates gathered for the countdown. Dozens clutched the railing, eyes fixed on the clock. Then the bell rang out, their cheers erupting and echoing across the trading floor.
The day marked an important anniversary in service academy history. Fifty years earlier, President Gerald Ford had signed Public Law 94-106, opening enrollment to women at federal service academies. Five decades later, the gathering at the New York Stock Exchange marked not only the closing of a trading day but also a celebration of 50 years of service and leadership from the women who stepped forward to defend the nation.
HELLO, WALL STREET
For many attendees, the event felt like coming full circle. Former cadets who once stood nervously on academy footprints now stood on the floor of the NYSE as seasoned military leaders, veterans and retirees. Women from nearly every service academy and decade since 1976 were present.
Among those reflecting on the moment was Col. (Ret.) Carolyn Benyshek ’87, recipient of the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation’s Leadership Achievement Award. “I felt a wave of pride and gratitude — pride in how far we’ve come, and gratitude for the women who first walked through those doors,” Col. Benyshek said. “Standing there five decades later ... it was impossible not to feel the weight of their courage — and the continuity of our shared story.”
Because purple represents joint unity across all branches of the military, organizers titled the effort “Building Purple Bonds” — an apt description for the collaboration that brought women from every academy together at the NYSE. The
vision began months earlier.
Gretchen (Krueger) Cook ’87, one of the event’s organizers, described its origins. “After hearing that the women of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy rang the bell in 2024, I got the idea to do the same for our sister academies,” she said. “When I connected with Dorian Price ’99 from West Point ... we teamed up to make the dream come true.”
Together, they launched a campaign to encourage alumnae nationwide to commemorate the milestone in their own communities.
Cook recalled the moment she stepped to the podium on Wall Street. “As I hammered the gavel three times, anyone could see there was purpose behind each blow,” she said. “I struck that gavel for everyone — women and men alike — who helped open doors of opportunity and proved that leadership and service thrive strongest when we stand shoulder to shoulder.”
Ebony Sunala Johnson ’00 described her experience upon arriving at the Exchange. “When I saw 50 years of service academy women displayed on the marquee outside the NYSE, all of life’s distractions fell away,” she said.
And Lt. Col. Eleanor (Kunesh) Morgan ’06 captured the shared sentiment of many present. “When the bell rang and our voices echoed through the New York Stock Exchange, it felt like a shared war cry — born from 50 years of courage, resilience and progress.”
THE ECHO RINGS
Across the trading floor, reflections varied but shared a common thread of gratitude, pride and resolve.
“It wasn’t just a celebration — it was a statement that we belong ... and that we’re proudly part of the Long Blue Line,” said Sarah (Schirmer) d’Eon ’82.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tanya Hurwitz ’95 added, “As Gretchen’s gavel echoed, I was reminded that we’re still writing our story together. Every time we help someone else rise, we’re writing the next chapter.”
Though the closing bell ended the trading day, the participants saw the moment as a beginning rather than a conclusion.
“Each of us started as basic cadets. Some served a few years, some a lifetime, but every path represents a vital contribution to our country,” Cook said. "We now have a responsibility to help others dream their own dream of service.”
As the applause faded and the bell’s echo carried through the Exchange, the graduates looked around and saw not just history, but a living legacy of service.
(Photo courtesy NYSE)
At the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation, we are united by more than service — we are bound by legacy and family.
We mourn the loss of every graduate, cadet and air training officer. They will be remembered for the lives they touched and by the families who stood beside them.
The Association & Foundation’s Next of Kin program is here to offer support and guidance.
Please visit usafa.org/next-of-kin-and-gbnf to report the death of a graduate, cadet or air training officer and to find out more about Next of Kin services. Or contact the Next of Kin support services at deceasednotifications@usafa.org.
From the Hill
USAFA RANKED AMONG NATION’S BEST
The U.S. Air Force Academy continues its ascent as a premier undergraduate institution, achieving significant gains in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings, released in September.
Key highlights include:
#2 Top Public School: Holding steady as one of the nation’s leading public institutions. U.S. News & World Report defines public schools as operating under the supervision of the government and funded in part with tax dollars.
#5 National Liberal Arts College: A remarkable jump from #8 last year, #18 in 2022, and #39 in 2020, showcasing significant progress and commitment to academic excellence. U.S. News defines this category as institutions that focused almost exclusively on undergraduate education and award at least
50% of their degrees in the arts and sciences. All Academy graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree.
Elite Engineering Programs: Consistently ranked among the nation’s best among undergraduate institutions, with multiple specialties in the top 10:
#6 Electrical/Electronic/ Communications Engineering: Up three spots from last year
#6 Mechanical Engineering
#7 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
“Our faculty members deliver an exceptional education that shapes the next generation of Air Force and Space Force leaders,” said USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen.
Tony Bauernfeind ’91. “Despite resource challenges, they’ve gone above and beyond to maintain the quality and strength of our academic programs. Their dedication and expertise are the driving force behind our institution’s continued excellence, and I’m proud to see their hard work reflected in our rankings.”
The Academy’s U.S. News overall score of 94 out of 100 reflects its strengths in key areas such as peer reputation, graduation rates and student-faculty ratio. Last year, the Academy scored 93 out of 100.
“Our rankings represent the professionalism and excellence of our civilian and military faculty and dedicated academic support staff,” said Col. Steven Hasstedt ’92, acting dean of the faculty. “Our faculty are the essential foundation allowing us to provide a world-class and accredited education that develops critical thinkers and problem solvers, forging our cadets into warfighterscholars ready to lead our Air Force and Space Force on Day 1. I am proud of all our faculty does for our cadets and our nation.”
(U.S. Air Force Academy photo by Trevor Cokley)
USAFA CADETS EARN RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS
Two U.S. Air Force Academy cadets have earned one of the oldest and most respected academic distinctions by being named Rhodes scholars.
Cadets First Class Robert Miller and Anirvin Puttur are among 32 Americans selected to attend the fully funded postgraduate program at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom beginning in October 2026. Nearly 2,800 students from 264 institutions applied for this year’s Rhodes scholarships.
“This exceptional accomplishment by Cadet Miller and Cadet Puttur shows how the Academy’s integrated military training, academics and athletics prepare our cadets to compete for the nation’s most selective scholarships,” said U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind ’91. “Our faculty, staff and coaches deliver an exceptional developmental program that forges our next generation of Air Force and Space Force leaders, and our cadets’ selection as Rhodes scholars reflects their professionalism, hard work and dedication.”
This marks the first time since 2019 that the Academy has produced multiple Rhodes scholars in the same academic year.
“The selection of Cadet Miller and Cadet Puttur as Rhodes scholars is a testament to the strength and quality of academics at the U.S. Air Force Academy and a reflection of the achievements of these two outstanding cadets,” said Col. Steven Hasstedt ’92, acting dean of the faculty. “These young leaders demonstrated remarkable academic excellence and intellectual curiosity, exemplifying the highest standards of scholarship and critical thinking in applied problem solving. We are proud of their selection and
confident they will continue to represent our institution with distinction.”
Miller, from Arden, North Carolina, is majoring in electrical and computer engineering with a minor in robotics. He serves as the Academy’s Cadet Wing commander — the highest-ranking cadet leadership position — and is a member of the Wings of Blue parachuting team. His research experience includes work at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and the Carnegie Mellon NeuroMechatronics Lab. At Oxford, he plans to pursue a Master of Science in engineering science.
Puttur, from Gilbert, Arizona, is majoring in aeronautical engineering and applied mathematics. He is an instructor pilot, a flight commander and a national competitor on the Academy’s Aerobatic Demonstration Team. He also leads the Martinson Honors Program, which provides interdisciplinary academic opportunities for the Academy’s top scholars. He will pursue a Master of Science in engineering science at Oxford.
“Throughout their respective journeys here, Cadet Miller and Cadet Puttur have each shown exceptional leadership, character and commitment to service,” said Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks, commandant of cadets. “They embody the values of both the Academy and the Department of the Air Force, and their experience as Rhodes scholars will further prepare them to make meaningful contributions to our nation and its military in the years to come.”
Miller and Puttur become the 45th and 46th Rhodes scholars from the U.S. Air Force Academy. The first was retired Lt. Gen. Bradley Hosmer ’59, who later became the first USAFA graduate to serve as Academy superintendent.
According to the Rhodes Trust, the Rhodes scholarship is the world’s oldest international scholarship program, offering young leaders the opportunity to study at Oxford since 1902. Since the first U.S. class in 1904, 3,706 Americans from 329 colleges and universities have received Rhodes scholarships.
CEMETERY RELOCATES MEMORIAL MARKERS
The U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery has seen significant changes over the past
several months, to include a relocation of the memorial section in December 2024 and an expansion project.
“Since fiscal year 2019, the Cemetery has seen a significant increase in burials of the first graduating Class of 1959, original cadre members, and spouses — many who were approaching the age of 90,” said Janet Edwards, 10th Force Support Squadron mortuary officer. “At the current rate of use, it was anticipated that the remaining available burial plots would be used by 2026.”
The $3.8 million project increases the number of burial plots by 1,200 and includes the clearing of forested land, grading, gas line relocation, landscaping, irrigation, stormwater drainage and detention, plot markers, and extending roadways for vehicle circulation.
Phase I of the expansion, which has been completed, adds Sections 9 and 10 as new burial areas, eastward of Section 6 and matching in size, making the overall size of the Cemetery approximately 31 acres. The second phase of the project includes adding Sections 11 and 12.
Other additions in phase one include contemplative areas, parking and a pavilion building with a restroom.
In addition to the expansion, the Cemetery recently relocated its memorial marker section to a new location south of the Memorial Pavilion. This relocation increases the number of memorial markers from 240 to 530, which permits the burial of both casketed and cremated remains in the former Memorial Section.
“Memorial markers are for individuals whose remains were not recovered, donated to science or scattered,” said Edwards. “The markers were carefully moved in their original order to ensure accuracy with Cemetery records and maintain proper memorialization.”
The U.S. Air Force Academy Mortuary Affairs Office oversees the Academy Cemetery.
Scan the QR code for updated plot information.
C1C Anirvin Puttur
C1C Robert Miller
CADET TAKES SECOND IN PULITZER RACE
Cadet Third Class Jakki Galella of Cadet Squadron 33 recently took the silver medal at the inaugural Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race — the first ever all-electric, crewed air race in history — in Springfield, Ohio, over Columbus Day weekend.
Organized by the Advanced Air Mobility Institute and hosted by the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence, the competition featured seven race teams flying Pipistrel Velis Electros and the BETA Technologies CX300 Alia eCTOL.
Pilots completed a 44-nautical-mile triangular course originating from Springfield-Beckley Airport, with semi-final heats conducted on Oct. 11, followed by the final race for the Pulitzer Trophy on Oct. 12 — precisely 100 years to the day since the last time a Pulitzer Race was held.
According to the race director, Col. (Ret.) Scott Neumann ’85, the Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race “is intended as a resumption of the renowned Pulitzer Trophy Air Races first held in the early 1920s and as a venue and incentive for the advancement of practical electric propulsion aircraft in terms of speed, range and reliability.”
Galella participated in the race representing the U.S. Air Force Academy and, in her semifinal heat, flew the course flawlessly in the Pipistrel Velis Electro, finishing a full minute faster than her six competitors, earning her a spot in the final race.
“During the final race for the Pulitzer Trophy, Jakki started two minutes behind the lead pilot; but with an impressive show of airmanship and precision flying,” Col. Neumann said, “she actually passed
the other Pipistrel Velis and posted a speed of 99 knots to win second place!”
Galella’s second-place finish was recognized with the Silver Pulitzer Medallion as part of the National Aeronautic Association’s Fall Awards Ceremony on Nov. 6 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
PREP SCHOOL TACKLES SECOND QUARTER
The U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School entered the second quarter of its academic schedule on Oct. 22, steadfastly committed and prepared to meet its historically high standards throughout the remainder of the 2025-26 year.
High expectations are the daily reality for cadet candidates. Nicki Mench ’02, director of character and leadership, proudly assessed the health of the Preparatory School.
“The Prep School is a unique and special place,” she said. “Every year, our staff and faculty pour extraordinary care and support into cadet candidates, shaping not only their academic success but their character and leadership.”
While academics are critical to the success of every cadet candidate, it is not their sole focus throughout the year.
“With support from the Prep School commander and the squadron commanders, we are systematically introducing foundational battlefield skills such as radio communications, weapons handling, M18 service pistol familiarization and land navigation to kick off our school year,” said Sean Tiernan, USAFA Preparatory School director of military training. “This is all part of our annual road to TX, which is our capstone final training event. Students are energized and eager to perform in these warrior tasks.”
The first quarter presented the cadet candidates with numerous challenges, ranging from K-Tests (military knowledge
tests) to SAMIs (Saturday Morning Inspections) to a series of grueling academic finals and essays. Preppies stepped up and exceeded at every opportunity. The first quarter also witnessed the celebration of Cadet Candidate Roman Bereguta’s selection as one of 2025’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year.
The unit excels in large part thanks to its tight-knit, close-community nature.
“As a small, agile organization, we operate with seamless collaboration across departments. When I need a character lesson facilitator or an honor mentor, I don’t have to navigate red tape — I simply reach out, and someone steps up,” Mench explained. “That’s the village in action.”
The Preparatory School’s mission is to academically, physically and militarily prepare selected individuals to succeed at the Academy. Many of the cadet candidates have prior enlisted service or come from varying backgrounds, contributing to a rich and dynamic training environment. While the organization cultivates a holistic approach to growth and development, ensuring academic readiness is of the utmost importance.
“We continue to prepare cadet candidates for the future academic fight,” said William Rogers, Prep School dean. “Students are engaged in a rigorous curriculum in math, science and English, expertly tailored to prepare them for their first year at USAFA and beyond.”
Despite growing pains the cadet candidates may face during their year at the Prep School, there remains some intangible quality that draws alumni back.
“As a civilian and Reserve officer, I’ve had the privilege of watching preppies grow from cadet candidates into lieutenants, and even return as instructors, coaches and commanders,” Mench said.
“It’s a full-circle journey that speaks volumes about the impact of this place. It thrives because everyone here — every educator, mentor and staff member — believes in the mission. We all see it as our shared responsibility to develop leaders of character. And that’s what makes the Prep School truly special.”
reunions
The U.S. Air Force Academy hummed with excitement this year thanks to a packed schedule of reunion events, drawing more than 5,100 graduates and guests representing a dozen classes. From September through November, the Classes of 1960, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2015 returned to USAFA to reconnect, reminisce with classmates and engage with cadets.
(Photos by Checkpoints team)
Highlights included squadron open houses, rounds of golf at Eisenhower, leadership briefings, lunches with cadets in Mitchell Hall, tours of the Terrazzo and Air Garden, and the signature camaraderie that defines the Long Blue Line. Many reunion weekends coincided with home football games, giving alumni the full Academy experience, to include tailgates. The strong turnout reaffirmed the enduring connection among grads, cadets and their alma mater.
While Falcon Stadium draws roaring crowds each fall, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s spirit soars well beyond the gridiron. Across the foothills and fields, cadet-athletes have been turning in outstanding performances that embody the Academy’s Core Values of integrity, service and excellence.
(Photos by USAFA and Checkpoints team)
From early morning runs to late-night practices, these cadet-athletes represent the best of the Long Blue Line. Their passion, sportsmanship and dedication to mission-first values ensure that the Academy’s legacy of excellence endures — on every field, course and court.
Grads Gather for Service Showdowns
Photos by David Bitton
Autumn brought Air Force football to Annapolis for their clash with Navy and later welcomed Army to Falcon Stadium
The Falcons competed with characteristic determination, keeping both games competitive and close until the end.
The U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation set the stage for each game day by hosting vibrant tailgates that drew Air Force grads and fans together.
Under sunny skies in Maryland and below-
freezing temperatures in Colorado, the Falcon faithful shared food and stories while demonstrating their unwavering support for USAFA.
These matchups remain among college football’s most respected traditions, where the outcome matters less than the spirit of competition between future military leaders.
From the energy of pregame gatherings to the intensity on the field, both weekends captured what makes service academy football truly special.
Col. (Ret.) Beth (Dunn) Kwasny ’91
THE TRANSMISSION
USAFA news from around the globe ... and BEYOND
KWASNY NAMED INTERIM CEO
Catholic Charities Fort Worth hired Col. (Ret.) Beth (Dunn) Kwasny ’91 as its interim chief executive officer. The organization works to end poverty through holistic, researchbased solutions. Col. Kwasny was an intelligence officer and continues working with PatchPlus Consulting.
MOORHEAD INDUCTED
The Arkansas Aviation Historical Society inducted Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Glen “Wally” Moorhead III ’69 into its Hall of Fame. Gen. Moorhead was born and raised in Arkansas. When Gen. Moorhead retired in 2006, he commanded the 16th Air Force and NATO Allied Air Command.
ENGLIN APPOINTED
David (English) Englin ’96 was appointed senior regional director of ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Los Angeles. He leads ADL’s work combating antisemitism, extremism and hate across Los Angeles and Southern California, the third-largest Jewish community in the world. He was previously president of the Los Angeles County Business Federation.
FRANCE RECEIVES GRANT
Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Marty France ’81 received a $1,000 grant from the International Medical Group to fund volunteer-led building projects across the developing world that promote education, public health and women’s empowerment. International Medical Group selected Gen. France as one of five winners from over 4,000 entries in their ninth annual Leave Your Mark Grant competition. His work is in support of Developing World Connections and has included contributions and participation by several other USAFA graduates.
LESSEL JOINS BOARD
Operation Homefront — a national military nonprofit dedicated to serving America’s military families — elected Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Erv Lessel III ’79 to its board of directors. He will support the organization that provides more than $40 million annually in programming to tens of thousands of military members, veterans and their families.
KUCERA JOINS BOARD
Kovach Enclosures Systems, a national leader in high-performance façade systems and architectural enclosures, announced Jack Kucera ’78 has joined its board of directors. Kucera, CEO and president of Varitec Solutions, is a major Academy donor and serves on the Air Force Academy Foundation board of directors. The new eastside building at Falcon Stadium — the Kucera Legacy Center — is named in honor of Jack and his wife, Vianne Kucera.
BAE HIRED
Radicle Science, a health tech company bringing clinical evidence and precision to natural products and wellness, hired Bill Bae ’07 as its chief commercial officer.
MCCAFFREY HIRED
The Civil Air Patrol hired Col. (Ret.) Terrance “Marco” McCaffrey III ’88 as its next director. He has been with the organization since 2023. The Civil Air Patrol — which provides inland search and rescue — has roughly 70,000 volunteer members, 545 aircraft, 3,500 small unmanned aircraft systems and 1,100 ground vehicles in 52 wings.
PIMENTEL HONORED
Women in Aerospace — an organization dedicated to increasing the leadership capabilities and visibility of women in the aerospace community — recognized Lt. Col. (Ret.) Betsy Pimentel ’80 with its Leadership Award. The organization honored Pimentel for her passion in developing aerospace solutions of the future and her extraordinary commitment to growing and sustaining the field. She is a strategic adviser at Stellar Solutions Inc.
TORREL INDUCTED
Mitch Torrel ’14, a 2008 graduate of Monticello High School, was named to the Monticello (Minnesota) School District Wall of Fame. In 2018, as a special operations officer, Torrel helped develop, coordinate and implement a rescue plan that saved 13 individuals trapped in a cave in Thailand.
Bill Bae ’07
Betsy Pimentel ’80
MARTIN AND CHILTON HONORED
The Air & Space Forces Association honored Gen. (Ret.) Gregory “Speedy” Martin ’70 and Gen. (Ret.) Kevin “Chilli” Chilton ’76 with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The award recognizes individuals and groups whose careers made lasting contributions to aerospace power and national defense. Gen. Martin formerly commanded Air Force Materiel Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Gen. Chilton is a former NASA astronaut and commander of U.S. Strategic Command.
BARNES APPOINTED
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has named Ashton Barnes ’20 its deputy chief of space operations. The agency is a Department of War combat support agency and a member of the U.S. intelligence community.
NOVAK ACCOMPLISHMENT
Mark Novak ’84 recently exceeded 1,000 hours of flying in the B-29 Superfortress, a feat that likely hasn’t been matched in at least 65 years, when the final B-29 was decommissioned. The B-29 dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Only two of the heavy bombers are still flying — at select events, air shows and paid public rides — and Novak flies them both.
ATHERTON NAMED CEO
Lisa Atherton ’96, current CEO of Bell, a segment of Textron Inc., will become president and CEO of Textron on Jan. 4, 2026.
KRAMLINGER NAMED FIRE CHIEF
George Kramlinger ’82 was hired as the fire chief for the Hampstead (New Hampshire) Fire Department. He was most recently a lead instructor with the New Hampshire Fire Academy.
LAY TAKES COMMAND
Gen.
deputy commander, Air Force Reserve Command, passes the guidon to Brig. Gen. Christopher Lay ’96, incoming commander, Force Generation Center, during a change of command ceremony.
Brig. Gen. Christopher Lay ’96 assumed command of Force Generation Center, Air Force Reserve Command, at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The center is responsible for generating Air Force Reserve forces to meet operational needs. Gen. Lay was previously mobilization assistant to the director of concepts and strategy at Air Force headquarters in the Pentagon, where he developed future Air Force strategy.
CHRISLEY APPOINTED
James Chrisley ’94 was appointed director of the Clark County (Nevada) Department of Aviation, which oversees five airports, including Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport, where Chrisley previously worked.
BRINLEY NAMED CEO/PRESIDENT
Stephanie Brinley ’91 was appointed chief executive officer and president of Zoo New England, overseeing Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham. She was previously the deputy director of Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
JONES TAKES COMMAND
Brig. Gen. Otis Jones ’95 assumed dual roles as Department of the Air Force chief of safety and Air Force Safety Center commander at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Gen. Jones was previously the chief of staff for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Africa, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Acting Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Lt. Gen. Scott Pleus, left, passes Brig. Gen. Otis Jones ’95 the Air Force Safety Center flag during an assumption of command ceremony.
Gen. (Ret.) Gregory Martin ’70
Gen. (Ret.) Kevin Chilton ’76
Mark Novak ’84 is all smiles after logging 1,000 flight hours in the B-29.
Lisa Atherton ’96
Maj.
Regina Sabric, left,
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
This quarter, we learned of the following deaths.
Col. (Ret.) Howard F. Bronson, Class of 1960, who died Oct. 18, 2025, in New Kent, Virginia.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) William A. Gillis, Class of 1960, who died Sept. 23, 2025, in Panama City, Florida.
Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Denis L. Walsh, Class of 1960, who died Oct. 6, 2025, in Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Charles B. Dixon, Class of 1961, who died July 14, 2025, in Fairfax Station, Virginia.
Mr. Robert E. Smith, Class of 1961, who died June 20, 2025, in Bakersfield, California.
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ervin J. Rokke, Class of 1962, who died Sept. 5, 2025, in Monument, Colorado.
Maj. (Ret.) Bradley Van Sant, Class of 1962, who died July 27, 2025, in Woodland, California.
Mr. William J. Flynn, Class of 1963, who died July 4, 2025, in Dallas, Texas.
Col. (Ret.) Richard J. Brown, Class of 1964, who died Dec. 13, 2020, in Spring Hill, Florida.
Mr. Jeffrey B. Gordon, Class of 1964, who died Sept. 24, 2025, in Jennings, Louisianna.
Col. (Ret.) John W. Graves, Class of 1964, who died Aug. 24, 2025, in Greenville, North Carolina.
Mr. William T. Helmich, Class of 1964, who died April 25, 2025, in Burien, Washington.
Col. (Ret.) Gary W. Matthes, Class of 1964, who died Aug. 27, 2025, in Eugene, Oregon.
Mr. Harry J. Pearce, Class of 1964, who died Oct. 14, 2025, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Dr. George G. Smith, Class of 1964, who died Dec. 28, 2016, in Poquoson,
Mr. Daniel E. Ward, Class of 1964, who died April 12, 2022, in Longmont,
Col. (Ret.) Peter S. Miner, Class of 1965, who died Aug. 9, 2025, in Layton,
Col. (Ret.) Edward E. Webber, Jr., Class of 1965, who died Aug. 13, 2025, in Ashburn, Virginia.
Mr. Cornelius D. McFadden III, Class of 1970, who died Feb. 12, 2025, in Oviedo, Florida.
Col. (Ret.) Samuel E. Poppell, Class of 1970, who died Aug. 15, 2025, in Destin, Florida.
Mr. Gary G. Kalen, Class of 1971, who died Aug. 21, 2025, in Canby, Oregon.
Mr. James A. Smith, Class of 1971, who died Sept. 19, 2025, in Lakewood, Colorado.
Maj. (Ret.) John W. White Jr., Class of 1972, who died Jan. 26, 2025, in Crestview, Florida.
Col. (Ret.) Robert F. Paling, Class of 1973, who died Aug. 21, 2025, in Westborough, Massachusetts.
Mr. Robert T. Cheatham III, Class of 1974, who died Aug. 3, 2025, in Crawford, Colorado.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Curt Devries, Class of 1975, who died Oct. 5, 2020, in unknown.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jay K. Joiner, Class of 1977, who died Oct. 15, 2025, in Monument, Colorado.
Maj. (Ret.) Walter F. Davidson, Class of 1979, who died July 28, 2025, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Mr. Donnie L. Jackson, Class of 1980, who died Nov. 8, 1992, in Dallas, Texas.
Lt. Col (Ret.) Edward H. Jarrett, Class of 1982, who died Dec. 8, 2024, in Oro Valley, Arizona.
Mr. Christopher J. Wiedenhoeft, Class of 1983, who died Sept. 12, 2025, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Maj. (Ret.) Marvin E. Jones, Class of 1984, who died Aug. 10, 2025, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Mr. Thomas D. Boettcher, Class of 1967, who died June 12, 2025,
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian DeLuca, Class of 1967, who died May 22, 2025,
Col. (Ret.) Edwin D. Gunter Jr., Class of 1967, who died Aug. 4, 2025,
Mr. Richard W. Haynes, Class of 1967, who died Oct. 8, 2025, in St. George, Utah.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Donald D. Cain, Class of 1969, who died Aug. 14, 2025,
Mr. Charles A. Jackson, Class of 1969, who died Aug. 15, 2025, in Europe.
Mr. Bryan L. McDowell, Class of 1970, who died April 29, 2023,
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Timothy M. Meserve, Class of 1991, who died Jan. 17, 2023, in Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia.
Col. (Ret.) Eric Y. Moore, Class of 1992, who died July 10, 2025, in Shreveport, Louisianna.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan D. Shultz, Class of 1995, who died Aug. 8, 2025, in Huntsville, Alabama.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Christopher R. Thompson, Class of 1996, who died Aug. 24, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Shane C. Noyes, Class of 1998, who died Sept. 30, 2025, in Gambrills, Maryland.
Maj. (Ret.) Maciej Krakowian, Class of 2012, who died Aug. 28, 2025, in Radom, Poland.
Capt. (Ret.) Kristen E. (Connell) Morris, Class of 2012, who died Aug. 31, 2025, in Ft. Morgan, Colorado.
Capt. John J. Ott, Class of 2014, who died May 1, 2025, in Santa Barbara,
Mr. Landon J. Morrison, Class of 2016, who died July 21, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
THE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES AND AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL MEMORIAL PUBLICATION IS NOW AVAILABLE.
This new membership benefit allows the Association and Foundation to better memorialize fallen graduates, air training officers, cadets and AOG honorary members.
As the Academy graduate population grows and ages, the space allotted to memorials in Checkpoints is increasingly insufficient. This new publication — Here’s A Toast: Gone But Not Forgotten — honors and perpetuates the legacy of the Long Blue Line through memorial articles, and coincides with the AOG’s mission to support the Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution.
Find more information and answers to FAQs at usafa.org/next-of-kin-and-gbnf
CLASS NEWS
Let us begin this quarter with a kudo and a request to all of us. Christina DeSantis is doing a remarkable job of renovating our Class of ’59 presence on the internet. The AOG’s website isn’t current. Christina has designed a unique website for our class. Please look it up at USAFA59.com. Although the site is under construction, you will find it a good resource. It’s not just a history site with bland class data; it is a more complete picture of the class and members, with first-person stories of what we and our families have done and experienced. It can also be a reference resource.
If you have already input some data, such as flight information, its presentation is being changed. If you spot an error on your awards, please send the correction to Jim Reed via our ’59 Facebook page.
Christina welcomes more inputs from class members, family members and friends. Please submit biographical information and stories having to do with military career highlights (ranks, assignments, missions); aircraft flown and flight hours; education and advanced training; combat and command roles; post-military career and service; family, interests and passions; special memories or reflections.
Please write in the third person (e.g., “He served…; She graduated…”). Suggested length is less than 1,000 words, and include a recent or historical photo if you wish.
Meanwhile, Jack Howell and his twin brother, Jerry, celebrated their 90th birthdays together last July. Congratulations to you both!
Your scribe had a surprise phone call from ATO Blair Hennessey. We talked for quite a while, and he asked about Brad Hosmer He lives near St. Petersburg, Florida.
This from Max Miller: “Most of our class has spent time flying, so you understand the joy of it and have many memories of your adventures. A YouTube video shows that Hank Canterbury’s Air Force aviation career, coupled with his retirement activity in the air, may well qualify him as the overall top aviator graduate of the USAFA. Our thanks to Christina DeSantis for sending this.” Many of us have seen this, but if you have not, just google “YouTube Hank Canterbury.”
We mentioned our long-term aviators in the last Checkpoints and got this information back from Hank: “Lightspeed Aviation did another one with me called Flying Between the Bugs that is shorter and tells a funny story about Todd and me when he was about to solo our Bonanza in 1989, and 33 years later when he was giving me an instrument proficiency check in his Bonanza. I noted your comments in the last class news about Dusty, Paul and me. I went thru my logbooks to count how many planes I have logged as PIC, not just as a passenger. It turns out I have flown 20 military planes, mostly fighters of course, along with the trainers. Civilian planes number 135 — surprised me too. As of July 2025, I have a total of 21,571 hours — 5,000 of those in the Air Force, with close to 4,500 in fighters. I’ve never been an airline pilot either. I’m still instructing and teaching other Beechcraft owners, as well as flying my own plane and the Pitts to squeeze the bad blood out of my head, pulling a few Gs.” Wow!
A position report from Paul Lasen: OLG officially retired from flying on June 24, with the sale of his F-33A Bonanza, N1553A — 66 years in the air. Passing the baton to the much younger, Hank C. OLG will be 92 on Nov. 22.
I’ll bet you are wondering about this! Jack Catton is the reunion planner for the Class of ’76. “I wanted to make sure that you and your Class of ’59 buddies are aware of The Spirit of ’76 Echelon project my class is leading to pay tribute to the Long Blue Line. We broke ground on Friday, May 23, and will dedicate the project during our 50th reunion in October 2026. The Class of ’59 will lead off the Echelon formation, with their class crest below a replica of a B-25 prop, tying USAFA back to the Army Air Corps and the Doolittle Raiders. All subsequent classes, through the tricentennial class of 2076, will be represented on C-130 prop blades in the echelon along the Heritage Trail.” I encourage all of us to go to the ’76 website and look at the video and read the brochure. Outstanding project!! usafa.org/76-reunion.
Jim Reed reports that his grandson, Brian Reed, Class of 2016, has been promoted to major and is being assigned as the executive officer to the 5th Air Force commander at Yokota. He is unique due to his being fluent in Japanese. Also, please note that Jim is expanding our ’59 Facebook page, under documents, to include reference resources for our use. The first item in this category is a draft worksheet for Mortuary Affairs that can be used by families for planning purposes, especially if the planning includes the USAFA Cemetery.
Thought for the Quarter: “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Albert Einstein
Dick Carr, 3612 San Sebastian Ct., Punta Gorda, FL 33950; H: 941-637-8272; C: 941-585-8280; dickc59@embarqmail.com
Dusty Trail, dickt@swnebr.net; FB: USAFA Class of 1959
1960Here’s Jim Glaza’s recap of the 65th reunion: “Despite decreasing health, mostly mobility problems, an energetic contingency of classmates gathered Sept. 16-20 to renew and embellish old friendships. Fully participating were Jim Alexander, Greg Boyington, Bill Carnegie, Clem Douglas, Jim Glaza, Charlie Hart, Joe Higgins, Jon McClure, Phil Meinhardt, Neal Reavely, Gordon Savage, J.T. Smith, Dave Sweigart and Charlie Thompson Making strategic appearances at various events were Carol Billelo, Jack Brush, Judy (Bujalski) Rodrigue, Wayne Kendall, John McCullough, Fred Porter, Diana Pupich and Ron Yates. Many were accompanied by spouses, children, family and friends who added immeasurably to the party atmosphere.
“Late Thursday afternoon we held our ‘Google Meet’ open to the class. Despite numerous technical and reception problems, our intrepid computer guru, J.T., managed a rousing and memorable meeting that ended up involving more than 30 classmates. It was so uplifting that numerous classmates have requested a repeat meeting periodically in the future (TBD).
“Friday was cadet open house and briefings, followed by our memorial service in the Vietnam Pavilion, aptly presented by Wayne Kendall and Neal Reavely. A copy of the memorial service brochure is on the class website, tinyurl.com/ y5hcd34h. Following that, a fine-dining dinner exceeded everyone’s expectations and was a fitting finale for many leaving early Sunday.
Nine pilots in the Ed Lankenau family! From left: Grandson Jeff, AA pilot; son-in-law, Frank, AA retired; son Lance, AA captain; Ed; Brian, commercial pilot; and three littles in training! Three generations of aviators. A few missing.
Jerry is on left, and Jack is on right.
The Spirit of ’76 Echelon … A Tribute to the Long Blue Line
AOG Members 93% Sabre Society Donors
CLASS NEWS
“Saturday started with the Glaza’s Jurassic Park tailgate preceding the contest with Boise State. Despite the final score, the game was very entertaining. Air Force must be the highest-scoring losing team in the country! For those not leaving early Sunday, the Brush’s offered a generous, robust brunch at their beautiful home, happily attended by many.”
Collected pictures from the event are on the class website. View them at tinyurl.com/wbujshw5.
While on the subject of pictures at the 65th, Joe Higgins checks in with, “Here is a pic of my daughter Linda from California and I at the 65th reunion. She was the designated driver and wheelchair scout.”
Joe, a friend and Linda
Near Seneca, South Carolina, Jim Alexander serves at the Central Railway Museum several days a week, in addition to playing golf three times a week. He, his wife Martha, two sons and a daughter-in-law attended the 65th class reunion. The sons arranged all the airline tickets and rental car and acted as driver and guide for many activities, including a super visit to the Garden of the Gods and to the former Lowry AFB and its memories of our first two years. Lunch with the cadets was interesting, and seeing his old cadet room was very special — although the current occupants should have received several demerits.
Dave Sweigart writes, “Camille and I attended [the reunion] with our granddaughter, Paige Resor. She is a 2024 graduate of Belmont University in Nashville and lives there now, working for an entertainment marketing company. She also joined us for an August trip to Branson, Missouri. I think she likes her grandparents.
“Enjoyed the Dinosaur tailgate party and the football game in spite of the final score. Our falcon decided to return for its halftime show after leaving the stadium for about five minutes. Also, when an ’85 grad saw I was a ’60 grad, he said, ‘We studied about you guys.’ It must have been in a psychology class.”
RG Head has recently won his third Yacht Club Bocce Ball Tournament. He is building an 8-foot model of Eddie Rickenbacker’s SPAD XIII.
George Collier checked in with, “My daughter, Sandra, and I took a ride in a 1920s Ford Trimotor in May. I thought I needed to get my time in for flight pay. We had quite a 20-minute ride.” J.T. Smith comments that he too once had a “dollar ride” in a Trimotor. It was his first experience aloft … when he was 84 years younger.
Sandra and George
Ron Deep has relocated to a senior living facility in the Villas of Beavercreek near his former home in Beavercreek, Ohio. He still enjoys working with software and computer challenges. He is getting used to a smaller living space, but making new friends is a welcome reward.
Jerry Farquhar resides in Okeechobee, Florida. Following graduation and flight school, he found himself flying heavies at McGuire AFB, along with several/too many fledgling airlifters. Seeking more action, he transitioned into the world of commercial aviation, which he pursued for the next 55 years. In the process, he recorded 27,000 unblemished flying hours. In his book, In the Air, he describes many of his interesting exploits and rewards.
Sid Newcomb writes, “I had three roommates at the Academy (Dick Hillman, Nick Holly and Ben Furuta). Ben is the only one who has not yet flown West; so, we have exchanged notes a few times. … [We] are expecting a visit from our eldest child, Holly (born in Okinawa in 1963), next week to celebrate my 88th birthday. Marvann’s sister and her daughter-in-law from Houston also plan to be here. I think our granddaughter Maddy (age 23) — who graduated from Texas State University and now teaches fifth-graders near San Marcos — also plans to be here to celebrate my b/d.”
Nulli Secundus
Ken Alnwick, 20550 Falcons Landing Cir., Apt. 5204, Sterling, VA 20165-3587; 703-509-7191; kjalnwick1@gmail.com; Class website: usafaclasses.org/ 1960/afa60.html
J.T. Smith, jtsmcrider@aol.com
1961
We lost Bob Smith (June 20), Charles Dixon (July 14), Carl Renoud (Aug. 1) and Bud Utendorf (Aug. 28) this quarter. See the GBNF section of this Checkpoints. Lily Carlstrom (Dave’s widow) passed on Aug. 4. You can read her biography at tinyurl.com/46rus7kf.
Bob Best is enjoying his life in “very rural” Arkansas. His latest biopsies revealed no cancer cells. Good news! They recently went to Baton Rouge to view his new, one and only, great-grandson.
George Buchner and Susan Wearly continue to cycle between Nye, Montana, and Mesquite, Nevada. They are exploring moving from Nevada to somewhere in Texas that has grass and trees.
Dick Fairlamb’s older daughter in Utah, Tina, said that he is holding his own at Ovation, the facility where he is living in St. George.
Kathy Freeman asked Howie Bodenhamer to conduct the memorial service for Larry on Aug. 24 at Larry’s favorite restaurant, Paisanos, in San Antonio. Most of Larry’s family attended, coming from as far as Idaho and Minnesota, as well as many other well-known locales. Mark Anderson spoke about Larry’s participation in the periodic graytag gatherings in San Antonio, along with several classmates who live in the area. The memorial itself was a joyful tribute to Larry, through the participation of several of Larry’s friends, including longtime neighbors, two of his granddaughters, along with Jim Wild and Sydney, Mark and Ginger, and Howie. Howie had told Larry’s son, Michael, he wanted Larry to know he planned to visit him later in June after he participated in a Kansas Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., with his son. Larry passed before Howie got that chance. Don’t delay intended visits with family and friends.
Dean and Jo Jones were jet-setting in September, having attended their granddaughter Mady’s (Pam’s daughter) wedding Sept. 25-28 in Maryland and twin nieces’ 80th birthday bash in Olympia, Washington, the following weekend. Both events went smoothly. They just celebrated their first year at Liberty Heights Retirement Community and are continuing to enjoy its benefits. Wayne Jones also
Dave and Paige
attended the twin nieces’ 80th birthday celebration in Olympia, along with 20 other Jones family relatives: a great reunion. The twins had another big party four days later in Washington for friends and neighbors. Between parties, Wayne visited his firefighter son and two grandsons in Yakima and took a ferry boat ride up to the San Juan Islands. The fall colors were beautiful, the salmon tasted great, and a good time was had by all!
Terry Jorris and friend Isabelle won the Commodore’s Trophy for their entry in the 2025 Old Glory 4th of July Boat Parade on Newport Harbor, California. Their theme was WWI: Terry went as a doughboy bugler and played bugle calls on his old high school trumpet. Isabelle made her own WWI nurse costume; they were accompanied by her youngest, Scot, who played WWI music, and Terry’s youngest, Teresa, who ran the outboard motor. Fun.
PB O’Connor has been visiting Jim Wilhelm, who has recently had some memory issues. He said that Jim is slowly showing some improvement. After not even recognizing PB during an earlier visit, PB reports that on his early October visit, Jim clearly told PB, “Take care, PB,” as PB was departing. Encouraging news.
Jimmy Poole sent this recent picture of Bonnie and Doug Cairns, Gwen and Neal Westbrook, and Susan and Jimmy at their quarterly dinner together in Montgomery, Alabama. All is well with this group of octogenarians. Bonnie and Doug said it is good to be there with two great classmates and wives.
A happy gathering
Les Schneider was honored to be invited to be the guest speaker at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio, in late July for the annual Summer Moon Festival. The three Apollo 11 frogmen and Shuttle astronaut Mike Foreman joined him. His presentation was the story of the rescue of Gemini VIII after it survived the first emergency in space. Les was the pilot of Naha Rescue One, a four-engine WWII-vintage HC-54. The rescue and recovery occurred in the East China Sea, 400 miles east of Okinawa, on March 16, 1966. The astronauts were Neil Armstrong and Col. David Scott. While there, Les got to fly the 1928 Ford Trimotor once flown by both Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. It was a great experience. He hopes to return next year on March 16 for the 60th anniversary of Gemini VIII.
Terry Storm said that Bud Utendorf stayed with him, at Terry’s parents’ house in Green Bay, while Bud was dating Judy. She passed away earlier this year.
Ad and Rosie Thompson spent July on a combination ocean cruise and land travel around the Scandinavian and Baltic countries (eight total). The cruise ship was relatively small, so no large crowds, and the accommodations, food and service were all superb. They were very impressed with Norway: completely trash- and graffiti-free. People in the Baltic countries that they spoke with often brought up the war in Ukraine, commenting that they’re worried that they’re next.
Tom Wilson is doing well except for dealing with some skin cancer as a result of time on the beach in Florida last year. He just returned from the doctor and his second treatment. The jury is still out. Tom is delighted to share the good news that his grandson’s wife delivered Tom’s third great-grandchild on Oct. 6. Mother and child are doing very well! He is blessed.
Nelson O’Rear, 50582 Stonington Dr., Granger, IN 46530-8243; 574-273-2597; enoandtjo@gmail.com
1962
The schedule for publishing Checkpoints is such that the class news reported generally covers the period two to six months before the actual publication. That timeframe has been a particularly tough period for our class. We lost some of the best among us. We lost Erv Rokke on Sept. 5. Erv’s accomplishments were too many to describe here. He excelled in so many key and sensitive positions that any one of those accomplishments would have been a capstone career accomplishment for most. Erv served as an air attaché, a defense attaché in the former Soviet Union, dean of faculty at USAFA, a director of intelligence for European Command, Air Force assistant chief of staff for intelligence, and president of National Defense University. Erv excelled at every one of these assignments; little wonder then that he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. After retirement, he continued to contribute and to excel. He was the president of Moravian College. He was the first president of the USAFA Endowment (now the Air Force Academy Foundation), after which he held the superintendent’s chair, character and leadership development, at the Academy, and he was a professor emeritus of the Political Science Department. Erv was a driving force behind character and honor development at the Academy and in the development of the Institute for Future Conflict. Erv was interred at USAFA, where 19 classmates and wives attended the services and a brief reunion afterward. With the loss of Erv Rokke, we have indeed lost a giant.
It was with sorrow that we received the notification that Bob Felts had died in July. Few of our classmates will be as fondly remembered as Bob. No one in the class did more to keep us unified and integrated as a class. As most know, Bob organized and administered the internet-based system by which any of us could contact and exchange information with other members of the class. More than facilitating and enabling communication and integration among the members, Bob implemented our communications so that members could select the nature of the exchange each preferred — for example, participants could elect to receive only summary informational messages, or one could elect to participate in the give-andtake discussions and debates among individuals and groups. Prior to becoming the ’62 class master integrator, he had a successful Air Force career as a pilot and instructor in both SAC and TAC. After he retired, Bob held positions in several companies,
Wapakoneta Summer Moon Festival poster
Les Schneider with the 1928 Ford Trimotor
RTBs gathered in Erv’s memory: PK Robinson, D. Holt, D. Roe, A. Sigman and J. Mack
CLASS NEWS
where he performed as a computer analyst, business consultant and manager. After having lived in California, Bob had, in recent years, moved back to Colorado. Bob will be missed by all.
We also lost Al Wylie in July. My recollection is that in every squadron or group in the Cadet Wing, there were individuals who truly got the science and math courses. They understood, and they were able to communicate that understanding to help their classmates. Al Wylie was that guy in 22nd Squadron. He handled the sciences and math with ease, and he was more than generous with his time as he helped others. Al hit a growth spurt after entering the Academy — so much so that, upon graduation, he no longer met the physical dimensions required of pilots, so he chose to attend graduate school, where he received a graduate degree in applied math. That defined Al’s AF career from the outset. He once said, “If you are good at math, the AF assumes you are good at computers and data management.” He served in a wide variety of data management and computer-related positions throughout his career. After retirement, Al continued in the directions defined by his active-duty years, doing consulting and research on a variety of topics, including with Dartmouth University. In sum, the AF probably did not take full advantage of all the capabilities that Al Wylie brought to the table, but he served willingly and with honor through a career defined by highly technical assignments.
When you look at Brad Van Sant’s life, you have to be struck by his refusal to be defeated. He was slowed down a time or two, but he was never defeated. Brad started with the Class of 1961, but after some academic difficulties, he graduated as a proud Redtag in ’62. Brad then proceeded to pilot training, but he encountered problems with airsickness, so he left pilot training to become a navigator (the earlier classes all graduated as rated navigators). While at McChord, he pursued flying with the local aero club and found that the airsickness was no longer a problem, so he went back to pilot training and onward to F-4s, an assignment as a FAC in Vietnam, and follow-on assignments in T-37s and T-39s. Brad was always one of the kindest, most considerate souls. After retirement, he became a Presbyterian minister and served for years in California. Brad later bought an airplane and was a pilot with Angel Flight West, flying people in need of medical care to airports in the Bay Area. Brad died on July 27. Sometimes down but never defeated — that was Brad.
On a more upbeat note, Dan Pemberton and his wife, Rose, recently visited Don and Rose Shepperd in the Shepperd’s new digs in Scottsdale.
Bob Lightsey, 3105 Cunningham Dr., Alexandria, VA 22309; H: 703-360-5320; C: 703-772-2061; bob.lightsey@gmail.com
1963
Welcome back to the ’63 class news! It is mid-October here in southern Arizona. We are beginning to feel the weather changes, with cooler evenings and a lot less glaring sun. Football is another sign of autumn, and it is filling up the television with games at least six days of the week.
As of this writing, I have been notified of the final flight west for Bill Flynn, 15th Cadet Squadron. Bill passed away July 4. He has been laid to rest in Dallas, Texas. Bill was known for his advocacy for disabled people, which earned him a place at the Washington, D.C., conference that resulted in the drafting of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In the Zoom meeting with the class squadron reps at the end of September, we heard our 63rd reunion schedule is firm: June 3-5, 2026, in Colorado Springs. The reunion will take place at Hotel Polaris. Mark your calendars for those dates! I think you will enjoy Hotel Polaris. After spending a weekend there earlier this year, Linda and I were impressed. The hotel is an excellent place for events like class reunions.
Vic Thacker wrote on Oct. 13 that we are just $800 short of our goal to fund the portrait for Janet Edwards. So, a great big thank you to our classmates for making this project come alive. The plan is to unveil the portrait at the banquet scheduled for June 5. Hotel Polaris is near the Academy’s North Gate. By the time you read this class news, you should have received information concerning the reunion activities.
Here is the tentative reunion schedule: arrival reception, Wednesday, June 3, 1700 hrs., Hotel Polaris; cup turning, Thursday, June 4, 1400 hrs., Hotel Polaris; lunch, Friday, June 5; and banquet, Friday, June 5, 1700 hrs., Hotel Polaris. Toast, Friday, June 5, 1963 hrs. Vic added the timing may change a bit, but this outline is solid. Detailed planning will begin after football season is over. Until then, the AOG and Foundation are swamped. I received an informative email from Jim Hannam detailing an event called Air Warrior Heritage Discussions that were a part of the Joint Base Andrews Air Show held Sept. 12-14. The event included a “Heritage Hangar” for promoting Air Force history via moderated aviation heritage discussions from Vietnam-era air warriors. Jim, and classmates Ron Fogelman and Dick Guild, plus a member of the Class of 1966, Ross Detweiler,
participated. Ron, with moderator JV Venable, discussed Misty Forward Air Control operations as well as their shootdowns and recovery. Jim added that Ron characteristically noted, it wasn’t his smartest decision to duel an antiaircraft gun, and was shot down. He then described his exciting recovery/ flight by a U.S. Army Cobra gunship while hanging onto the Cobra’s skids/door and being flown to a special ops camp 20 miles away. He also described his Misty missions, noting that former CSAF Tony McPeak and MoH awardee Bud Day, Misty’s first commander and later a POW, were Mistys. Ron had flown to the heritage event on an A-26 Invader (see photo), beautifully rebuilt and owned by Million Air. Interestingly, this A-26 was also flown across the Atlantic to participate in the 80th anniversary of D-Day at Normandy.
In one discussion I participated in (listened to), a question was asked: What is going to happen to our class cups currently on display in Arnold Hall after we are all gone? Given our advancing (rapidly) ages, the question immediately caught my interest. The answer? Probably Doolittle Hall. Why there? Well, it appears that Doolittle Hall may become a museum that tells the story of the Academy’s early days. The Association and Foundation are now under one roof next to Doolittle Hall at Wecker Hall.
One more subject of interest for me as your scribe: feedback! Back in September, Randy Reynolds commented, “I breezed through the new Checkpoints. Bill Wecker and John Fox were highlighted for large donations.” Hey, someone is reading the class news! Randy added, “The addition of Wecker Hall, which appears to be in use now, along with the Institute for Future Conflict. I thought the IFC was totally funded by USAFA.” Randy went on to ask: “How is everyone’s status? Code One: if no bodily write ups. Code Two: if ‘turnable’ but needs work. Code Three: grounded.” I saw two responses to Randy’s request. The first, from Drue DeBerry: “2.0 Lots of little things — knees, sleepless, memory, etc. My best wishes to all of you.” The second from Lucky Ekman: “2.5 — mobility and vision issues.” Personally, I can relate to both answers.
That’s it for news and discussions. Looking forward to your comments. Please do not hesitate to contact me and even discuss what was said. Take care of yourselves and be safe out there! Ad Novos Mundos. Skip
Two Roses — one with Dan Pemberton and the other with Don Shepperd.
Sabre Society Donors
From left: Hannam, Fogelman, Guild and Detweiler
Norman I. “Skip” Lee, 63119 E. Cat Claw Ln., Tucson, AZ 85739-2058; H: 520-825-7980; C: 520-241-3498; 54wrs63@gmail.com; Class website: usafa63.org
1964
B-57 Plaque Dedication: Don Graham wrote that he initially contacted the AOG two years ago to start the process to have a plaque installed at the SEA Pavilion. He said, “I researched many documents and identified all the USAFA grads who flew the B-57 in combat. Much of the script on the plaque was mine. I couldn’t attend the unveiling due to other commitments, but Doug said that I was there in spirit and the AOG POC mentioned me by name as the ‘ramrod’ on this project.” Some of the plaque’s script reads, “The B-57 became the first U.S. jet aircraft to drop ordnance in Vietnam, beginning operations in 1964. It played a vital role in interdiction missions, disrupting enemy supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and was also used for close air support, performing divebombing and strafing runs to assist ground forces. … By July 1969, most B-57Bs were withdrawn, but sixteen were converted into B-57Gs. Under Project Tropic Moon, these aircraft received advanced night vision and targeting systems, including low light level television, forward looking infrared radar, and laser-guided bomb capability. … The program ended with the last B-57G missions in April 1972, but its innovations shaped future night attack aircraft. Nineteen Academy graduates flew the B-57 in combat. Two were KIA.”
Hearts: David La Croix wrote about Lanny Burrill, who in retirement makes wooden hearts and gives them away. David wrote, “Lanny not only gives his hearts to schools, he also personally delivers a lot of them to people in nursing homes and hospitals. Other such places around the country now request them from him, and he sends them each a few hundred to distribute. I recently visited with him in Spokane and saw firsthand how delighted people were when he gave them a heart — waiters and waitresses, store clerks, strangers he meets in a park — everybody!” If you google “ksps.com crazy heart man,” there’s a news video about Lanny’s work.
Gone But Not Forgotten: There’s a long list of classmates who’ve passed this quarter. Next week (October), there’s a 13th Squadron reunion in Sevierville, Tennessee. [More to report next issue.] You, too, might consider meeting, calling or writing classmates you haven’t talked to for a while. Our ranks are depleting faster as we go along.
left: Bill and Cathy Kennedy, Page and Diane
John Graves (CS-02) passed in August in North Carolina.
George Smith (CS-17) passed in December 2016 in Virginia. The AOG just recently found out about his death.
Gary Matthes (CS-03) passed in August in Oregon. Several classmates attended Gary’s interment, including Jay Kelley, Rich Porter, Alan Rogers, Hugh Williamson, Ace Rawlins and Doug Jenkins
William Helmich (CS-08) passed in April in Washington.
Ken Sampson (CS-24) passed in June in Florida. Jeff Gordon (CS-19) passed in September in Louisiana.
Bill Helmich (CS-08) passed in April in Washington. Finally, I just learned of the passing of Harry Pearce (CS-07) in October in Michigan.
Bob Hovde, 206 Walker Ave., Huntsville, AL 35801; H: 256-532-3923; C: 256-348-9794; bob@hovde.us 1965
Jeffrey D. Silliman: 13th Squadron may have been few in number [at the reunion], but we appreciated being among all those classmates from ’65 from whatever squadrons who could make it (there were quite a few discussions on senior living arrangements at Thursday’s reception). Friday’s memorial service at the old AOG was once again a highlight, a sober and meaningful gathering with members of the Cadet Choir participating. I hope most checked out the AOG upstairs to see the great photos and bios of our Distinguished Graduates, etc. CS-13 found a great Saturday brunch place at the Garden of the Gods Club and Spa (Bill can really pick them).
David Bennett: Honor Flight Austin flew 62 of us Vietnam vets to D.C. in September.
Two of the names I had to find on the Wall: Earl Hopper (also on my bracelet; I saw the SAM blow up next to his F-4 on Jan. 10, 1968) and Lance Sijan. The Wall often reflects the person honoring a name. Two of our young men gone too soon.
Dennis Bagwell: CS-19 held their 18th annual reunion (since 2006) at Sandbridge Beach, Virginia, Oct. 4-11.
Michael Ditmore: ’65 from 5th Squadron had a marvelous 60th reunion!
’64 says goodbye to Gary Matthes.
AOG Members
Sabre Society Donors
Polaris Society Members
From
Basheer, Jeff and Grace Silliman, and George and Cile Dunkelberg
Front row, from left: Brenda Bagwell, Mary Grems, Nanette LaFors, Sharon Boezer, Marcia Bleymaier and Deanie Burge. Back row, from left: Dennis Bagwell, Gordon Boezer, Brad Grems, Kary LaFors, Jim Hopkins, Pete Supp, Joe Bleymaier, John Love and Tom Thompson
Fun times on the Terrazzo
Harv Shelton: My only news is that after 19 years in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, Millie and
CLASS NEWS
I decided to leave our lakeside home and move to a continuing care retirement community in Matthews, North Carolina. The choice of location is based on putting us close to our older son and his wife in the Charlotte area. After two months here, we have just about figured out how to fit everything we brought with us into a two-bedroom apartment and are adjusting to the change from rural living to big city life. As far as I know, my nearest classmate is Ken McAlear, in Lake Lure, North Carolina, but if there are any in the Charlotte area or passing through, I would be happy to hear from them.
Robert Davies: Here’s a little news about Thirsty Third at the 60th reunion: We had an impromptu 3rd Squadron get-together at O’Malley’s steakhouse north of the Academy. Attending: Ray and Jane Brill; Bob Davies; Myron and Rhett Donald; Ed Jordan; John Justice and his son, daughter-inlaw and grandson; Carl and Susie Lyday; Curt and Carolyn Nelson; and Marc and Helen Sabin. It was great checking out what each of us had done with the last 60 years — 20+ USAF, 20+ honest work and 20+/- retired. One of my roomies, Jumpin’ John Justice, spent his USAF time as a nav in B-52s and a logistics guru in Oklahoma. I got him to go to work for Boeing when he retired, and he stayed right there in Oklahoma doing logistics work for us! Now he raises world champion Angora goats and has the gold and silver belt buckles to prove it!
Vee man Lyday gave up his lucrative real estate hobby in Denver for a Hawaiian shack on Oahu. Myron Donald (another roomie), who spent over six years as a POW, was there with his son. Ray Brill spent many years as a minister, saving the souls of his flock, and I hope some of his classmates. CD Nelson and wife are holding the fort in Dayton, serving our class with info on happenings. Easy Ed Jordan has a tale too long to tell, but is looking good, and Marc Sabin got his Ph.D. from MIT and put us all to shame in the world of defense consulting. Me? I bailed after two non-flying jobs in Washington, D.C., and joined Boeing in the stealth business, working on the F-22 and B-2, among other projects. Now I spend time hunting, fishing and camping all over Washington. The elk and moose are really tasty on the grill!
I looked at the Vietnam page on our website and was struck that we lost so many there. I was at Cam Ranh Bay ’66-’67 and knew about Harly Hackett and Jim Crew but not the others; my second tour was ’69-’70 at Udorn RTAFB, and we had several losses, but none of our class. An RF-4 flew right over my head and the crew punched out and the plane crashed into the AFTN station about 50 yards from me. The canopy bounced around the parking lot where I was standing, and I was running all around trying to not get hit by the ejection seat; 414 combat missions without a scratch and I almost get taken out by a canopy!
William F. Wall: Priscilla and I want to extend thanks to everyone who helped set up the reunion, a “great to see you” to all those with whom we reconnected, and a special thanks to Mike and Jo Keefe for opening their home to us. May we all continue to honor and hold in our memories those who are no longer with us.
David Connaughton: A new class website can be found at usafa-1965.net.
Bill Roberts, 9870 E. Golden Currant Dr., Tucson, AZ 85748-7897; 520-342-8002; scribe@usafa1965.org; usafa-1965.net; FB: USAFA '65 Best Alive
1966
Greetings, Redtags! Our Yellowstone fishermen have been at it again this year, with a few additions. In fact, there are actually two Redtag fishing groups that fish Yellowstone. Spence Daniels provided some history for us: “I started coming to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 to fly fish with two fishing buddies of mine from Albuquerque. In 2004, I invited Rusty Gideon to join our gang for a few days of fishing.
“In 2006, Rusty invited Marty Daack to join us. Marty recommended that they stay in Cooke City, Montana, as it was much more convenient to Soda Butte Creek. I continued to fish with my Albuquerque gang each year and stayed with them in Gardiner, Montana. In 2013, I invited my UPT roommate, Warren Leek, to join me in Gardiner. Although both ‘fishing gangs’ were making annual Yellowstone trips, we never seemed to be in the park at the same time. Finally, this year, I coordinated with Rusty for the ’66 gang’s plans, and Warren and I joined them in Cooke City. We managed to spend four days with the larger group and had a great time!”
On a sad note, we have lost some of our ’66 wives in the past few months. Dan Cecil’s wife, Diana, passed away on July 7 after a brief illness. Diana was a Red Cross recreation aide (we called them “donut dollies”) and served in Vietnam from November 1967 to January 1969. She met Dan at Phan Rang. They have a daughter and four sons. Two of their boys flew combat in the Middle East. Stephen ’08, an F-35 pilot, now flies for UPS. Andrew (USMA ’96) is a U.S. Army brigadier general. Their other two boys are both involved in the protection of the community. Brien is a senior deputy district attorney, and David is a senior pastor of a Baptist church near Fort Worth, Texas. On Friday, July 11, Diana was laid to rest at the Academy cemetery, with many family members, friends and classmates present.
On Sept. 18, 15 ’66ers gathered at the USAFA cemetery for the burial service for John Fal’s wife, Liz, who passed away in Monument on Aug. 27. John met Liz at Bitburg AB in Germany in 1970, where she taught at the DOD school, and they were married six months later. She raised their family and moved with John to bases like Cannon, Holloman, Osan and Maxwell before finally ending up in Colorado. John was my roommate in 13th Squadron, and Liz always hosted our squadron at her house when we returned to the Academy for reunions (or any other time one of us showed up at their door). John and Liz were huge Falcon football fans with season tickets, attended ’66 football tailgates, bridge groups and Christmas parties, and sponsored multiple cadets during their 55 years of marriage.
Redtags at Yellowstone: Tom Brandon, Dan Radke, Hugh Gommel, Dick Borowski, Marty Daack, Rusty Gideon, Tip Galer, John Marshall, Jeff Marshall (’94 Redtag, John’s son), Roger Carleton ’67, Steve Amdor ’65, Vic Andrews and Rosie Detwiler
The “other Redtags” at Yellowstone: Spence Daniels, Marty Daack, Vic Andrews, Rusty Gideon and Warren Leek
Redtags gather to honor Liz Fal: Deacon Ray Milberg, Dick Oliver, Larry Bagley, Bill Riley, John Fal, Ron Boatright, Phil Dibb, Dale Elliott, Geoff Egge, Tom Guenther, Hans Mueh, Jim Murphy, Dan Cecil, Marty Daack, Art Suro and Vic Andrews
Mike Wheeler’s wife, Kathy, died at home in Fairfax Station, Virginia, on July 11. Mike and Kathy
met in Colorado Springs and were married in the Pauline Chapel at The Broadmoor on Aug. 23, 1969. She was buried at USAFA on Aug. 14, and many of our classmates turned out to honor Kathy and support Mike.
Just as I was submitting this newsletter, I was told that Homer Lichtenwalter’s wife, Sandy, passed away on Sept. 30 and that they would be having a funeral mass on Nov. 8 at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Dorsey Price (CS-21), who passed away last year (April 2024), was laid to rest in the Academy Cemetery following a military service in the Cemetery Pavilion led by classmate Deacon Ray Milberg on Aug. 22. Again, our classmates were present to honor his memory.
Finally, on Sept. 26, our local ’66ers gathered at the USAFA Cemetery to lay to rest Dennis Fink (CS-06), who died July 16, 2020. Denny’s ashes were driven to Colorado by his son, Mike, and grandson, Liam, in Denny’s former Tesla Model S. Denny was given full military honors, with the presentation of the flag, a three-volley rifle salute, and taps — none of which Mike knew would happen, but for which he was truly grateful.
These were all great guys and ladies. It makes me proud that our classmates always show up in force for these funerals to honor the departed and support their families. For more details and pictures of all these events, take a look at the GBNF section on our class website, classof66.usafagroups.org.
Gregg Swanson has been traveling around the U.K. for the past several weeks and has great stories and more pictures on our class website. Until next time … Happy Landings!
Ryan Denny, 1635 Mary Todd Ln., O'Fallon, IL 62269; 618-670-2298; ryanden@aol.com
We are now into autumn, with leaf colors changing, weather cooling, football games and — in Albuquerque — hot air balloons flying and chiles roasting. Wherever you are, I hope it is a good time for you. First: Gary Koldyke and others recently celebrated Ed Folz’s wife Janei’s 80th birthday at Hotel Polaris. “It was a wonderful event. All the Folz family kids and grandkids attended.”
Hughes, Pat and Kathy Finnegan, Ed and Janei Folz and Gary and Deb Koldyke
From Gary Willis: “In a sign of the passing times, a veterans’ organization composed of Army advisers and Air Force “Red Marker” FACs — who 50 years ago supported the Vietnamese Airborne Division — furled and cased its colors on Sept. 20 in Houston and presented them to its Vietnamese comrades in arms for safe keeping. Thirteen grads served as Red Markers, including Bruce Freeman and Gary Willis. Willis delivered the … remarks at the event: “General George S. Patton said, ‘Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.’ Vietnamese airborne troopers in battle were the epitome of that saying. For more than two decades, you fought throughout your country and into Cambodia and Laos … and then the war was lost. The guns fell silent. The time for killing was done. The time for living lay ahead. But the need for courage was still there among new fears. It was an honor to serve alongside you and to be your friend to this day. You have made the United States a better place by your hard work and courage. Thank you for showing us what courage is like! Nhay Du -- Co Gang!”
From Gary Green: “On July 19, my son Phillip John Green lost his seven-year battle with ALS. It was a day that the Green family had known was coming since his diagnosis seven years ago. Upon learning that he had ALS, he decided that he would use every day for the rest of his life to do what he could to help speed the day when a cure for ALS will be found.” In a separate message, Gary wrote about his football player grandson Hunter … [who was] recruited from the University of Northern Colorado to play for the San Diego State Aztecs and who continues to honor his father, Phil. “Hunter will be wearing the number 37 on his football jersey, the same number that Steve Gleason of the New Orleans Saints wore. Steve has been living with ALS for 14 years now.” A tragic loss and a continuing, living tribute.
From Fred Milanovitch: “A number of us 13 Bulldawgs met in Colorado Springs recently to lay classmate ‘Beau’ Crosby to rest. After the ceremony at USAFA, we traveled to Del Norte and the Windsor Hotel for a memorial dinner. The following day we pushed on to Pagosa Springs and Patriot Pines, a retreat/campus nestled in the Rio Grande National Forest operated by Project Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary offers six-day, free of charge therapeutic retreats for families with a member suffering from PTSD. The organization was recently recognized at the national level for their work in lowering veteran suicides. We spent the day and night there, with a highlight being a dinner where we memorialized our recently passed classmate Clint Price by naming the resort kitchen after him. (Long story :-)) Our squadron plans to place a legacy gift at the Sanctuary in the near future.”
Kneeling: Lester Gabriel’s daughter Cheri and Frank Blaha. Standing immediately behind Gabe’s daughter is Patty Stugart, and then going to her left the ladies are Marilyn Price, Linda Milanovich, Helen Evans, Meiling Blaha, Nancy Carpenter and Geannie Wells. Back to the far left, we have Ron Morishige, Mary Ella Mueller, Joanna Martinez, Ross Leonard, Carolyn Leonard, Art Leach, Mark Stugart, Lester Gabriel, Gary Mueller, Fred Milanovich, Pat Dowling, Buz Carpenter and Roger Wells
About thirty grads attended Tom Boettcher’s funeral at the Academy, which coincided with the Prep School reunion.
A partial listing of attendees includes Chuck Heflebower, Rich McGill, Marty Chambless, Fred Williams and his wife Pat, George Gibson, Dave Pfeifle, Clint Adcock (did not graduate) plus Tom’s wife, Pam, and two daughters: Evelyn and Lily (kneeling).
Other recent losses include Ed Gunter and my good friend Abner Haynes
My wife and I recently went on a tour in SEA. Our adventure ended with a flight from Hanoi to LAX via Cathay Air. I could not help but remember the last time I flew from Vietnam to the states, in ’71, on a Tiger Airlines flight crammed with GIs heading back to “the World.” On that day we all cheered as we lifted off, and again as we returned to our country, which was generally not welcoming returning troops. Most of us were young and very uncertain of what happens next — I know I was. And now, a lifetime later, I reflect on those times and all that has happened till today and today’s world. I am so thankful for all the opportunities and blessings of these past years and saddened at the memories of those who did not have the chance for such experiences.
From left: Rich and Georgeann
CLASS NEWS
That’s it for this quarter. Keep shooting me those notes and pictures. Stay safe and stay healthy. God bless the troops and their families, and God bless the USA.
AOG Members 82% Sabre Society Donors 31 Polaris Society Members 14
HELLO ’68! It is the second full day of a U.S. government shutdown and I’m wondering whether the concept of compromise is on the scrap heap of history for our two-party system. As the late Rodney King once said, “Can we all get along?”
Begert Family Celebration: From left: Bill’s grandson, Will Fabbre; Bill’s son, Bill Begert; Bill’s wife, Jody; Bill; Bill’s granddaughter, Hannah Goldman; Hannah’s husband, Jason Goldman; Bill’s daughter, Kary Fabbre; Kary’s husband, Joseph Fabbre
’68ER SELECTED USAFA DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE: To echo the Four Seasons — Oh What A Night! Our class had a near mini-reunion with 24 of us joining in the celebration of our classmate Bill Begert receiving a USAFA Distinguished Graduate award for 2025. The event was held at the new Hotel Polaris, located near the North Gate, and featured an outdoor reception with the Rocky Mountains standing tall in the background. After a “This Is Your Life” background introduction, Bill provided the packed banquet hall with some well scripted and extemporaneous remarks. If you would like to see the photo gallery of those who attended, please go to our class website and click on Photos #99. To Bill and Jody, please accept our hardiest congratulations!
’68 MYSTERY THEATER: Pat Russell is asking for all of you out in “Checkpoints Land” to dust off your Sherlock Holmes hat and magnifying glass to solve “The Tale of the Lost Bracelet.” Pat writes: “I received a charm bracelet from two sisters who said, in part: ‘Hi, I know this sounds very strange. But my mother found a charm bracelet a few years back from
what I’m assuming was the wife of one of your alumni. Mom said she bought it in Colorado.’ The bracelet has 30 charms, nearly all marked sterling; see class website Bulletin #72 for a list of the charms with photos. Please contact me at patrussell@embarqmail. com if you have any information or suggestions.”
’68ERS JOIN THE CLASS OF 2029 IN MARCH BACK FROM JACKS VALLEY: Bill Crimmel sent me a short note and some photos of the Class of 2029’s March Back from Jacks Valley in August. Bill writes: “Good to see you (your scribe) at Bill Begert’s DG event. Bea and I couldn’t stay for a class picture — she made it to the end of Bill’s speech, though. And a great speech it was! In sending the photos of the March Back, it is notable to me because my granddaughter, Brynn Makros, is in the Class of 2029, and her mother, Beth, is a 1998 grad and a permanent professor.”
Space Systems Command’s 2025 Wall of Honor Honorees — Tom Taverney is to the right of Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves, U.S. Space Force.
’68ER ADDED TO SPACE SYSTEMS COMMAND (SSC) WALL OF HONOR: On Sept. 4, our classmate Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Tom Taverney was selected as one of six honorees to have their names inscribed on the SSC’s Wall of Honor (in essence their Hall of Fame). The wall’s honorees “are individuals who have had permanent and positive effects on the beginning, growth, evolution, and/or made a significant contribution to the success of National Security Space and/or Missile Programs.” Mucho congrats, Tom! THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: We were saddened by the loss of two of our classmates. Philip Quentin Dowsing passed away on May 31 in Mission Viejo, California. He was a member of 9th and 23rd squadrons. MacWain Phillips passed away on Sept. 25 in Emeryville, California. He was a member of 6th and 21st squadrons. Please keep their families in your thoughts and prayers.
THAT’S A WRAP: My mailbag is virtually empty. If you have some news and photos that would be interesting to your comrades-in-arms, please send some to me. Mind the flak, keep ’em flying, and keep those cards, letters, emails and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Ciao for now. Tim
Tim Davidson, 9712 Hidden Valley Rd., Vienna, VA 22181-6094; H: 703-255-5313; C: 703-772-6052; timd1968@gmail.com; usafa68.org
1969
1969 Offspring Keep Soaring
If there’s such a thing as “multigenerational lift,” honors are overdue for the Dulas, Allens and Weyermullers, all climbing through the troposphere on afterburners. In the last key rounds of flag-officer promotions, three more of our Class of 1969 families added stars to our family résumé — each having earned the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force. For those counting at home, that brings us to four “next gens” in just 18 months, including newly pinned Todd Dyer ’98, son of Les Dyer (see last quarter’s Checkpoints).
Scott Weyermuller ’99, son of ’69er Art, spent much of his career leading bomber crews and shaping nuclear deterrence strategy. Now, with his star pending any day now, he continues to guide global strike operations with the steady calm that feels perfectly familiar to those of us who knew Art back in the day.
Mason Dula ’98, son of ’64’s Lt. Gen. Brett Dula, came up through the special tactics and air-to-ground integration world. He has commanded in combat zones and earned a reputation for quietly getting hard things done — again, like father, like son. His new rank simply makes official what his teams already knew: He’s been leading at that level for years.
Matt Allen ’99, special tactics officer and son of ’69er Tom and Anne Allen, rounds out this remarkable trio. Matt has served in senior operations roles at the Pentagon, helping to shape how the Air Force plans and flies every day across the globe. He brings to the job that special mix of excellence, calm and humor that make his proud ’69er dad smile and grin.
Together, the three new brigadiers, with the fourth on deck, remind us that service, discipline and humility don’t skip generations. The sight of these young generals pinning on their stars is more than a family milestone — it’s a solid Class of 1969 tribute to important legacies that help endure and honor the Long Blue Line. Salute, all.
Big Boy Time: B-52s and SR-71s ... always eyecatching and important. In early October, the Alamo
Class of 2029 March Back. From left: Don Sutton, Bill Crimmel and Mark Torreano
Chapter of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society hosted Gary Lindner, from Comfort, Texas, to discuss the B-52D’s performance in Linebacker 1. Gary, with Tom Keck, stimulated a significant discussion among the Vietnam vets present. Following that gathering was mid-October’s switch to the vaunted SR-71 Mach 3+ Blackbird for the San Antonio West Rotary Club. Though Tom revealed most of the SR-71’s secrets, he noted that “when your jets are all in museums and the History Channel wants to interview you, it’s time to retire.” Hah! The SR-71 still looks both menacing and supremely invincible — catch me if you can!
Travel nonpareils! Five ’69ers — John Buckner, Dick White, Tom Fleming, Ron Olds and Randy Percy — traveled (with wives) on a tour of Eastern Canada. They cruised from Montreal to Boston, with stops in Quebec City, Nova Scotia, Labrador, New Brunswick and Maine, and docked in Boston. Steve and Terri Huntley joined in Boston for a few days. Truly celebratory events highlighted time on board: Dick and Teresa White’s recent marriage, John Buckner’s and Margo Manat’s engagement, and Ron and Nanci Olds’ 55th wedding anniversary. Lovelies Karen Fleming and Judy Percy enjoyed regular toasts from all. The crew of our ship “went overboard” in its singing and cake-making honoring the group’s marriages and romances.
The fall weather in Canada cooperated gracefully. Leaves were turning a brilliant red and orange, and we ignored the few piddles of rain that came our way and the sometimes traffic jams in order to enjoy the show in full. Days were spent with excursions, hiking, biking, playing bridge, hitting the gym, learning history, etc. We spent time discussing our Class of 1969 (how great we were!) and USAFA’s numerous notable classmates. We prayed regularly for ailing classmates to recover and always included the families of those classmates who have “slipped the surly bonds of earth.”
Needless to say, we might keep an eye on more ways to participate in embracing six-packs of excellence and friendship like this one, as time and health march on. Gatherings like this bolster and reaffirm our lifelong friendships and family closeness. Anyone up for gatherings like this one, situational modification as apropos?
(P.S. Thanks to Randy P. for trip insights, the ones from Beantown especially!)
Pueblo Wings of Pride Air Show
Lucky us — USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon jets headlined the Thunderbirds, flying at center of the first such huge air show in Denver’s past 30 years. And they were spot on time thanks to Brian Nelson’s far-sightedness in making this treat possible, especially for first-timer viewers! In addition to the Thunderbirds, the Army’s Golden Knights parachutists flew flawlessly, along with expert aerial stunt pilots showing other military displays.
Ron Love checked in recently, carrying valuable items. Seems our photographer specialist expertly handled a hot air balloon flight above Marrakesh during a recent tour of Morocco, and toted an important document at some 1,500 feet. He’s certainly in good hands with Brother Love!
May you all be healthy and full of good cheer for the holiday season and beyond. Cross fingers for our gridiron men, pray for our classmates, and hug the ones you love.
Salute, all.
V/R, Lindsey
1970 Greetings classmates! It’s Oct. 20. A month ago, we were winding up a great reunion. I have gotten many positive reviews about the reunion. From my perspective, it was awesome. The only disappointment is that I didn’t get to see more classmates. As you know, events like this don’t just happen. I want to thank those who contributed the blood, sweat and tears to make this a memorable occasion. Please forgive me if I leave someone out. Rich Downing superbly led the planning and all aspects of the reunion. I am sure he fielded more calls and questions than he would care to count. Fortunately, he was able to lean on Tooey Emery, who was chairman for many previous reunions. The memorial ceremony honoring our deceased classmates was quite moving. Many thanks to Greg Gilles for planning. George Crow’s prayer was exceptional, as usual. Craig Northrup’s playing of taps didn’t leave too many dry eyes in the room. CJ Bohn and crew set up our class pennants at the cemetery. Mark Ewig and Donna Rosenblatt set up a great program for the widows who attended. Mark Torreano was our liaison with Hotel Polaris. He did a superb job planning great meals and several moving parts at the hotel. Ken Green assisted the Phantom in running the golf tournament. Roger Hill for the great DJ. Gerry Shaw for merchandise. Nanci Downing for the beautiful centerpieces. Mike Lambert was instrumental in getting the word out to our classmates and helping with the dinner presentations at Polaris. Mark Ewig for collecting stories. Gary Dahlen superbly summarized the financial support our class has given the Academy over the years. There are too many projects to list here, but we should take great pride that we have contributed $70M (70 for 70) to the Academy. No other class has donated as much! We have certainly set a benchmark for future classes to achieve. And a special thanks to Mr. Anonymous, who donated a large amount of money to reduce the hotel and meal costs at Polaris.
We had a good turnout at the reunion. If you didn’t attend, we hope you will plan on making the 60th. Nancy Witt, Janice Gilles, Rick Lesch and Jack Trimble won the golf tournament. A special salute to Tom Rayl, Rex Levoy and Dave Higgins, who battled some serious pain to play in the tournament.
A grand time for all! From left: Teresa White, Dick White, Margo Manat, John Buckner, Ron Olds, Nancy Olds, Judy Percy, Randy Percy, Karen Fleming and Tom Fleming. Go Air Force indeed!
From left: Karl Bruce and friend, Marion Garrard, Ed Garrard, Karl Bruce, Dave Yost, Jan Keck (Flip’s wife), Glenn Schlabs, Darrel Whitcomb, Mike Goode, Chris Whitcomb, Lizzy Nelson, Brian Nelson, Carole Kelly and Chuck Kelly
Seventy Men present a symbolic $70M check to the Academy
CLASS NEWS
Ken Green sinks one for Team Phantom
Football season hasn’t been what we were hoping for. Starting sophomores and freshmen in our defensive backfield have proven to be a major weakness. Missed field goals have also hurt the boys. It was heartbreaking to lose to heavily favored Navy by 3. We beat Wyoming last week and are gearing up for Army as I write this. Perhaps the men can finish strong like last year and still get a bowl bid. It was good to see the wing marching on in Class A’s. On the bright side, sophomore Liam Szarka is proving to be an exceptional quarterback. He can run and pass. We will be in good shape in the future if he stays. We are gearing up for basketball and hockey. I don’t see how we can compete in either due to the transfer portal. We have lost our best basketball players over the last few years due to the transfer portal. I guess when you are 18 or 19, it is hard to turn down $80$100K to transfer. There is a move afoot to make the commitment to serve after one year, versus two now.
Mick and Jan Davey did an 18-day cruise through the British Isles. Bangs cruised the Gulf of St. Lawrence and visited Halifax. Robsons visited Paris and other European destinations. Waskows enjoyed Niagara Falls. Herb Miller and family took in Venice and Montenegro. Lamberts cruised the fjords in Norway. Torreanos took in Oktoberfest in Germany. Swaims enjoyed Hawaii. Kinnans cruised Caribbean and unfortunately came down with COVID and missed the reunion.
BJ Bjorklund marched back with the basics from Jacks Valley. He also enjoyed lunch with Craig Northrup and John Russ. Mike and Mark Torreano won a major pickleball tournament, again. Gilles, Lesch, Mulford and Mack got a round of golf in before the reunion. The superintendent indicated the Academy was looking at offering master’s-level courses. He is tightening up PFT requirements. We had a good turnout honoring Jerry Bruni at his Distinguished Graduate Award dinner.
With the holidays approaching, some last-minute gift ideas include Mike Torreano’s latest book, The Return, and Bob Welbaum’s, No Limits I just learned that Tony DeSantis has written a most interesting book. The Stowaway in First Class, is a true story of his dad’s journey to America in 1929. It is nonfiction but reads like a thriller. It is already a best seller on Amazon and the recipient of the Gold Award from the Nonfiction Authors Association.
On a very sad note, Sam Poppell passed away shortly before our reunion. Sam had a remarkable career. Good man!
All the best to my classmates and their families this holiday season. And a special prayer to our troops who can’t be home.
Dick Rauschkolb, 719-310-6928; AOG70@comcast.net
1971
This has been an interesting quarter. The Falcons football team started out slowly, with uneven performances the first few games. One can only hope that they hit their stride before meeting Army. As of this writing, they have been in every game, with passing offense unequaled since our own Bob Parker, but have come up short.
Schuyler Foerster was inurned at the Academy Cemetery. The superintendent, Lt. Gen. Bauernfeind ’91, had been one of Sky’s students while a cadet and delivered the eulogy. Tom Berry, Russ Logan, J.D. Koch, Martin Lebowicz, Rich Miller, Jerry Lundquist, Mike Dzidzic and yours truly represented the class.
Gary Kalen and Jimmy “Rabbit” Smith passed during the last quarter, and Paul Dreger died in December 2024. Jimmy had the opportunity to visit Falcon Stadium about a week or so before he died, and he had a chance to chat with some of the coaches and players. Thanks to Rich Shannon for
helping arrange something so special and poignant. Many thanks to Larry O’Reilly for letting both the Academy and me know of Jimmy’s passing, as well as liaising with the family.
On a happier note, I had asked how many “legacy” cadets or grads had not been mentioned yet. Jim Stobie sent in his update, which may be the first thirdgeneration example: “My grandson, James Winterfield, is a member of the Class of 2026. In fact, he is on the cover of the September issue. He’s the real seriouslooking guy marching in front of the American flag.
“He is a member of 8th Squadron, just like his grandpa. He is also captain of the swim team and was awarded MVP of the team last spring. That award is given each year in honor of our classmate, Bryan Rye.”
I recently received a photo of a blue Corvette with what may be part of our class history. “I got my hands on a Bridgehampton Blue 1970 Chevy Corvette with T-tops and a 350 engine. While inspecting the car, I found an armrest pillow with the embroidered class crest of 1971. I am assuming it was the cadet car of one of your classmates. I am writing you as the ’71 class scribe for Checkpoints and wondering if the one-time owner is interested in finding out that it is still running and still has a USAFA attachment. If we can sort out whose it is and they can get in touch with me through you, I’d be more than happy to let them know all about it.” Any leads? Inquiring minds want to know!?!?
On the golf scene, the All-Service Academy Golf Tournament attracted Bruce Crimin, Roger McFarland, Mike Fuhs and Tom Berry in September.
This is probably the last column that gets to you before the reunion. If you somehow did not get details about our 55th anniversary get-together at Hotel Polaris March 22-25, 2026, first ensure that your contact information with the AOG is up to date. If so, log in to the AOG website at usafa.org, click on the three lines in the upper right corner, go to “Heritage,” then scroll down to “Reunions.” As of mid-October, choices include “Class Reunion Sites 2025” and “Future Reunions,” and the only active site under our class crest is “Reserve Your Hotel Polaris Room.” Yes, we start on a Sunday and have
Honoring our Distinguished classmate
From left: Berry, Logan, Lebowicz, Miller, Lundquist, Dzidzic, scribe
Mystery Corvette
Class Crest
our banquet on a Wednesday. If your gyros aren’t completely tumbled, see you then!
Paul D. Knott, 5565 Lantana Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80915; 719-570-9162; pk71knott@gmail.com
1972
Once more, the time has come for me to send you all the latest in class news. I received an email from John Cignatta to start us out. Following that is the summary of a first-person report on the 53rd class reunion just completed. So here we go.
John just finished a teaching assignment in Okinawa, one he says is called the Tank Course, at Camp Butler, to a combined class of Marines and Navy personnel. The one-week course was on DOD petroleum systems management that lets him instruct classrooms full of eager managers and engineers on the detailed intricacies of building, operating and maintaining liquid fuel systems in the military. Next, he will be doing the same course at Norfolk for the Air Force. As a contractor, he was offered a chance to renew his contract for a further five years, but he finally had to end the great run he had been having. So, following his final class to an Air Force and Navy group at Andersen AFB in Guam next March, John will retire and then stay home with Marie.
Home for the Cignattas is Lewes, Delaware, where they are loving life, keeping busy between fishing and finishing his custom 1949 Chevy pickup. A lot of time is spent supporting their local parish, where John is involved in cooking at both church dinners and feeding the homeless. John reports that they had a great time at the 50th reunion and will at the 55th.
According to the email from Ski Wagasky (most of which I have included here), our class had a great reunion except for the results of the football game.
Special thanks to Reunion Chair Doug “Mush” Brower for doing all the heavy lifting with the AOG and Armed Forces Reunions, and our Reunion Chair Emeritus Harvey LeCato for helping out on all of the committees. The wheels fall off the wagon without these guys making what they do look effortless.
Once again, Randy Fitzhugh, our hotel coordinator, did an outstanding job coordinating rooms and dinners with Hotel Polaris. Yes, the rooms were pricier, but the hotel did a great job accommodating our needs. It would be nice to go back there for our 55-year reunion.
Golf guru Doug Hill put together a great golf tournament for the 20 of us who participated. Funny, the trees are a lot bigger than they were when we were there from ’68 to ’72. We had the best day to play golf on the Eisenhower Blue Course. I’ll attribute that to Bob Waller, who must have been like Father James H. O’Neill, the Catholic priest who prayed for good weather so Patton’s Third Army could advance to Bastogne, relieving the 101st Airborne, and winning the Battle of the Bulge. Good work, Bob!
Thanks to Ed Bishop, who arranged for Jack Anthony ’78 to do the presentation of what the Academy looked like before it became the Academy. The 75 people who attended that event were all impressed.
Sandy Lewis deserves a special shout-out because he finally sold (and gave away) all the leftover merchandise that we’ve had going back a number of reunions. Sandy, enjoy having two extra years to fill up the void in your basement before our 55-year reunion in two years!!
Thank you to Timo Sullivan for working the watch party at the Blue & Silver Club. Honestly, watching the game at the Blue & Silver provided better seats than the classes get in Falcon Stadium on reunion weekends that occur during home football games.
And finally, Dave “B-Man” Bowman, whose work on the Gone But Not Forgotten paver ceremony resulted in a ceremony that was absolutely first class. So many classmates made the comment that our GBNF ceremony was the most important thing
we do when we get together. Totally agree. Thank you to Bob Waller, who did all of our opening prayers at this and all of our events, and arranged for the Cadet Chorale (who probably would have rather been on an ODP on Friday afternoon), and Chuck Winter and Harvey LeCato, who did the roll call of our deceased classmates. I don’t think there was one person in the room who didn’t shed a tear during the ceremony. A number of our committee member classmates also marked the gravesites at the USAFA Cemetery with flags on Wednesday before the reunion started. Great job, guys.
And finally, thanks to all of the locals on our reunion committee who filled in all the places the department leads needed help with over the last three years, including Timo Sullivan, Skip Morgan, Chuck Winter, Felix Dupre, John Haaf, Larry Sharrar, Rick Jackson, Ross Wilhite, Ollie Olson, Greg Anderson and Kent Harrington (before he moved). We enjoyed all of our reunion planning meetings over a “thin one.” (Lots of those ... meetings and thin ones)!
Finally, this news column benefited greatly from Ski Wagasky’s personal description of the 53rd reunion. Photo help from “Mush” Brower was also greatly appreciated. Hoping to have more for you in the next edition of your Class News! FPA
Bob Bell, 13 Pacific Ave., Sinking Spring, PA 19608; 302-399-3240; reservist777@ yahoo.com
1973
Illustrious classmates, Summer and early fall are always busy times for our class. More and more squadrons are getting together for mini-reunions, and retirement is affording the opportunity to travel for many. I’ve had to abbreviate much of
Complete class group at Doolittle Hall
Class group sitting in Falcon Stadium
The Flag Team at USAFA Cemetery: From left: Bob Waller, Harvey LeCato, Ollie Olson, Skip Morgan, Dave Bowman, Andy Gessner, Sandy Lewis and John Haaf. Doug Brower was present but not pictured.
CLASS NEWS
what I received, so be sure to go to the class website, usafa73.org, for the full stories.
Bob Munson (CS-34) and Dave Harmon (CS-22) had the opportunity to attend Bob Paling’s (CS-12) funeral service in Wareham, Massachusetts, followed by military honors at the Cape Cod National Cemetery. Bob passed away on Aug. 21. If you didn’t receive my Aug. 25 class scribe GBNF email, please contact me.
While we’re on the topic of passings, CS-05 learned around the first of October that squadronmate Kevin Nehring passed away on May 14 in Prescott, Arizona. That’s all we know for now.
John Kuconis (CS-19) spent his 74th birthday hiking the El Camino Norte in Spain. He sent a great pic, but you’ll have to check it out on the website.
Dave and Sheryl Ellis (CS-32) traveled from Alaska to Germany to Greece, Turkey and North Africa this past August through October. They were in Germany for the 50th anniversary of the crash of a CH-53 Jolly Green Giant from Dave’s squadron on Sept. 26, 1975, on a farm near Delbrück, Germany. Sixteen people died in the crash. On March 12, 1976, Dave and a technical sergeant from the squadron placed a wreath on the memorial erected by the citizens of Delbrück. Dave returned to again place a wreath on the memorial 50 years later. After celebrating Oktoberfest in Munich, they traveled to Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Tunisia, where Sheryl took Dave’s picture at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial for U.S. servicemen and women who gave their last full measure in WWII. Lots more in the online version.
CS-01 squadronmates Glenn Moses, Frank Shagets, Devin Stilson, Dick Fickes and Vance Watt gathered in San Antonio on Oct. 1. See the pic online. Frat Five had their annual reunion during the weekend of the Hawaii game at Monnie and Theresa Gore’s in Manitou Springs. Theresa prepared all the food for Greg and Celeste Beyer, Pete and Maggie Cooper, Mick Davis, Roy and Ricki Hart, Herb and Beth Huber, George and Lois Kehias, Scott and Denise McLaughlin, Roy and Monica Pence, Al and Brenda Phillips, Dave Thomas, and Monnie and Theresa. Pix online.
In late September, several guys and significant others from Bull Six got together for a few days for
some fun in the Boston area, walking the Freedom Trail, watching the last regular game of the season for the Red Sox at Fenway Park, and visiting the JFK Library. The visit was capped off by a day at Ken and Laurie Bonn’s working farm in Stratham, New Hampshire, complete with tour, food and storytelling. More pix online.
Dave and Barbara Ochmanek, Ken Bonn, Steve and Kristin Kuprel, and Susan and Jim Welteroth Missing: John and Virginia Rosser and Laurie Bonn
CS-16 Chickenhawks Willy Culbertson, Rich and Teresa Fazio, Mike and Marilyn Koser, Craig and Ann Lady, John and Dianne Lauten, Wayne and Barb Maricle, Bruce and Janet Meyer, John Noss and Sandy Davis, Gene and Barbara Ogilvie, Don and Joan Sutula, and Johnny and Nancy Whitaker used the excuse of the Air Force-Navy game to hold a mini-reunion. Before heading over to Annapolis, they toured the town and battlefield at Gettysburg; had a catered soiree at the Lady Luck Lodge and Grill, which is Craig and Ann Lady’s home in nearby Aspers, Pennsylvania (Craig’s dad’s World War II B-17’s nickname was Lady Luck); and shopped in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In Annapolis, they attended the tailgate and game; took a guided tour of the Academy, led by Craig’s great-nephew, Midshipman Seth Lady, a USNA “youngster” (3°); and sampled the fare at local restaurants. Pix online.
Tom Kennedy (CS-31) reported: Don Sloan is already gathering support for the February 2026 Polar Bear Polar Plunge in Rehoboth Beach supporting the Delaware Special Olympics, if you’d like to join him. Richard and Connie Hayes are continuing their dance lessons in Charleston, South Carolina, while Charlie and Pam Meyer spent quality time at the family’s homestead in Hill Township, Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Tom and Betty Kennedy enjoyed a vacation in Iceland and then spent time in the Pacific Northwest with their sons and daughters-in-law. Tony and Claudia Klesert’s family spent another summer vacation on the beaches of North Carolina. Pix online.
And, the “Illustrious Class of 1973” is still setting the standard on the fields of friendly strife:
Gary Blokland (CS-33) and Mike Torreano ’70 display their gold medals in the men’s doubles 70+ bracket at the Pikes Peak or Bust Colorado Open Pickleball Tournament.
Ironman Jack Hudson (CS-25) won two gold medals at the Kentucky Senior Games and road with about 280 others from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to Arlington, Virginia, in the “Memorial to Memorial” ride from the Wright Brothers Memorial to our USAF Memorial — 352 miles over four days. More details and pix online.
Check the Facebook group for these columns before the magazine comes out.
“Here’s a toast … to the host … of the men we boast!”
Mike Arnett, 5285 Copper Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918; 719-310-8100; class.scribe.73@gmail.com; usafa73.org; FB: The Illustrious Class of 1973
1974
Good day to you.
From the famous Jacks Valley March Back comes our ’74 story submitted by Rich Peters. Rick Wright, Mark Halsor and Rich Peters completed the March Back from Jacks Valley this year. “Had a great time representing ’74. Second one for me, first for the others (I think). Program also called for lunch with the basics at Mitchell Hall. Maybe I’ll see you there next time. I intend to go again.”
Dave Ellis at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunisia
Bill McClain and fiancée Claudia (at the head of the table), Mary Margaret and Gene Correll to Bill’s left,
The 2025 Jacks Valley ’74 March Back team: Rick, Rich and Mark
An upcoming USAFA program is the annual Wakin Character Leadership Award. It is funded in perpetuity by our class and is presented at the National Character & Leadership Symposium each year. Charlie Bryant has attended the dinnerpresentation at Arnold Hall every time. The award considers individuals or teams with significant contributions to cadet character development efforts, conspicuous moral courage, great personal sacrifice, conduct above and beyond the requirements of duty, and leadership and professionalism in keeping with the highest ideals of Air Force tradition.
Out and abouts: Rich and Peggy Bowman are back in Ohio by now. They sent out 14 detailed reports and exquisite pictures of their travels in the Midwest, naming only a few: Hannibal, Dinosaur National Park, Arches National Park, Montezuma Canyon Road, Canyonlands Needles and Navajo country. David and Bonita Newell sent an update mid-October. They are requesting prayers for David. You may remember Dave lost his right leg and part of his left foot in 2015. Hopefully, by the time you read this, the doctors and prayers have put Dave on the path to better health.
Marc Wooten writes that he is in remission, in Indiana, and planning another off-CONUS teaching trip. Gary Jim Judkins recently started a new career in Palmdale, California, as director, installation support, Air Force Plant 42. Gary Sambuchi is last known to be senior military analyst unmanned aerial systems through Alpha Omega Change Engineering. Steve Bozarth is retired from flying for Southwest about eight years now and enjoying grandparenting out of Scottsdale, Arizona. Scott L. Smith was last seen in McKinney, Texas. Michael Snedeker was last seen in Texas … close enough to do commissary shopping at Lackland AFB. How many ’74 would come to a mini-reunion in San Antonio or Dallas?
CS-12 classmates had a few weeks to reset our lives after Nick Puzak’s service at USAFA in April. Classmates of CS-12 met again at the USAFA Cemetery for the Celebration of Life for Tracey Cheatham, who went to sleep the morning of Aug. 3. Cathy helped Tracy during his last few weeks from cancer. Celebration services were on Sept. 11 followed by a rejoin at the Eisenhower Golf Course. Classmates who were able to come to support Cathy and Tracy’s families: Rich Bowman, Steve and Beth Sterme, Ted and Louise Roth and Joe Brezovic. No pic…they did
not change since you saw their picture last issue. Frank Murray sent a mini-reunion picture. Well, in truth, it was a Celebration of Life event for interment of Frank’s wife, Christine, who went to rest on Aug. 13. Christine was an integral part of CS-16 Chickenhawks. She lined up dates, provided rides and was present at social events. Frank and Christine were engaged at the ’74 Ring Dance and married on Graduation Day in the Cadet Chapel. Since then, she was a true Air Force wife, mentoring the younger wives and pitching in to help at every turn. In retirement, she helped raise four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Everyone remembers her smile, always-positive attitude and willingness to help anyone at any time. These two were partners in love and life for more than 51 years. Several members of CS-16 were able to meet Sept. 5-6 for Christine’s internment at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. Classmates attending were Terry and Debbie Gilbert, Merrill Beyer, Earl Richardson, Ken McKean, Tom and Diane Segulja, Jim Horacek, and Andy and Kim Scroggs (missed photo).
CS-16 Support Team: Terry, Merril, Earl, Frank Murray, Tom, Ken and Jim
Note from Jim Luntzel: Jim and Colleen are still here on the Oregon coast. Colleen just released her first children’s book, Night Hunt! Ryukyu, inspired by their time while stationed at Kadena AB on Okinawa. Colleen has several other books on the desk and in her mind. Jim wrote he’s trying to help her research assistant. The reason Jim wrote in was with regards to a CS-31 classmate passing... Jim Seinicki was laid to rest Sept. 15 in the National Cemetery of Arizona. He succumbed to a few hard months of cancer. His Celebration of Life was attended by friends from the law firm in Phoenix with whom he practiced for 40 years. Classmates who attended: Tom Weiss, Greg Smith, Barry Wilson, Frank Hughes, Chirl Sienicki, Chuck Lucas, Jim Luntzel, Slats Slayton and Mo Morris. “Tom, Barry and I were in the same 11-man element with Jimmy during BCT. Jim and Jimmy evaded bad guys together during SERE — memories I’ll never forget.”
Life has shown to be fragile. Holiday season is upon us. May you find time for renewing friendships and making fond memories. May you live long and prosper.
Joe Brezovic, 228 Senior Cir., Lompoc, CA 93436; 832-285-4179; launchops74@gmail.com
1975
Come and Gone: By the time you read this in the hard copy of Checkpoints, our 50th reunion will be squiggly lines of memories coursing their way through what remains of the gray matter housed in our ever-thickening skulls. Regardless of how those memories are working out for you, a lot of work went into planning and executing the reunion by a handful of classmates who truly put service before self. Those classmates deserve recognition, and what better place to be recognized than in the magazine named after the little gold book that was the basis for innumerable squat thrusts, wall bracings and opportunities to spend precious one-on-one sessions with some of our favorite upperclassmen. Members of the Reunion Committee were Jeff Hackett, chairman; Dick Dye, vice chairman and local area representative (and guy who talked Jeff back off the cliff on numerous occasions); Larry Bryant, memorial ceremony; Rich Chanick, financial assistance leader; Frank Christian, mementos leader; Mickey Clemons, football seating and tailgate leader; Bruce Fritzche, GBNF next-of-kin liaison; Duane Lodrige, evening events and entertainment leader; Mike O’Shea, pickleball tournament leader; and Kent Traylor, golf tournament leader.
The Atoners: In the last issue of CP, I made mention of the fact that the inputs I was expecting from couples who had recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries turned out to be more of a trickle than a deluge. The unannounced grace period for sending in an anniversary notification was one month after the publication of the September issue of CP. Those are the rules, and I’m duty bound to follow them. You are unerringly correct if you think the rules are made up on the fly, but scribes are not known for their fairness nearly as much as they are known for their strict adherence to artificialities.
Mike “Vito” Goyden made the mistake of leaving the last issue of CP laying around the house, and Jan, his wife of 50 years, picked it up, read through the class columns, then turned to Vito and nonchalantly noted, “I don’t see anything you sent in about our wedding anniversary.” Vito said his initial reaction
Meeting in Paradise Valley Country Club Sept. 25. Pause ... to recall friends gone ... not forgotten.
CLASS NEWS
was to quibble, but then his training kicked in and he responded with the w-a-a-a-y more appropriate “No excuse, dearest of the dear.” Therein lies the foundation of a solid marriage. Anyone who has read CP over the years has probably deduced that the Goydens are Disneyphiles, so it’s no surprise the whole clan celebrated Vito and Jan’s 50th anniversary at Aulani, a Disney resort in Ko Olina on Oahu, and then stopped at Disneyland, where they are on a first-name basis with Mickey and Snow White, on their return trip to the mainland.
If you majored in geography at the Academy and you had a special occasion to celebrate with the woman who had put up with you for 50 years, where would you go? Joe and Barbara Bryant went to France. Whoa, whoa, back up the bus! The Academy offered a major in geography? Who knew? Anyway, Joe and Barbara did it up right in France by taking a river cruise from Paris to Normandy that included stops at the Eiffel Tower, the renovated Notre Dame cathedral and various sites along the Seine in Normandy. They also visited Claude Monet’s home, Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. It sounds like the perfect trip for a geography major and a patient and understanding wife who hopefully took a set of AirPods along.
John Fritz completed his fifth sprint triathlon since retirement and finished in first place (his first) at a location near his high school in Michigan. During the winter, he heads up a large ski club for seniors in Summit County, Colorado, and this year he is looking forward to his fifth season as a ski instructor at Copper Mountain. Stillworking classmates take note: John is doing septuagenarianism (just because it’s not a real word doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be) the right way.
Former class scribe Paul Kent knows the scribe business has its peaks and valleys, so sometimes he
sends in an update to help fill the dreaded white space. The following input is not verbatim, but in scribe speak, it’ll do. “I had a nice visit from my daughter and her family at our home on Lake Sammamish, Washington, where my 4-year-old granddaughter, Mikaela, taught me how to kayak and then harassed me on my birthday. A highlight of the summer was when my wife, Sheri, and I joined Ted Detrick ’76 and his wife, Jayni, on their 48-foot Ocean Alexander for two weeks in Canadian waters. Other than that, played some golf (trying to keep my handicap below 20), rode my bike, took some hikes, did some volunteering and just enjoyed the Pacific NW before our inevitable 42 degrees and rain begins around October 15.” In short, Paul is also doing the retirement thing right.
And finally, with a gross score of 4 under par, Steve Marino and Drew Bytes won the two-man team competition at the annual Commander’s Cup Golf Tournament, held in July at Westfield Golf Course near Washington, D.C. Their efforts also helped the Falcons take second place in the team competition, just behind an unnamed team from the east.
Fellow ’76ers,
The holidays are approaching and will have passed before my next Checkpoints article early next year. Martha and I wish you all safe, thankful and blessed holidays in the upcoming months.
Sad News: Maria Hernandez Gutierrez, wife of George Gutierrez, died Aug. 3. Please keep George and family in your thoughts and prayers. Several classmates attended services for Gary Scoggins at USAFA on Sept. 26.
General Class Stuff: Steve and Kathy Krikorian reconnected/lunched with Rico Racosky.
Rico, Kathy and Steve
Joe Smith, Tom Sefcik and Theodore Newstad sent email updates. Duke Evans sent updated info for Al Hebb and Jim Jackson. I assisted Larry Eriksen linking up with James “Pat” Barfield. Dave Wilson says he was in the cadet chorale and met his wife (she was in CWC choir) when the two choirs met to sing the Messiah. He’d like to know if any of you have photos of the two choirs together. If so, please contact me. Bob and Nancy Norman visited Mike and Debbie Fricano on Oahu. They lunched then visited Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum on Ford Island, where Mike and Bob got to sit in an F-111 on display. Mike reports the July tsunami warning was no big whoop. Fricano’s will cruise in November with Steve and Leigh Stout and Mike and Georgiana Kelly from Europe, including Normandy, across the Atlantic to Florida. Doug and Cynthia Fry are closing in on visiting 80+ countries, with travels this year including an 18-day around the world cruise with a 16-day Asia cruise imbedded, a 12-day South Africa safari and Victoria Falls visit, an October/ November Spain/Portugal land tour, and a December Christmas Caribbean cruise. Safe travels, classmates! Greg and Cathie Lewis enjoyed Jack and Jan Catton’s Navy pregame shindig. Greg says Mike and Dianne Woodman and Roger and Sandy Yauchzy recovered to Pennsylvania before returning home. Mike Ellen and Dave Arbutina spent a week fishing in Alaska. Mike plans to be in COS for the Army game. Craig Kinney is planning a CS-23 ski trip in March and says he already has Joe Wysocki, Chili Chilton, Stan Rader, and Mike and Paula Gould interested. If any others are interested, contact me and I will let Craig know. Bob Norman (Nancy) and Bob Faber (Linda) crashed the Wasson HS class of ’75 reunion — their wives were Wasson classmates. Russ Casella reports Katie had emergency heart surgery in June with complications. She is recovering, but they won’t travel for a while. John Mashl sent this photo of Mike Eyolfson, himself, Randy McPeak, Mike McGinnis, Roger Widholm, Tom Fronk and Win Macklin after the March Back. John also suggested 76 Trombones could be our class song.
A gaggle of Goydens
Joe and Barbara Bryant
Paul Kent enjoys Mikaela’s musical skills.
AOG Members 68%
’76ers after March Back
Roger Widholm reports he, Eric Wigand, Mike Renner, Ron Kirchoff, Bill Morris, all CS-2ers and their spouses sailed from Venice to Athens in early October. Roger sent me a photo, but I have to play an “over 73” card and cannot find it in my normal files. I will get him to resend and will publish it next time. My apologies, classmates. Walt “Mouse” Heidmouse’s younger brother, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jeffrey Heidmouse ’77, was inducted into the USAFA Athletics Hall of Fame. Mouse also reports he has a pending hip replacement and mentioned his dermatologist is Megan Pribyl, daughter of classmate Dr. Chuck Priybyl. John Bowen flew into Oshkosh in a Bonanza formation arrival. He was there with his grandson, saw Wes Stowers’ P-51 while there (Wes’s partner flew it in), and met a group of Legacy ’26ers that greeted him with “THE SPIRIT LIVES!”
Kevin Lonergan (medically retired less than a year after graduation) sent a nice note and is contemplating attending our 50th. He is winding down his law career, has been president of his law firm, was Wisconsin’s Trial Lawyer of the Year, and has been selected one of Wisconsin’s top 10 lawyers three times and one of the state’s top 50 lawyers 10 times.
NSTR: Dave Berg
Legacy Events: We have two Legacy events remaining — 100s Night and graduation for the Class of 2026. Watch for more info.
50th Reunion/Class Gift: We should have a contract in place with Hotel Polaris in November. Please do not contact the hotel yet; they will not take reservations for our reunion until we have a contract in place. I will send out a note when we have a contract.
The last Checkpoints had a good article about our Class Gift project. We will dedicate it at our 50th reunion in October 2026. If you have not yet
contributed to “The Spirit of ’76 Echelon” class gift project, please consider doing so. We would like to have every member of THE SPIRIT OF ’76 to participate at some level.
Classmates, it’s again time to stick a fork in it. Plan to attend and participate in Legacy events and our 50th reunion to the best of your abilities. If you haven’t received an email from me in the past three to six months, I don’t have your current email address. Please update. Get your medical checkups. Be careful, and stay well and healthy. If you are headed to the Springs, let me and the other locals know. Keep flying your flags and keep our deployed troops in your thoughts and prayers. THE SPIRIT LIVES!
Until next time.................. Beatty
The Class of 1976’s 50th reunion project will raise $3.5 million to create The Spirit of ’76 Echelon on the Heritage Trail at the U.S. Air Force Academy. It will be a tribute to the Long Blue Line and the heritage, legacy and tradition of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Force Academy. The project will provide propeller blades and bronze plaques representing each graduating class with their class crest, a brief narrative, and a digital kiosk with the names of graduates.
This 50th reunion gift will also create the Gone But Not Forgotten Endowment to honor the Long Blue Line and serve their families in perpetuity.
View the project status at usafa.org/1976-50th
1977
Greetings and holiday salutations from the foothills of the Rockies. As I write this, the Falcons are suffering through another tough football season, marked by a prolific passing offense (we have a quarterback who can throw, although how long he’ll be with us given the NIL situation is an open question) that will be well finished by the time you are perusing my prose. If you’re reading this after Christmas — a real possibility — I hope you got what you asked for and not what you deserved.
Passings: I am sorry to report that we lost Gary Mittelstadt in July. I played football with Gary, although not at his level, but apparently his real sport was rugby. He played for a local Great Falls team at Malmstrom and then went on to play Air Force Select and Combined Military Rugby at a national level. He worked in AF law enforcement, went on to do some contracting work at Martin Marietta, and ultimately retired as a captain from the Colorado Springs Fire Department. While in the Springs, he coached the Air Force Women’s forwards for 12 years, winning two national championships. He ultimately retired back in Montana. I extend the sympathy of the class to Maria and the rest of Gary’s family. RIP, sir.
A Scribe’s Plea: I got a great email from Howard Meyer (Mary) on the occasion of his 29th knee operation — I exaggerate slightly — accompanied by some fairly gruesome pictures. Look, I know that we’re old and talking about ailments is a thing, but in the interest of not putting me off my feed for a week, please don’t send me graphic evidence of your various disfigurements. I love hearing from all of you, but please, hold on to your medical porn.
Dr. Meyer, pre-surgery
Anyway, Howard has one of those fascinating advanced technical skill sets and careers that make me wonder how I ever got into the same school as him. He started as a missile guy at F.E. Warren before getting his M.S. in chemistry and returning to the Zoo as an instructor. He then secured a Ph.D. and headed off to various scientific assignments at Tyndall and Kirtland, where he worked in special programs like the airborne laser. Then he switched sides and started working for the Army, doing basic
John with ’26ers
Dan Beatty, 12196 Stanley Canyon Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80921; H: 719-488-1962; C: 719-338-0276; whrlybrd76@aol.com
CLASS NEWS
research on fuel cells, biotech applications and other high-end research projects. Switching back to the Air Force, he worked in future concepts, strategic planning and electronic warfare, and finished out as a senior adviser on Air Force future weapon systems, strategy, integration and requirements at the Pentagon. Howard retired at the end of September, and I hope he is headed off for some welcome rest and brain disengagement after almost 50 years of dedicated service. Well done, sir.
Whatever Floats Your … Whatever Department: One of the advantages of this job is that I get to live vicariously through you guys, and Karl Schricker (Karen) provided me with my latest thrill. I mentioned how active many of you are, and Karl decided to put an exclamation point on that sentiment by learning how to fly a new aircraft while he was still young — specifically, two weeks before he reached his three score years and 10. Looking for something completely different, he headed off to Sebring, Florida, to acquire himself a multiengine seaplane rating. Successfully navigating thunderstorms, high winds, the Dash 1 and the occasional alligator, Karl successfully completed everything. He relayed that the most entertaining part of the entire experience was when he was practicing high-speed taxiing on the floats. This basically involves a crash stop at the end of the process, and the deceleration activated the accident alarm on his Apple Watch, which began a countdown telling him it was about to call 911. Turning off the watch proved to be the biggest technical challenge he faced in the training. I’m with you, Karl, although my Samsung watch at least gives me the option of answering a yes/no question before it calls EMS. And as with all good correspondents, Karl provided an appropriate photo, to wit:
Thank you, sir. Safe flying/sailing/driving. Nice Work If You Can Get It Department: Curt Taylor (Terri) has a gig that any of us would jump at — leading group tours in the north of France and specifically through the Normandy D-Day sites. Not bad for my former roommate, F-4 back-seater and overall historical smart guy. Curt and Terri led a battlefield tour through the area in July that included Tom and Rochelle Logan. I’ve mentioned these tours before; Curt and Terri pretty much handle all of the arrangements and are legitimate experts on sightseeing, dining and especially all aspects of D-Day history. Curt sent along a picture of himself and
Tom on top of a former German gun emplacement overlooking the Easy Red section of Omaha Beach.
As the best guides do, he and Terri arranged for perfect weather, and he reports that French food, wine and Calvados Brandy are still at the top of his list of life’s pleasures.
Endings: And that’s a wrap. It’s not too soon to block time in the fall of 2027 for our reunion. Be seeing you.
John “Lou” Michels Jr., 621 Jasmine St., Denver, CO 80220; loumichels55@gmail.com
1978
Greetings, ’78ers…
Sadly, I open with the loss of one of our own. Russ Clemons passed in June, but the AOG wasn’t notified for a couple of months. His Celebration of Life was Oct. 14 in the Springs. Most of you reading this should have received notice of our Legacy Class of 2028 (Class motto: Be Bold! Be Great!). Our own Dick Newton was the guest speaker at their Acceptance Day parade. They seem like an exceptionally sharp group of young men and women! The latest event was their Exemplar Dinner on Sept. 4 (program started in the early 2000s, when a class selects an individual(s) who exemplifies the qualities they wish to emulate as a class). The class picked Sgt. John Levitow (CMOH winner from SEA) as their exemplar. Twenty of us attended and were treated exceptionally well. El Presidente Steve Dalbey published a couple of notices in advance, but several guys said they never received them. If you are among
those who did not, please go to the AOG website and ensure you have not opted out of messages. If you haven’t, you can directly contact our AOG legacy rep, Michele Bergeman, at michele.bergeman@usafa. org, and she’ll ensure you are represented. The next event will be their Commitment Dinner in August, and we’ll put out plenty of notices. Prior to the Exemplar Dinner, we met and took this photo at the AOG’s new admin building, Wecker Hall, adjacent to Doolittle Hall. It would be too much for my pea brain to attempt to systematically name everyone without a shadow chart, so I’ll name everyone there (in no particular order): Greg Postulka, Gar Frith, Ron Furstenau, Kevin Hayes, Ed Rice, Dave Scott, Doug Raaberg, Punch Moulton, Bill Hoferer, Wayne Hermandorfer, Brad Dunton, Steve Dalbey, Doug Benjamin, Dave Maher, Ed Hunt, Aaron Byerley, Eric Kirchner, Blake Linder, Kip Warton and me. After dinner we went to Hotel Polaris (impressive facility) for drinks and some reunion planning. We’ll keep everyone posted on how that’s shaping up.
Cliff Huff has been our faithful webmaster for decades and shared a nice shot of his son, Spencer, bride, Marsha, and Cliff’s new bride, Rae, at the ceremony where Rae was officiating. Cliff noted that Rae featured the use of the ancient Celtic tradition of handfasting. This is where the term “tying the knot” comes from. The couple’s hands are symbolically bound together with a cord during the ceremony. Great news, Cliff, and many thanks for all your years of faithful service to our class!
Newly checked out Carl with his triphibian
Curt and Tom on sacred ground
AOG Members
Sabre Society Donors
Polaris Society Members
’78 grads at Wecker Hall
Cliff Huff and family
Cliff also sent a blurb about a charitable golf tourney back in August, where T-Mobile gave $560K to Kevin Kennedy’s organization (warriors4wireless. org). Kevin has been doing amazing work for many years, helping thousands of vets find good-paying jobs in the 5G telecom industry. Well done, Kevin! I received an excellent pic from Bill “Sureshot” Schauffert at a recent Robert Plant/Alison Krauss concert (“phenomenal” concert according to Bill … who knew?) in Dallas. Fun fact: Greg, Chuck, Bill and I were all in UPT Class 80-02 at Reese air patch … good times. Bill went on to serve with distinction in the Texas ANG, retiring as a two-star. He flew for Delta for many years. Thanks, Bill!
I’ve mentioned before that we have quite the prolific author in our midst. Chris Krisinger posts in several publications and truly does an amazing job. In August he wrote an interesting piece on the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo for Real Clear Defense (tinyurl.com/b35wdejm). In mid-October, he wrote one for the American Thinker (tinyurl.com/ ms6f3jc5). I heartily recommend reading both. Chris is a superb author and truly does an amazing job. Well done, Chris, and thanks for representing our class to a huge audience.
I heard from Wade Mason. He’s loving life in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, since PCSing there in ’96, then retiring from the AF in ’98 after many years as a test pilot. He flew for Delta for 23 years, retiring in 2021. It’s interesting that his baby brother, Mark, graduated from USAFA in ’83 and also went to test pilot school. Mark and I worked together at Northrop Grumman for several years, where he was also a highly accomplished test pilot. Quite the accomplishments of both brothers! Thanks for the update, Wade.
This’ll wrap another quarter. Thanks to several of you heroes, I have quite a bit more stuff than I usually do. Instead of waiting until next quarter, Punch Moulton came up with a great idea: to send an expanded article to the class site (usafa78-is-great. org). Along with the article, we plan on adding a Legacy tab that will allow you guys to interact with 2028. The Class of ’76 did that on their site with 2026 and it’s an outstanding feature. We’ll provide more details as we work out the specifics. This is a tremendous opportunity to impart our experience and maybe even some wisdom to our Legacy Class. Enjoy the rest of your winter!
God bless!
’78 IS GREAT!
Bob Kay, 3040 Drake Crest Dr., Edmond, OK 73034; 661-974-1417; robert.kay78@gmail.com
1979
Gone But Never Forgotten: Once again we are reminded that our time here on Earth is finite and slips away steadily like grains of sand through an hourglass. We have recently seen three more brothers taken from our earthly ranks too soon. John Pardo reported on the passing of Mark Cebuhar (CS-18) in the last Checkpoints. Several classmates attended Mark’s funeral service at the Academy in October (see photo). We have more recently learned of the untimely passing of Gary Skubal (CS-29) and Walt Davidson (CS-32). Well done, thy good and faithful servants. Rest easy in eternal peace, brothers!
Front, from left: Pat Shillington, Dave Sapper, Bruce Bingle, Gary Harris, Jerry Coleman, Hal Moore and Tom English (all from CS-18). Back, from left: Mark Pimentel, Randy Helms, Bob Brown, Rich Peters, Dave Fallon and Brad Jones. Not pictured: Jack Humphrey
Rampart Range Region: The large contingent of classmates in and around the Colorado Springs area regularly meets for Lies ’n Coffee With ‘da Brothers. Plan to show if you are passing through some weekend. Ed Rissou hosts the Half Fast Eddie Falcon Fanatics Class of ’79 Tailgate in the NW corner of the USAFA stadium parking lot for all home games. Jeff Liederbach and Paul Bimmerman showed up for the Hawaii game tailgate because they were in town for CS-03 classmate Dave Bowling’s daughter’s wedding. Also attending the wedding were Neil Schoon and Carl Hawkins
On the Water: Kurt Shular, Dan Repasky and Gordon “Gordy” Ross all enjoyed a recent fall trout fishing trip in Montana. Ken Impellizzeri hosted Roger Shell, Mike VanLaan and Mark Leuthold for their annual gathering at Ken and Jill’s place
on Lake Cumberland. They also watched Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds on Netflix because Ken and Jill’s son (Jake, aka “Primo”) was part of the show during his time with the Thunderbirds. I may have to “no notice” you someday, Kenny — I live just up the road in Louisville and love fishing beautiful Lake Cumberland. Gary Finchum took a cruise on the Danube and met up, unexpectedly, with Paul Bishop, who had booked the same cruise.
Athletic Endeavors: Ernie Haendschke, Greg Nemeth and Gary Kopacka spent six days together in September hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc, a trek around Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, that traverses France, Italy and Switzerland. They covered more than 60 miles while experiencing spectacular views of the Mont Blanc massif and the surrounding Alpine landscape. Bob Edmonds and Tom English spent time together in September hiking several beautiful Colorado mountain ranges. Bob also unwittingly volunteered to start a new AOG chapter here in Louisville, Kentucky. You have the lead on the left, Bubba! We also have some “die hard” classmates still playing lacrosse for the Grateful Undead 65+ team (see photo). They play twice a year — in Lake Placid during the USA Lacrosse summer tournament and then again in Weston (near Ft. Lauderdale) in the winter.
Quick Hitters: USAFA roommates Bill Boyd and Pete Lenz both took their brides to Maine to enjoy the magnificent colors that fall splashes across the New England landscape. Ralph Trapaga reports that Jim Poole started working in the same FAA office with several other USAFA grads. Mark “Horse” Niece is now the president of the Albuquerque, New Mexico, AOG Blue Chile chapter. Chapter members Joe Falzone and Pat “Gerdie” Gerdemann meet for lunch in Albuquerque most Wednesdays. Joe and Gerdie were both in CS-05 and reconnected after retirement. Michael Hayes hosted Tru Eyre, Jim Lee and Dale Reed for a golf and fly fishing trip to Estes Park. The elk were rutting in Estes, so they had to share the fairways with several herds. Robert Gaylord is the Boeing 757 program manager and director of flight standards for New Pacific Airlines. He splits time between homes in South Florida and Lima, Peru. Jonathan “Jon Bouy” Sercel toured Italy and Germany this year with one simple goal — come home sometime after Oktoberfest! Wade Leatham was nominated by the General Assembly to the North
From left: Greg Sartor, Chuck Brininstool, Jimmy Keaton and Bill Schauffert
Sabre Society Donors
Polaris Society Members
Grateful Undead lacrosse team: Gordy Ross, Brian Kelly, Chet Nowak ’81, Ray Sands, Matt Dunbar and Mike McDonald ’78. Not pictured: Frank DeFalco
CLASS NEWS
Carolina Veteran Affairs Commission. Great news, Lefty! Jim Lewis sent me a quick travel update and a neat photo atop a camel somewhere in Morocco.
Strange But True: Bill Murphy and my class scribe predecessor, Bud Vazquez, have been going to the same schools since fifth grade. Let that sink in — elementary, junior high, high school and then squadronmates together in CS-35. They recently attended their Smithtown High School East 50th reunion.
Legacy Class Events: Class President Mike Van Hoomissen delivered an inspiring speech during the Acceptance Day parade, and eight of our classmates presented signed Contrails to the eight Outstanding BCT Cadets from the Class of 2029. A quick video of the events can be accessed here: tinyurl. com/2e9h7nx4
Legacy Class at Acceptance Day, from left: Ed Wilson, Randy Helms, Robin Rand, Omar Bradley, Fred Jacobsen, John Piribek, Mike Van Hoomissen, Geoff Mulligan, Korky von Kessel, Neil Schoon, Doc Colvin, Mark Pimentel, Rich Peters and Joel Maynard. Not pictured: Chris Brown
In Closing: Thank you to everyone who sent updates — keep ’em coming. Remember that being a part of Mighty Fine ’79 is like finding out that … Lunch Comes With Biscuits! Chew on that until we meet again.
Next up is that Irish ladder leaping leprechaun Geoff Mulligan at: geoff@mulligan.com. Jeff “Jammer” Moore
Jeff "Jammer" Moore, 321 Persimmon Ridge Dr., Louisville, KY 40245; 502-386-7958; bandit292@msn.com
our alums from the Chorale and Protestant and Catholic Choirs to the banquet stage to sing High Flight ... well, it was beautiful.
Mike Hill sent, “Out of the 22 living members of our 23rd Squadron ‘Barnstormers,’ 16 of us made it to the 45th reunion — and we had an absolute blast. The camaraderie was nonstop and, honestly, we didn’t want it to end.” In the photo, back/ standing, from left: Fred Cheney, Dave Hudson, Dave Clark, Mike Smith, Rich Hernandez, Jim Dunn, Tom Jordan, Dion Thorpe, Karen (Lange) Muenchau and Karl Greenhill. Front/kneeling, from left: Jeff Croy, Mike H., Kent Fonseca, Joe Hebert, John Farquhar and Steve Preteska
Barnstormers still fly high!
The C-Springs area continues to be a magnet. Jim and Sharlette Silva made a long-distance move — from Hickam AFB, Hawaii — after 12 years of post-AF civil service work. They returned to help care for parents. Unlike a military move, this one came with a (gulp!) $65K price tag. Jim’s part-time consultant job with RAND helped mitigate this, I’m sure. Jim Riggins moved to Monument after his AF career and built a net-zero home. Rich Goodwin made the move from Syracuse (the weather alone would be reason enough!).
During Friday’s dinner, Jan (Knocke) Van Hoomissen shared a photo taken the day before, while walking the halls of her cadet squadron. Evidently, guard dogs are now employed to keep cadets in line!
Jan and Mike ’79 split their time between Austin and the Portland, Oregon, area.
Tim and Susan Childers used their EE degrees in the D.C. area for 30 years before retiring near family in the Tampa area. Tim stays busy with students in the lab of a nearby STEM program. The Dan and Melanie Hancock family often leaves their Sumter, South Carolina, home for trips to Romania — 14 times so far! This is to assist a growing church they’ve supported for many years. Brian Tighe found a postairline gig while continuing to live near “Hudson High” (USMA). He helps transition CASS Aero KC135s from other countries into U.S. civilian birds to fly contract refueling. His part is heavy into the avionics side (ADS-B, upgraded UHF radios, TCAS, etc.). Paul and Sara Montany are nearing the end of a partial rebuild of their home after what could have been a devastating attic fire. Paul recently retired from his surgical practice in Missouri and is looking forward to using his skills with Samaritan’s Purse. Alan Baker’s new engineering consulting company is working on a water project in Panama (the country), and he recently got to dogfight in a Spitfire in Duxford, England.
Mike Valley claims he’s retired from Sandia, but Kim says he still works more than part-time. They’ve sponsored four cadets at their beautiful home since four-degree year. One happens to be from CS-02, and he took this photo — another example of 1980 looking mighty fine. Front, from left: Peggy (Dennis) Carnahan, Mike Prusz; back, from left: Don Myers, Mike Valley, Mike Smellie, Gary Grabowski and Cary Davidson
Post-reunion observations. My ears are still ringing — in addition to my normal tinnitus — from all the intense and wonderful conversations. It was a great time! Many thanks to Jeff Mielke and his team. And when Matt Neuenswander gathered
Peggy’s husband, Bob, backed out of the reunion. He didn’t feel right asking their neighbor to feed the 80(!!) head of cattle. Rumor is, Bud Uyeda got a good deal on Bob’s football game ticket. Mike Smellie couldn’t join us for our squadron gathering at the Valley’s on Saturday. Seems he had to get back to help Sandi at their equine rescue farm, a 24/7 operation (see avaspromise.org).
A poignant moment happened during my open house tour of Deuce. It was at a trophy case in the hallway, a memorial for special tactics officer Capt. Derek Argel, a 2001 grad from CS-02. He died in Iraq on Memorial Day 2005. The case included a partial mannequin outfitted with his heavy kit; a short bio, including his athletic prowess at the Zoo; and the 2012 book his mother compiled, Letters for Logan, for Derek’s son. What caught me off guard was when someone had me turn around: The cadet room opposite the memorial houses ... Logan Argel.
Jan and her new friend, Fido?
Deucers meet near the CQ desk.
Without dwelling on our group’s many aches and pains, I will pass how Melanie and Jerry Sirote were quick to share how Jerry is a bit of a walking miracle. He survived blood cancer with an experimental drug their son’s company was fielding at that exact time. Greg Augst, after a new aortic valve and double bypass surgery, simply emphasized, “Don’t ignore the symptoms!”
Non-reunion news. Aerospace Trends announced, “Stellar Solutions’ Vice President for Defense Programs Betsy (Joviak) Pimental has been selected to receive the prestigious Women in Aerospace Leadership Award, recognizing her decades of service across military, government, and commercial space sectors.” In case you missed it, for the AF-Navy football game, the Falcon’s headgear featured a motif similar to an F-16 pilot’s helmet. Included was the word “Psycho,” honoring the call-sign of our own Bill Andrews. To commemorate President Ford’s signing of the law that admitted women to the academies 50 years ago, another of our authors, Kathleen (Utley) Kornahrens, joined Gail (Benjamin) Colvin and spoke at Ford’s library in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Jud Kelley is “taking the plunge” and will be our spring issue scribe. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Don
Don Myers, P.O. Box 153, Tyrone, GA 30290-0153; dmyers80@hotmail.com; FB: USAFA '80
’81! Fall is here (had some flakes this week) and the AF football season is half over. I know the defense has struggled, but Wow! — that new QB, Liam Szarka, is fantastic, and the offense can really score. The defense will mature. AF hockey is underway, and we opened with a tie against Denver University! I did have a great dinner at Hotel Polaris’s Pamela’s restaurant and did go up to The Aviator bar on the roof — both were very nice. The classes of ’70 and ’85 were having their reunions at the time, and it seemed to work well. We are still planning an “unofficial” class get together for 4th of July. Make reservations at Hotel Polaris directly (thehotelpolaris.com).
(No host social, golf, fun, etc.) It will be our country’s 250th and Colorado’s 150th anniversaries. We will also have the normal 45th reunion in the fall; date TBD following release of the 2026 football schedule in March. See you there!
Class News: Beef Haddad recently participated in a Developing World Connection Project in Kenya,
south of Nairobi, led by Marty France. Marty has 11 projects under his belt and was asked to serve on the board of directors. Kathryn Smith ’82 and DT Thompson ’85 as well as Becky France were part of a nine-person team. All work was manual, without electric, gas or battery tools. Beef said it was very gratifying, and Marty was an amazing leader. Ginger, Beef’s wife, could not help with the project due to a recent horse accident and a broken collar bone. Ginger did hang out with the team and thoroughly enjoyed the students at the school.
After the Kenya project, Beef and Ginger spent relaxing time with Dake Vahovich ’82 and his girlfriend, Sue Turton, a former war correspondent, on their 50-foot catamaran in Corfu, Greece, sailing the islands. Barry Thoma has continued to touch base with the AOG at the beautiful new Wecker Hall on a “possible” next ’81 class project as part of the Academy Space Complex. Barry is just talking with contacts, as the project is still in the future and we have many options with other projects. I enjoyed catching up with Mike and Lori Bloomfield in the Blue Silver Club before the Bucknell game. They are enjoying retired life and time with their grandchildren. Bloomer is also busy with some nonprofits. One is with classmate Tom Kallman, providing Endeavour scholarships that send high schoolers and educators to Huntsville for a week each summer. Mike also serves as chairman of the board for Space Center Houston. They have great STEM programs for all ages and just approved a major facility upgrade to better protect precious artifacts while telling the human space flight story. I also run into Barry Gardener at the Blue Silver every game because we park right next to each other. Janet (Peterson) Greenwood is settling into retired life nicely in NE Florida. She plays pickleball, collects, travels and visits grandchildren. She is looking forward to our 45th and did point out that her USNA husband, Cabell, laughs at us (USAFA) because USNA publishes reunion schedules three years in advance.
Darren McKnight was at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia. On Day 1, Darren was presenting and saw classmate Kelvin Manning (acting director of Kennedy Space Center for NASA) attending his talk! Darren is a senior technical fellow for LeoLabs; he’s loving life and going on some pretty cool trips!
Speaking of Kelvin, he and John Marlin were my buddies during our first assignments at Eglin AFB back in the day. John works for Exxon in New Jersey, but Exxon recently shut down the New Jersey site and sent all to Houston. Rather than retire, John moved down to Houston to work one more year. He has a small one-bedroom apartment 10 minutes from work. John says it reminds him of our first places in Florida. Life comes full circle. His wife, Stephanie, wisely stayed at their Pennsylvania place (to avoid the Houston heat). Dan Bell, Dennis Ward and I are still bemoaning the Detroit Tigers’ collapse. Dan did ask me to go to the Terrazzo and find 11 cadets that can spell “defense.” He was at the Navy game and had just finished watching the AF-UNLV scoring palooza when he emailed me.
Thanks again for the emails, calls and texts! I have extra pictures, so I may just post them on our FB page. I am still deleting the political posts and name calling of a very few. I am excited to see many (maybe most) of you at our reunion and/or unofficial 4th of July reunion. I am hip-deep in AF football and hockey, with basketball starting in a couple weeks. Keep shooting me updates! Go AF, beat Army! For your SA on the cycle of me drafting this, I am going to WYO-AF this weekend and, of course, hockey.
From left: Marty France, DT Thompson ’85, Kathryn Smith ’82 and Beef Haddad
Janet (Peterson) and Cabell Greenwood in Iceland
Kelvin Manning, left, and Darren McKnight in Sydney at IAC25
CLASS NEWS
Hello, Redtags! Sadly, I must begin with news of several losses. In July, Dan Reeder informed me that Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ed Jarrett joined the GBNF ranks on Dec. 8, 2024. Ed passed away in Oro Valley, Arizona, and is interred at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Marana. A career Air Force pilot, Ed began a second career in the culinary arts and was remembered as a respected leader and mentor.
We also lost Lt. Col. (Ret.) Rob Skeans on July 2, just two weeks after he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Rob had an impactful active-duty and Reserve career and later worked as a manufacturing consultant before fully retiring in 2011 to focus on family and community service.
On Aug. 2, Bob Otto said goodbye to his remarkable wife, Chris, after her 3½-year battle with brain cancer. Bob was her devoted caregiver throughout. Chris, a former ICU nurse, was known for her energy, kindness and love of people.
Chuck Beckwith wrote with kind memories of my late wife, Ellen, from their 3rd Squadron days. I also learned he lost his wife in 2002. On a brighter note, his son Andy graduated from USMA and is the spitting image of his dad. Chuck sent a picture of the two of them, but I’m over my limit for this article.
I traveled to USAFA for the Long Blue Line weekend in July, staying with my BCT roommate Steve Toldy and his gracious wife, Peggy (Turek) ’83. Steve and I joined the Class of ’29 for their march back from Jacks Valley — six miles uphill at altitude (we made it!)! But so did a guy from ’62 … I hope I can do that in 20 years! We crossed paths with several classmates along the way. From left to right in the photo: Steve Toldy, Bill Harding, Jim Ratti, Carol (Foote) Kilbride, Jim Brown, Sue Grant and Sarah (Schirmer) d’Eon
Boots, boots, marching up and down again!
My sister and I returned in September for Ellen’s interment, again staying with Steve and Peggy. The ceremony was dignified and elegant — a perfect farewell. Many of you attended, along with a large contingent from Ellen’s Class of 1980, and for that I will always be grateful.
Ken Wuttke shared this photo from his fini flight before retiring as a 787 captain with American Airlines. His last trip — to Tokyo (Haneda) — was a perfect close to an outstanding career.
Speaking of airline retirements, Mike Kempton sent a photo from a celebration for Nancy (Robinson) Davis, marking both her July 4th birthday and her retirement from Delta Air Lines. Nancy’s 28-year career culminated as chief pilot for Delta’s Atlanta hub, leading some 16,000 pilots. A mechanical engineering major at USAFA, she logged more than 20,000 flying hours in the T-39, B727, B737, MD-88, MD-90, B757, B767 and B777. From left to right: Earl Davis, Nancy (Robinson) Davis, Faith Interrante, Sue Grant and Mike Kempton.
Retired CSAF and ’82 classmate (for two years!)
Dave “Fingers” Goldfein ’83 wrote to share that he and Heather Wilson co-authored a book, Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership. Announced at the AFA Convention in September, it’s available on Amazon (a.co/d/0qIa2C2) and other outlets. Proceeds support the ROTC detachment at UTEP. Heather and Fingers were secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force from 2017-19. The book recounts leadership lessons from their individual careers and their time together at the Pentagon. My copy is enroute; I expect it will be an excellent read.
Kate Smith wrote that Lynn Ellen Vergis and Sarah and Joe d’Eon were at the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 7 to help mark the 50th anniversary of President Gerald Ford’s signing of Public Law 94-106 — the landmark legislation that opened the service academies to women. Representatives from all academies closed trading that day. The Sunday before,
Kate and Cynthia Shelton (with Kathleen Conley ’80) attended a memorial service at Arlington. They honored Ellen and other cadets, grads and preppies who have passed.
Rick and Sandra Burgess checked off a bucketlist dream with a two-month RV trip. Leaving Loganville, Georgia, in August, they visited Nashville, St. Louis, Branson, Kansas City, Omaha, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, Spearfish, Sturgis, Wall, Cody (Wyoming), Yellowstone, the Tetons, Billings (Montana) — where they met up with Dan and Ruthie Hargrove — then on to Spokane, Moscow, Pullman and NAS Whidbey Island to see their son Josh and family. Rick then flew to Las Vegas for his 50-year high school reunion before continuing through Astoria, Redwood National Park, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce, the Grand Canyon, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma, finally returning home in November. Quite an adventure!
I’ll soon be doing some traveling myself. Just after submitting this article in October, I’ll leave for Tanzania and Zanzibar with Belgian friends. Then in January, I’m headed on a four-month Viking cruise from Los Angeles to London, the long way. I’ll get home in early May. I guess I’m channeling my Navy vet dad who served in the South Pacific in WWII! That’s it for this quarter. Please keep me posted, and stay safe.
Thanks to Wade Wheeler (and his 100+ classmates list!) I have plenty of news and more photos than I can use. Besides retirements, great trips and grandkids, some of the “Best to Be” are doing amazing things! Our 42.5-year Reunion at Sea is set for February. Eighty-eight shipmates will be sailing to Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Per Dawn (Bizub) Androsky, the ship is sold out. If you’re not aboard, keep an eye on our class Facebook page in February. Thanks to cruise captains Tod Harmon and Ricard Smith, we’re ready to set sail! Harry Gross even snagged an advance “recon” photo of the cruise ship in Quebec City!
Leading off the “amazing things” category: Former CSAF Dave Goldfein and former SECAF Dr.
Ken Wuttke (old retired guy) and his wife, Li
Celebrating Nancy Davis’s retirement from Delta Air Lines
Heather Wilson ’82 have co-written a book titled Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership. It’s available at tinyurl.com/39vv9f2y.
Glen Marumoto received his fourth “world major marathon” medal at the Berlin Marathon. There are only about 50 runners in the world with four of these medals. The six marathons that qualify for the medal are Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and NYC.
Cindy (Fujimoto) and Jim Norman have retired and built their dream home and hangar in Elbert, Colorado. They purchased a project airplane (a 1947 Stinson 108-2), spent three years working on it, and in April, it flew again. They plan to fly cross-country to visit people and places.
Pete Moe reported his first-ever Checkpoints input: Pete retired from FedEx and is a flight instructor in the only FAA-certified all-electric airplane in the United States — the Pipistrel Alpha Electro. He and Laurie are loving retirement but question their daughter’s judgment — she married an F-15 pilot in Pete’s old Guard unit!
Andy Von Canon’s “Beltway Bandits” softball team placed second in the world championships in Las Vegas in September.
Ed Fisher picked up a guitar for the first time at 62. He’s now good enough to be part of a Whidbey Island, Washington, neighborhood jam group that recently held its first performance. He and Tuk are enjoying their second retirement, and Ed modestly says there are ringers in the group, so he can “hide” amid their expertise.
Other classmate musicians include Tom Rzepecki and Grant Lane, who got together at Grant’s in Louisville and pulled an all-nighter … an all-night rock-n-roll jam session!
Jaimie (Treece) Smyser is likewise combining retirement and amazing. Jaimie’s spending her retirement running Ironman races and loving being a grandma. (My grandma was a tough woman, but Ironmans? Wow!)
Jon Duresky and Brenda are enjoying their first summer as year-rounders in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Jon’s still looking in the sand for Five Golden Rings!!
Erik Andersen and Marisa happily reported the arrival of their third grandchild — an aspiring Blue Angel. Their daughter Madeleine and her husband, Aaron McMullen, are lieutenant commanders and Navy pilots.
Trish (Riley) and Jon ’82 Kimminau are loving retirement in Tucson. In addition to visiting their kids, they added trips this year to Argentina and a 28-day cruise from Amsterdam to Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands and Dover, U.K. They cherished visiting places their late daughter, Erin, loved in Iceland. They’re booked on the Reunion Cruise, traveling with Karl and TK Bosworth
Speaking of great trips, Tim Strawther sent a fabulous “dawn patrol” picture of him and Darla atop Cadillac Mountain, Maine, with the first touch of a new day’s sunlight upon the CONUS. Tim’s in regular contact with a dozen or so classmates and notes how “folks continue to make amazing impacts upon the world around us.”
Tamra Rank texted while walking the Coastal Way Camino in Portugal. She “ran into Paul and Ricki (Smith) Selva and Scott Carruthers (all ’80) at a random stop along the way.” Given that she was with Sue Desjardins (also ’80), that was a pretty cool “random” happening.
Less random but also cool was Mark Atwell’s report that he and Drew Howes managed an eastto-west intercept on I-70. Drew and Daphne were driving to Denver from Cincinnati while Mark and Laurie were driving home to Louisville from Denver. A few texts led them to Abilene within five minutes of each other. Mark’s retired UPS and Laurie is a part time CPA — life is good!
Agreeing that life is good were Carl McDaniel and Dave Remendowski. Carl and Cindye finished a Columbia/Snake River cruise and met up with Dave and Terri in Spokane. Dave had just retired from his SERE position at Fairchild and Terri from teaching. After the visit, Carl had shoulder surgery — but life is still good — he plans to retire in May!
John Stizza and Carole have renovated their home in Breckenridge, Colorado, and they are open for
visitors. ANY ’83ers are welcome ANYTIME. Give them a shout beforehand and they’ll be ready. Finally, some admin: Rick Broome, who created our class painting, is in declining health. His remaining artwork is available. If interested, contact Rick’s son James at afa.legacyart@gmail.com or message him on Facebook via Rick Broome Studios. Gone But Not Forgotten notices are now online at usafa.org/next-of-kin-and-gbnf.
Chris Austin is up next for March — send info/ photos by January to ccaustin83@gmail.com.
Dave Ruffley, dlrwy@yahoo.com
No more shocks, please! As if the passing earlier this year of Joe Calderon was not enough, the pain of the loss of Marvin Jones still resonates with me. Please keep their families in your prayers and keep reaching out to them whenever you can. Darryl Cabanting and several others held a mini-reunion in Southern California to honor Joe and enjoy their friendships. Golf, shopping, wine tasting and even a San Diego harbor dinner cruise were accomplished. Well done!
He will always be the one and only, Marvelous Marvin Jones
Updates: A client of mine was in a fishing tournament in Cabo. It made me think about Per Corbeil because that was in the area where it was rumored he had taken up living. So I reached out, and here is what I received back.
“Greetings from south (think Shawshank Redemption) of the border. In typical Per fashion, I quit something just as I was getting somewhere-American Airlines promised a week’s supply of crew meals, a clip-on tie, and two positive space tickets during COVID, so I left after my 737 checkout.
Glen Marumoto
Cindy (Fujimoto) and Jim Norman
Ever Loya, left, and Pete Moe
AOG Members
CLASS NEWS
Currently, I’m writing, reading and frolicking in the ocean down in Baja, with my main complaint being people nagging me to put clothes on and get a haircut. Keith (A-10 icon and San Antonio real estate mogul) Sanders has been awesome helping Barb (Martin) ’86 and my daughter out with career advice (please help! She wants to work on climate stuff). Our son Weston ’22 has learned firsthand what it’s like to operate old (although not as old as our, except for my new hips) bodies flying the C-5 out of Dover, so I still pay some attention to what’s going on up north. Speaking of which, ironically, the older and further away I get, the more I appreciate the values that they pounded into this piss-poor cadet so long ago, go figure. So I think fondly of you classmates out there, and trust that I’m not alone in holding onto those core values. Saludos!”
The Class of 1984 fundraised to endow perpetual support for cadet clubs focused on the USAFA pillars of academic excellence, athletic development and military training. Thank you to all who donated to support this project. Your gift will impact cadets, enrich the Academy experience and build well-rounded future leaders.
As 2025 comes to an end, it’s not too late to give cadets wings to soar. Join your 1984 classmates in donating today and finishing strong!
Make a gift at: usafa.org/1984-40th
Now that makes me wonder if we have a Hunter S. Thompson in our midst. Also, putting the pen to the paper, Kyle Skalisky just published A Sky Less Traveled, which provides his insights into a career as a pilot, executive in the aerospace and defense industry, and his thoughts on leadership and making
an impact. It is on Amazon, so take a look if you can. Lastly, I implore you to take the best care of yourselves and your family. All politics and daily stuff aside, there is an overwhelming amount of love, help and compassion in our group. Reach out and find out. Also, make it a habit to call someone you haven’t heard from in a while. You don’t know how impactful that may be.
Thanks, Jens
Mike Jensen, 6547 N. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918; 719-338-3570; usafa1984@gmail.com; usafa84.com; FB: USAF Academy 1984; Twitter: @USAFA84
1985
“You are dismissed!” And 945 new graduates headed into the wild blue Air Force on May 29, 1985. None of us could imagine the incredible opportunities that would come and the amazing things we would accomplish serving.
Of the roads Frost described diverging in a wood … the Class of ’85, Best Alive, had indeed took the one less traveled … and it has certainly made all the difference to country, in uniformed service and beyond, for the liberty and freedom of others.
Forty years forward, we gathered Sept. 17-21 to recall those first four revered years, celebrate the indelible experience and remember. As Scott Brockway called the unanswered roll of our classmates — the three who broke formation before graduation and 39 that also stood alongside us and between loved homes and the nation’s calling — we paused.
In a room previously flooded with “How have you been?” and “What have you been doing?,” we shuddered, silent. Hearts centered, spirits awake, it seemed only a moment ago we were frantically negotiating the marble strips. But in the now, we found ourselves reaching to the last time we heard that special laugh, saw the grand smile, shook our kindred spirit’s hand — even before we shared memories as Scott invited, prefaced by our gracious choir of eight who made us one voice sending Lord Guard and Guide beyond heaven’s gates.
Dan Hrovat, hat tip to you for gently advocating those words for the memorial.
Tish (Dierlam) Norman and Lynn Steer, you did the amazing to orchestrate such a tremendous time and make it possible for us to grace Hotel Polaris, among the first for a reunion. The ballroom came
alive with special stories, significant updates on our families, friends and how we are giving our lives to good. No Form O-96 needed for the exceptional banquets, food and service for more than 400.
Add your ’85 jersey sell-out, Lynn, with Joyce Washington’s assist, to the Women’s Graduate Brunch you led, Tish, for 37 attendees via Jackie (Charsagua) Garcia’s indispensable email list, and we have WOW! And it all was crowned by Gary Rafferty’s heroics pulling off a golf outing for ’85 bandits despite the invitational tournaments held reunion weekend, followed by a toast courtesy of Tom Geoghan — if you need a class-crested decanter, order before year’s end (sono1420.square. site/1985usafa).
Linda Sverdrup, Charlene Harding, the pictures you took seal the unforgettable moments shared. Thank you, especially at the expense of enjoying time with classmates.
Scott Dumbauld, once a leader, always a leader. You highlighted class contributions to the Academy and set our challenge for the Academy fund. It is time for us to rally and help nail down the best class gift, but we need a committee to start. For heroes willing to commit the time and resources, please let Scott know (bestalive85@gmail.com)
As for individual goings-on, we have a few to share. Jesse Hayes, it was inspiring to hear about the Red-Tailed Hawks (RTH) FLY Academy and Scholarship Program you helped organize.
Tom O’Berg put his signature on the back of the CS-37 ’85 plaque while touring the squadron. He made a more significant mark on the Air Force before retiring the second time in April 2025. After wrapping active duty at the 560th Training Squadron, he led
Per Corbeil composing his thoughts in Baja
From left: Brandy Powell, Tish (Dierlam) Norman and Lynn Steer
From left: Gen. (Ret.) Dave “DT” Thompson, “Raff” Rafferty and “Doc” Klodnicki hit the links.
T-7A development and onboarding to replace the revered T-38 as the USAF fast jet trainer.
The Recognition week picture George Hupp shared of the three-degree CS-31 Grim Reapers made real the 40-plus years since. Beret-clad baby faces with ear-to-ear smiles confirmed, more than the prop and wings, that the 27 in the photo were the training-givers, not receivers.
Mike Black continues to live the service, leadership and impact that embodies our class. He not only took time with classmates to mentor cadets but completed a feature now on the Long Blue Leadership podcast (longblueleadership.org). Check it out. Character, duty, service, we have so many voices echoing this message. Can we sound off more and together on this?
Unforeseen events prevented many, like Joyce and Debbie Harris, from making some/all of the reunion. Mark Deluca, ultramarathoner, missed the reunion to prep for a 72-hour run the first week of October to honor the life of his wife, Sarah. She passed a year ago. Mark, I trust you heard us cheering you on during your race.
A few final things. A HUGE THANK YOU to Scott Carney for 10-plus faithful years as class scribe! Incredible, especially when we often left you hanging for inputs. So, a reminder, Checkpoints is a class effort. Inputs (to me now) are everything. Let’s use this as one way to stay in touch.
Finally, takeaways from Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Rick Martin: “Thankfulness. All of us, in some way, look back with gratitude for friends we made, people that shaped our lives, and opportunities during and after the Academy. We have lots to be thankful for. And we loved hearing from everyone about how they are beginning exciting new chapters … families, hobbies, new careers or giving back. So much talent, character and energy … and loved seeing every single person.”
Let’s continue to live this, especially the unity, as we run our race ever more greatly in service that gives life to liberty and freedom.
This winter, we mark a milestone in our journey along the Long Blue Line. The last of our class has officially retired from active duty. Gen. Dave Allvin, the 23rd Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, stepped down on Oct. 10, 2025, closing out a remarkable career and joining the rest of us who are no longer getting our waists taped. Well done, Gen. Allvin. See photos on our class Facebook page.
Dave’s Dirty Thirty continues to set the pace for class spirit. Jim Gulsvig shared this great update on their annual squadron reunion, which included the former CSAF.
“This was our third straight year getting the squadron back together, and it just keeps growing! We’ve added more folks each year, and this one was the best yet. We gathered at Bob Holba’s home in Charleston, South Carolina, and enjoyed perfect weather, great food and even better company.”
From left in the photo: Mick Burkard, Phil Celestini, Rick Meier, Liz Almeida, Jim Gulsvig, Jim Clay, Teresa Hollingsworth, Ty Alexander, George York, Ken Hale, Bob Holba, Dave Allvin and Tim Petrishen
You can see more photos from this and other gatherings on our USAFA Class of 1986 Facebook page. If you’re not part of that group yet, join in. It’s the best way to keep up with squadron news, mini-reunions and updates as we head toward our 40th reunion. Nothing major to report yet — but stay tuned; planning is percolating but won’t be set until the football schedule is posted in the new year.
From Charleston, we move west to the California coast, where David “Zab” Zabalaoui (CS-31) has been making noise — literally.
“Back in 2020, when live music was banned in California, I teamed up with a former CIA executive, a former U-2 pilot, and two bona fide rock stars to play for our neighbors on 29th Street in Hermosa Beach. We called ourselves The 29th Street Band — for obvious reasons — and we’re still performing today!”
What began as a small 30-minute set on a blocked-off street evolved into a local favorite. The band has written several original songs, including the crowd-pleaser You’re Never Too Old to Rock. They’ve even had guest appearances from the NASA program manager for the James Webb Space Telescope and
Gen. Willie Shelton ’76, former commander of Air Force Space Command.
Zab and crew have produced several music videos you can find on YouTube — just search for Dave Zabalaoui. The energy and humor are funnier than watching someone from ’85 fall and break a hip.
Vinnie Savino checked in from Campomarino, Italy, where he helped honor the Tuskegee Airmen this past April. The Red Tails flew from nearby Ramitelli Airfield during World War II, and the local community continues to celebrate their courage and sacrifice.
Vinnie met up with Yolanda Wood, a fellow CS-29 classmate and Tuskegee Airmen Chapter representative, for the ceremony. Together, they had the privilege of meeting F/O Daniel Keel, a 102-yearold Tuskegee Airman believed to be one of the last surviving members.
They visited the Chappie James memorial mural and shared stories with local students about the legacy of the Red Tails and the enduring lessons of integrity, courage and excellence — values that continue to unite us all. Photos of Vinnie and Yolanda with F/O Keel are posted on our class Facebook page, and they’re well worth a look.
Finally, a story that will make you smile more than watching someone from ’85 fall and break a hip. Ron Simmons was recently reunited with the white parade cap he tossed in the air during our graduation ceremony on May 28, 1986.
graduation.
From left: Mike Black, Bruce Desautels and Wade Thompson enjoy cocktail hour.
Dirty Thirty reunion
Vinnie and Yolanda
Ron Simmons reunited with his cap from USAFA
CLASS NEWS
“Nearly forty years ago,” Ron writes, “a 12-yearold girl named Carla Beyer joined the mob of kids at Falcon Stadium chasing the graduates’ hats. She caught mine, complete with my name card inside. She kept it safe all these years.”
A few months ago, Carla reached out to the Association of Graduates, hoping to return the cap to its owner. Shella Heiens helped connect them and even sent Carla a prepaid shipping label to make the reunion happen.
“I was deeply touched by this incredibly thoughtful act,” Ron said. “Carla enclosed a kind note with the cap — it’s now back home where it belongs.”
The note and photos are posted on our Facebook page, and it’s a must-see feel-good story. (And all this time, Ron just thought it never came back down.)
As we move further into retirement, second (and third) careers, and the next chapters of life, it’s great to see how strong our connections remain. From reunions to garage bands, from Charleston to Campomarino, we continue to make an impact, live our values and — occasionally — recover lost hats.
Keep those updates coming. Whether it’s a new adventure, an old friendship rekindled, or a photo that brings a smile, like of someone from ’85 who has fallen and broken a hip, your stories remind us all why the Class of ’86 still rocks.
Bob Colella, 9247 Northedge Dr., Springfield, VA 22153; 571-422-0367; robert.colella.86@gmail.com
Wow! The mighty Class of ’87 has been busy! Thank you for all the inputs. We will start with this incredible event: Female military service academy graduates gathered to ring the New York Stock Exchange’s closing bell on Oct. 7. Gretchen (Krueger) Cook wrote, “We were proud to represent Service Academy Women across all academies and generations at the NYSE on this 50th milestone anniversary of Oct. 7, 1975, the day President Gerald R. Ford signed the law inviting women to apply to our nation’s federal service academies.” Gretchen rang the closing bell! As a follow up to this event, on Oct. 12, KOAA Channel 5 aired an excellent interview with news anchor Dianne Derby hosting Carolyn (Moore) Benyshek and Gretchen (Krueger) Cook to share what this milestone event means to them. Watch it at tinyurl.com/2fvy4bve. Too many pictures/videos to post, so please check this out!
USAFA women who were at the closing bell ringing event on Oct. 7, including classmates Janet (Jeoung) Edwards, Carolyn (Moore) Benyshek, Margaret (Duffy) Smith, Gretchen (Krueger) Cook and Carolyn (LaPointe) Sammartino.
John Klimeck sent a picture from the Gamble Sands golf course with Keith Nightingale and Jim Brunkow on a recent trip to Seattle, where Jim lives. Keith flew in from Hilton Head, South Carolina, and John flew in from Hastings, Minnesota. They all played hockey together at the Academy and try to get together once a year to play some golf and catch up on life. Keith and John are retired, and Jim is closing in on retirement in the near future.
Lisa Miller wrote from Las Vegas: “Thank you for your time and effort in putting together our class news. I enjoy reading Checkpoints and keeping up with the Academy and our classmates. It provides a sense of connection to the past and reminds us of how far we have traveled. I usually do not contribute to social media or personal stories, but your email encouraged me to reconnect with my AF history. Thanks for asking and showing an interest in our lives. So, briefly, I graduated from USAFA from CS-30 (four-degree CS11). I fulfilled my five-year service mostly at Edward’s AFB. This was the Systems Command DT&E Flight Test Center. I served as a test parachutist, hypobaric and pressure suit chamber officer and human factors engineer. After leaving the service, I finished medical school at the University of Vermont and my pediatric residency at All Children’s Hospital in Florida. After many years of various pediatric appointments, I completed my fellowship training in pediatric emergency medicine in Las Vegas. I am now working as an attending pediatric emergency medicine physician at a hospital here in Las Vegas. My sporting dogs are the love of my life, and I am proud of my black Labrador
champion trailing dog, Tai. We have earned the national No. 1 title in urban trailing, No. 5 in versatility trailing and No. 4 in shed hunting (finding deer antlers on a mountainside). His up-and-coming little sister, Tari, will eventually achieve even more titles, as she is learning all the skills from her big brother. One day I hope to build a dog training and dock diving facility here in Las Vegas, as we have none here. My most involved volunteer activity was as the medical director of the medical mission for my church. For 15 years our group of medical volunteers and translators traveled to the jungle cantons of El Salvador for two weeks each summer on a medical outreach. We distributed medicines and vitamins, some orthopedic equipment, and dental and hygiene supplies, and performed small surgeries, diagnosed illnesses, provided medical advice and transported critical patients to hospitals. We brought an ophthalmologist and provided glasses to people who had never had clear vision. And we had a great time handing out soccer balls to the children and leather gloves to the adults. We also brought a photographer and provided printed photos to these families who had never had the opportunity of having one before. Each trip requires a year of planning, and I usually smelled like a sweaty yak, but it was the most meaningful and wonderful experience. Those memories continue to bring into perspective how blessed we are to have what we consider the basics — such things as a climate-controlled shelter, electricity, clean water, plumbing and toiletry, sufficient nutritious food, medicines, and opportunity for education.” Great to hear from you, Lisa!
As a follow up from our last edition, Col. (Ret.) Carolyn (Moore) Benyshek was selected for the 2025 USAFA AOG Leadership Achievement Award, and she was honored at the Distinguished Graduate and Long Blue Line Awards Dinner on July 25. I won’t repeat everything from the last update but did want to add that Carolyn and her husband, John, continue to positively impact the Long Blue Line by sponsoring numerous cadets. Carolyn serves as a board member of the Way of Life Committee and on the executive committee for USAFA Women. Congratulations again to you, Carolyn!
From left: Keith Nightingale, John Klimek and Jim Brunkow playing golf
Carolyn (Moore) Benyshek at the Distinguished Graduate and Long Blue Line Awards Dinner. Back row, from left: David Bachler, Mark Fitzgerald, Mike Russel, Dave Sullivan, Alex Gilbert and Juan Echeverry. Front row, from left: April Fitzgerald, Carolyn (Moore) Benyshek and Carolyn (LaPointe) Sammartino
I’ve got other inputs, but ran out of space! Please keep the inputs coming, and our best to all!
Bill Page, 562-209-1158; nextpage87@yahoo.com
Anne Benovil-Murphy, 703-599-6235; benovilmurphy@gmail.com
1988 To ’88ers who responded to last quarter’s emotional photo request for inputs — thank you! I have faith you all are getting the idea and that the inputs will keep flowing. It’s beginning to catch on!
My last submission included foreshadowing of the Emily and Yanni wedding, a three-day extravaganza described as a Cape Cod celebration of old school elegance. Margot and Kris Mineau made it memorable, classy and fun while making it all look easy. Everything was perfect. I caught up with Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Frank Detorie and his wife, Darci, at the soiree. Frank retired last year after 36 years (nine active, 27 in the Connecticut ANG), where he flew A-10s, served as wing CC and promoted to BG in 2017. He’s now flying 787s for United.
Rob Marr, joined by his wife, Jill, called minutes for the wedding shuttle so we wouldn’t be late for formation (with chin in, shoulders back and a strong command voice). I shared the shuttle ride with Chad Hennings’ wife, Tammy, catching up on the latest with their amazing kids, Chase and Brenna. (Theresa wanted to sit with Chad so she could see his Superbowl ring...again.) I tried not to stand by Chad and Robby in photos for fear of being categorized as a munchkin. Stacey Knutzen and his wife, Jenia, were looking sharp, as were Monica and Paul Avila, and Chasely and Bud DeMarais (married last year... whoo-hoo!). Bud stole my flamingo coat and sweated in it before I could retrieve it; his dancing improved substantially while he had it on. Dave Stimac had a blast performing Nickle, Dime, Quarter for patrons of The Chatham Squire, just before he was outed as a bad tipper. Do ask him if you see him.
The only downside of the wedding was no playing of YMCA and the requisite standing on chairs and spelling it out Village-People style. A bit of a letdown, but I guess playing it would have been a bit gauche and un-Cape-Cod-like. We made it work.
Jimmy Tomallo and his wife, Trish, are buying me lunch and whiskey the next time I’m in Austin, and Jimmy is late on his promised Checkpoints update.
From left: Paul Avila, Jimmy Tomallo, Stacey Knutsen, Frank Detorie, Emily Mineau, Chad Hennings, Kris Mineau, Bud
We were blessed to slip in a lunch rendezvous with Kathy and Mike Veneri ’91 while in Chatham. The day after the wedding, we told stories of our former glory, nursed dancing knees and learned about the hope of peptides to get us by for the next decade. It was a glorious weekend.
In other news, I learned that Dr. Tracey Jones (Ph.D., leadership studies) shares lessons with the world through her inspirational books, blog, interviews and motivational speaking (tremendousleadership.com). Another grad doing well and giving back.
I have a great pic of Dr. Brad Lloyd and a few of us in Minnesota, but since his wife, Gina, wasn’t in it, it wasn’t worth publishing. Their daughter Emma is a college senior (physical therapy, soccer team), and Nate is a sophomore (economics, baseball). They both attend Denison College in Granville, Ohio, to thoughtfully save their parents gas money. (Trivia: Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner also went to Denison.) Dave Stimac and I were blessed to see Brad’s parents, John and Cathy, as John was prepping for his 90th birthday bash. (If Brad and Gina move back to God’s Country, would it help the Wild make it to The Show?)
For faithful Checkpoints readers, you may recall that Sean Ryan, who was with me the first time I ever required a defense attorney (1986), is president of McGraw Hill’s school group. Big news ... they recently went public on the NYSE, capping “a deep professional satisfaction, all in the service of human learning.” Amazing. He’s the one with facial hair and a tie.
Mary Anne (Dolan) Staring was kind enough to send me a great pic from a D.C. service academy mixer. Thank you!
Dr. Kathy (Garrity) Hughes reached out to make a kind intro to an aerospace colleague, so of course I had to turn that into an update. She’s a doctor AND a pilot, which means she gets nervous anytime someone says “hold my beer,” whether it’s on takeoff or before a surgery.
Writing about all these ’88 doctors is giving me a complex. I’m thinking about getting one of those “experience based” Ph.D.’s or maybe buying a royal title from a small country to keep up. Quick hits on people who should have written in but didn’t: Tiger 10 lovers Ross and Stacey (Sidor) McNutt’s youngest daughter, Rachael, got hitched a few months ago! Tim and Michelle (Papa) Clays were in attendance.
Rich Hartlaub called to complain that he got called out for not sending in an update, vowed to send one, then didn’t.
I smiled seeing the pic of Greg Zehner, who I’ve not seen in forever ... why hasn’t he written to tell me why he’s sporting those crutches?
This edition is less quip and more grip thanks to a welcome trove of inputs (received double my allowed pics ... I have spares). Let’s keep it going! Radz
Brian “Radz” Raduenz, 858-705-0252; brian@radz.com; FB: USAFA Class of 1988
1989 Greetings, everyone! I hope you are enjoying the holidays with family and friends. For the past several years, it has been a privilege to be part of an organization that honors our veterans and their service — the 8th Air Force Historical Society (8thafhs.org). The society was
DeMarais, Dave Stimac, Rob Marr and scribe Radz
Sean Ryan and the McGraw Hill team
Mary Anne (Dolan) Staring at a D.C. service academy mixer with Gretchen (Larson) Idsinga, Chris Hauth and Greg Zehner
CLASS NEWS
created in 1975 to preserve the legacy of the Mighty Eighth and the part it played in World War II and beyond. Over the years, the society has become a strong organization with an emphasis on remembering and honoring our comrades who served with distinction: the men who flew, the many thousands of ground crews, and those who worked supporting these efforts.
We publish a quarterly magazine that highlights the lives and experiences of our veterans and organize an annual reunion to bring together veterans and their families and friends in a weekend of fellowship and camaraderie. This fall we met in Colorado Springs and had a wonderful time visiting Garden of the Gods and our alma mater, and enjoyed some incredible speakers — Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Chris Miller ’80 and Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Shaw ’90. During our day at USAFA, we were very fortunate that our classmate Doug Kennedy arranged for some of his history department cadets to escort us around the Cadet Area. We left confident that our future is in good hands!
From left: Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Shaw, C3C King, C3C Stevens, C3C Ronnie and Paul Tibbets enjoying the evening gala at the 8th Air Force Historical Society reunion in Colorado Springs.
We identify our World War II veterans at each reunion with a blue lanyard, and all our post-WWII veterans with a red lanyard. In Colorado Springs, we were blessed to have more than 30 veterans in attendance, including two WWII veterans:
• Jim Boring, 100 years old (B-17 waist gunner, flew 12 combat missions)
• Vince Stokosa, 98 years old (MP, part of the U.S. occupation force in Germany)
Veterans gather during an evening gala at the 8th Air Force Historical Society reunion in Colorado Springs.
That’s a wrap for this quarter. Keep those cards and letters coming. Take care and God bless!
Paul W. Tibbets IV, 5422 Cypress Point Ln., Gonzales, LA 70737; 225-289-2000; p2a2tibbets@gmail.com;
FB: USAFA Class of 1989
1990
Greetings, to the mightiest class! Another absolutely fabulous class reunion is in the books! Mighty ’90 made our assault on the Front Range in full force, beginning at the if not illustrious at least familiar Doubletree compound, where we rendezvoused and planned our next four days.
Ryan Cecil was first arrival, inbound from Delaware, not long after his more recent excursion to France to celebrate the birth of his beautiful granddaughter Josephine — many phone videos were shared! Lucky to be a UAL 787 captain with all the perks! TJ Goulter had us in stitches — literally — as he provided a description of every uniform he has ever worn neatly preserved for history in his red trunk. He promises to model the parade dress at next reunion! Things began to heat up when Coach Weichers from “beat-n-bleed” — aka boxing — showed up. He put up his dukes with our Wing Open champs — Dennis “Rock-n-Roll” Ruiz, Clint Sigg and Vince Becklund — and we knew no one would mess with ’90 for the rest of the evening!
On Thursday, while Jim Gloss, Parker Shipley, Vince Becklund, Mike Carter, Eric Faison, Bob Garcia and Robert Gray reunited at the Prep School, Scott Acuri organized the Mighty Ninety Invitational golf tournament at the blue course. My foursome included Chai Odom, who gutted it out, leaving early for a root canal (and he has the coolest red ’90 shirt); Sam Skaggs, who is touring the country in his RV and golfed like a member of the PGA tour; and Brian Garcia, who is now an IT executive and living in Montana. Brian Hastings won the longest drive, earning the presentation of the “Stanley Cup” at the awards ceremony Friday evening.
Thursday evening was more class bonding. I tipped a few with my four-degree squadronmates Eddie Hebron (drove straight through from the Midwest and never made it up to his room), Tony Dunning (FedEx 777 living near Offutt AFB), Chris Menold and his wife, Caroline (in from San Antonio, sim instructor), and Charlie McIntyre (Springs resident who’s always up for a party)! We each spun a favorite Kurt Root yarn!
Friday, we were the oldest class in attendance as we toured the Terrazzo, and we were deafened by the silence of the four-degrees! But that didn’t stop us from listening to the superintendent (Chapel will finish in 2028, fingers crossed), the AD (transfer portal is working against service academies — NCAA is trying to help) and the dean (we have kept all the academic majors). I ran into Carl Brunner (SES at NASC in Dayton), Brenda Pippel (just pinned on O-5 in the guard — wow and congratulations!) and Ruthann Fisher (lives near Tyndall, tutors in math).
Friday evening was our reception — search USAFA 90 on Spotify for the playlist. It was a mostly joyful
event of mirth and merriment, as we did pause to remember our classmates who have taken their last flight since our last reunion (Ronal Kalequin Jr., Brian McCombs, Luke McConville and William Simpson Jr.) in a special memorial, led by Lee Armstrong. Our keynote speaker was Mark Weatherington, who urged each of us in attendance to connect with one absent classmate before the next reunion! Mark was rewarded for his speech with a genuine mighty ’90 bathrobe — about 40 years overdue!
Saturday we woke up a little groggy, but many of us made our way over to the groundbreaking of the Davis Airfield Tuskegee Memorial. The superintendent reminded us of the courage and grit of these fine airmen, and then our class donned helmets and manned shovels for the turning of the dirt. Special thanks go to Paul and Karrie Sherman and Tim and Heather Swett for leading our class gift campaign — to the tune of a cool quarter-milliondollar donation!
the class gift
Gametime was under perfect weather conditions at the always-spectacular Falcon Stadium. Following the F-18 flyby (yes, F-18, flown by USAFA grads), our gridiron heroes nearly held on for the win. Eric Dale Winger’s son Scott ran the flag for many Falcon touchdowns, and our gift committee was joined by Joe Richardson (Georgia Tech instructor and entrepreneur) and Kim Ford (just flew in from Iceland following her recent airline pilot retirement) to present a big Publisher’s Clearinghouse check to the Academy Foundation and join the cadets in double figure pushups!
As the final seconds drew near, our cheering sections — including Melissa and Daren James, Jay Updegraff, Terry Bradley and OD Washington, among others — were tempted to sling the cheese, but noticed the Cheese Air Operations Center guards posted strategically in riveted positions high
Mighty Mark Weatherington fires up the reception!
Mighty ’90 breaks ground on
above our own perch. My own Tiger 10 (Huzzah!) squadronmates Brad Norris and wife Becky and Phil Weilhouwer and wife Val left behind melted squares of sadness as the game slipped out of reach.
Post-game festivities were at Hotel Polaris, where the Bull Dawgs sent a scouting party on a three-night patrol, led by Sam Svitenko, Steve Brandt, James Jinette, Dan Whisenant and others. The following Sunday was the Mighty ’90 Women’s Brunch at Pamela’s restaurant, also at Hotel Polaris, organized by Dawn Ehresman.
Special sincere thanks to class reunion organizer Tamara Cinnamon, who couldn’t make the reunion at the last minute but spent countless hours making our reunion the best to date (I mean c’mon, red wool blankets — awesome!!!) Mighty ’90! — Flash
Redtags of 1990, THANK YOU for your generous support of the Tuskegee Airmen memorial at Davis Airfield. The project will include full-scale models of a P-51 Red Tail and a T-7 Red Hawk, currently being built at the airfield entrance. It will embody and reflect all that the Department of the Air Force holds dear and expects of all airmen, guardians and cadets — integrity, service and excellence.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Sept. 27, 2025. Watch the video of the event: usafa.org/tuskegee-video25
View photos from the event: usafa.org/tuskegee-photos25
Learn more about the project’s status: usafa.org/1990-30th
Mike Shepherd, 3801 Derby Cir., Quartz Hill, CA 93536; michael.j.shepherd@hotmail.com
1991
Another quarter, another mountain of evidence that the Class of ’91 refuses to simply fade into the comfortable obscurity of sensible shoes and early-bird dinners. But fret not, the professional and personal excellence continues — often now with the benefit of bifocals.
To start, Eric Moyer, Scott Burns, Pete Hahn and Bret Smith coordinated an impressive meetup, chartering a catamaran for sailing adventures around the Greek Isles!
Eric, Cassandra, Scott, Jennifer, Pam, Pete, Alyce and Bret
Eric Moyer left active duty in 2000 and went to United Airlines, only to be furloughed after 9/11. Three years later he received a letter in the mail stating, “Congratulations, you’ve been promoted to major!” To which he quipped, “I didn’t even know I was still in the Air Force!” He rejoined the Reserve and retired in 2016. Eric and his wife, Cassandra, now live in Orlando, where he flies for JetBlue. Abby (22) recently graduated from the University of Alabama and is heading to grad school for occupational therapy. Mitchell (21) is studying locally at UCF and, at a stout 6’6”, keeps the pantry perpetually empty. Kaitlyn (19) followed her sister into the SEC and is now a sophomore at the University of Tennessee. Though the house is quieter these days, it hardly feels like an empty nest. Between flying, SEC football and family gatherings, life hasn’t slowed down a bit (and still time for the European sailing vacation!).
Scott Burns, who partnered with Eric for that recent nautical adventure, continues his own career
pivot. After flying KC-135s from Robins and Fairchild, he moved into a long corporate gig in innovation at Corning and NRG. This year, he made another pivot, leaving NRG and joining the leadership team at his local food bank — a move he calls “a great change!” Scott and his wife of 32 years, Jennifer, have four adult children, all of whom decided to become Texas A&M Aggies (Scott claims he had nothing to do with it). Proving the flexibility of his new job, Scott and Eric followed their trip to Greece with another adventure, meeting up with Pat Rhatigan at the Ryder Cup in Bethpage, New York (Pat’s hometown). Scott and Jennifer are ready to host anyone passing through north Houston (they live in The Woodlands).
Tony Clevanna finally hung up his wrench after 30 years of keeping airmen inspired, aircraft in the air and the logistics flowing. He maintains his “best job” was serving as a maintenance group commander, a duty he was lucky enough to repeat a few times, including two tours in AFCENT. Tony finished his career helping to stand up USSPACECOM, proving once and for all that he just can’t quit the complex stuff. He and his wife, Mary Beth, have survived 16 assignments since leaving the Academy, successfully raising five great kids despite the constant moving. After a two-year stint teaching AFJROTC in Dodge City, Kansas, he settled back in Colorado Springs to teach engineering, math and finance at St. Mary’s High School. In a clear case of familial rebellion, son Joe is in Navy flight school and son James is in the Marines. “No airmen in the family?!” Tony asks, perhaps a little too loudly. When he’s not challenging high schoolers with calculus, he’s in Florida visiting grandchildren, Henry and Eleanor. He still loves cheering on the Falcons in the Springs, so if you’re back in town, look him up!
While Tony is settling back in Colorado, classmate Eric Patten is navigating the globe for FedEx night freight, a job that seems to involve “having a blast” and seeing an excessive number of sunrises on a heavy schedule of international flights. He and his wife, Renee, celebrated their 10-year anniversary and are eagerly anticipating empty-nesterdom, as daughter Ella is at UT Knoxville and his son, a high school senior, stubbornly resists the Air Force Academy. As they transition out of active parenting, Eric is requesting advice from classmates on how to enjoy retirement, urging them to drop a line or share tips in-person if around Memphis!
Mighty ’90 Women continue doing Mighty Things!
AOG Members
Sabre Society Donors
Polaris Society Members
The Pattens
Chris (Harvey) Bell and Dave Bell are masters of the mini-reunion. They spent spring break in the Seattle area and were “so fortunate” to spend a rainy
CLASS NEWS
day with Tom and Jenn ’92 Jensen, catching up on life, kids and, presumably, the best place to buy a good umbrella. Dave later managed a surprise meal with his old Deuce roommate, Brian Johnson, who was “just an hour up the road in Ontario, California,” during a FedEx layover. Brian and his wife, Juli, live in Tennessee, confirming that FedEx layovers are now the most efficient way to schedule alumni visits. The travel continued with a trip to San Diego, where they met up with Leigh (Merola) Bassler and her husband, Lee, while scouting grad school housing for daughter Brenna. Chris and Dave are officially empty-nesting in Murrieta, California, but celebrated two big wins in May: son Ethan graduated from UC Davis Law, and Brenna completed her undergrad at Claremont McKenna College. Ethan will take his law degree to San Francisco at Fisher Phillips in September while Brenna tackles marine science at the prestigious Scripps Institution of Oceanography. At this rate, the Bells will need a spreadsheet just to track their family’s career moves.
Keep those updates coming!
Scott and Heidi (Cizan) Scheppers, 318-453-2293; 1991usafaboldgold@gmail.com
Time marches on (like we did many times on the Terrazzo “back in the day” — even more so for you Centurions), and I welcome you to another column. I had the opportunity to see a number of you this quarter at three events in the D.C. area. It’s always good to reconnect. Event #1. My first connection this quarter was with Trey Meeks and Pete Doty. I ran into them at a service academy business mixer in Reston, Virginia. The Joint Service Academy Business Mixer DC Metro Area (JSABMDC) is a group of graduates from all academies who come together monthly to network and connect, primarily for business reasons. Each month a member of the JSABMDC hosts the event at their
office. Some attendees are ready to transition, some are looking for a job and some are looking to hire, but all are there to connect with other service academy graduates to leverage that common experience that we all “enjoyed.” I’m not sure Trey, Pete and I got too much networking done that night — we mostly just caught up. Trey and Pete have been in the local area for quite a while now. As you already probably know, the D.C. area has a heavy concentration of service academy graduates. As a matter of fact, I have three West Point graduates across the street, an Annapolis grad around the corner, and know three USAFA graduates within three blocks of my house.
Event #2. Each September around the AF birthday, the Air & Space Forces Association hosts its annual conference here in the D.C. area. It is usually at National Harbor at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center in Maryland. According to the official website, “AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference provides first-class professional military development, facilitates sharing of emerging requirements and technologies, and helps fuel connections that advance the cause of air and space power.” Since it brings together active duty, Reservists, Guard and the defense industry, it’s a great opportunity to capture lots of classmates in one place. It’s pretty cool that there are still a handful of True Blue ’92 classmates continuing to wear the uniform, most with stars on their shoulders. As would be expected, there are also many who are now continuing to support the AF and Space Force from the private sector. Joe DeLapp has taken the initiative the past few years to organize a 1992 photo during the event. While I didn’t attend the AFA conference, I did show up for the photo! It was a strong ’92 turnout.
Dave Smith, Jim Dryjanski, Lee Smith, Mark Slocum, Tom Dobbs, Derek France, Rob Novotny, James Mehta, Rick Moore, Joe DeLapp, Dan Simpson, Mike Koscheski, Michele (Meyer) Kilgore, John Lamontagne, Melissa (Jones) Coburn, Aaron Steffans and Jon Kim
I know there were a few other classmates attending the conference who didn’t make the photo. Funny, as I was leaving the photo, I ran into some 1995 guys I knew who were organizing their own class photo nearby.
Event #3 — another group photo! The Air Force-Navy football game in Annapolis in October provided another opportunity for a photo. Dave Smith and his wife, Stacy (White) Smith ’93 (stop out from ’92), hosted pre- and postgame tailgates for the great Class of 1992. I can vouch for the pregame tailgate and the awesome food and company. Breakfast burritos, mimosas and bloody marys were some of the items on the menu. Unfortunately, the result of the game was not as good as the tailgate. Dave even ordered a 1992 flag!
Andy Bates, Stacy Smith, Mark Slocum, James Mehta, Chris Anthony, Dan Neff, Dave Chaney, Donna (Delango) Bates, Dave Smith, Sam Jones and Rod Stephan. (Alex Cole went in search of another tailgate and missed the photo!)
You may notice the Navy flag flying below the AFA flag in the photo … both Dave and Sam have kids who are midshipmen at USNA. Could that be construed as child abuse?!
The Bates are all over the place! Following the Navy game, I saw on the WhatsApp chat the Bates joining others in a 1992 suite in Las Vegas for the wild UNLV game. Again, if you want to join the WhatsApp group, reach out to me or Rod Stephan, who manages the group.
Please don’t delay — reach out to me today with your latest update. Let me know about the amazing things you are doing. I look forward to hearing from you and finishing out 2025 healthy and strong. True Blue ’92, James.
James S. Mehta, 2813 Davis Ave., Alexandria, VA 22302; 571-830-7095; jamesmehta92@gmail.com
1993
Greetings, ’93! Wishing you much happiness and blessings as we move into the winter and holiday season. Tough year for Falcon Football so far … hopefully by the time you read this we’ve won a few games. We can definitely score points; it’s just limiting the other team from scoring more points. It was so
Chris, Jenn, Tom and Dave
nice that our class got to enjoy the Commander-inChief’s Trophy every year. Memories …
Speaking of Air Force sports: Bruce Ybarra updated me on our classmate Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dan Oosterhous — USAFA tennis player, assistant coach, head coach and current athletics administrator — who was inducted into our Athletic Hall of Fame. Dan recorded 113 wins at No. 1 singles and doubles, which ranks second all-time among No. 1 players in program history. He was a four-time team MVP and all-conference selection. He led the Falcons to a 25-2 record as a firstie, while serving as team captain. While on active duty, Dan served multiple combat support missions, accumulating more than 3,100 hours in the C-5, C-21 and T-53 aircraft. He was also inducted into the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame. Thanks for representing 1993 so well!
Todd Gorsuch checked in from Maine, where he has lived for the past 15 years. He stumbled upon a niche industry that uses data and advanced analytics to conduct observational research for life-science companies. He’s been in the health care industry for the past 25 years. He’s on his third venture capitalbacked startup with a focus on building global commercial teams. Todd’s son, Cole, is a sophomore at Villanova University and on the Villanova men’s swim team. Last year, Cole made the Big East allconference team and won the championship in the 100-yard backstroke. Todd’s daughter, Kate, is a senior in high school and plans to study and swim for Trinity College next year.
Todd’s USAFA roommate Brody Pettit lives in the Dallas area. Brody sold his John Deere dealerships to a private equity firm a few years ago and then was hired to stay on as CEO of the conglomerate. Rico Pietrykowski just moved to Dallas and is flying for Southwest. Jon Pruett lives in Dallas as well. After graduating top of his class from LSU medical school, JP settled into running his own derm practice in the suburbs. Brian Combs, outside Atlanta, and Andy Johns, Nashville, are both custom home builders. Lance Teel is a successful corporate business leader and outdoorsman extraordinaire. Lance lives in Boise, Idaho, and has a beautiful home perched in the mountains outside the city. Rob Harris retired from active duty and has been working in health care, leveraging his AF hospital admin skills. Rob was last spotted living in the Las Vegas area but is always on the move. Kevin Loucks is a fellow New Englander living in the Boston area and has been working in the IT/tech industry for the past 20 years. And last but not least is Luke Ahmann. Luke lives in Tampa and wears three stars on his shoulder — never had a doubt Luke would follow in his dad’s footsteps and make it to lieutenant general. Thanks, Todd!
Craig Hollis sent updates on his family and some classmates he’s been in touch with lately.
Craig retired back in 2018 and is living a quiet life in Huntsville, Alabama. His oldest son, Mitchell (28), is an assistant basketball coach at Gardner Webb University in North Carolina. He and his wife are expecting their first kid in January, and Craig is excited to be a grandpa. His younger son, Matthew (18), is a freshman at Auburn. War Eagle! Lastly, Craig’s youngest, Lacey (17), is a senior at Huntsville High School. As for Craig, he’s flying for Delta out of Atlanta and had the opportunity to run into several of our classmates — Chuck Wallace (CA A320); Ken Balkcum (CA A320); Eric Knight (CA 737), Beau Rogers (CA 737), who is also a Porsche driving instructor at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta; and last (but not least) my CS-36 roommate, Phil Tucker (CA A320). Craig has also been in touch with Todd Ernst. He’s living in San Antonio and doing great work supporting our veterans through multiple business ventures and charities.
Ben Malisow checked in (rather quickly) and just passed on a pic when he met with Jon Boyd and his lovely wife in New Orleans for dinner in September.
Jeff Kubik checked in and updated us on his new position. He changed companies in September and joined Peraton to become the business development account executive for the Maryland procurement office (aka NSA). He’s spearheading all of Peraton’s cyber-related pursuits. Jeff says, “[It] seems as though I never left Fort Meade since my first assignment in 1993!” Jeff’s oldest son, Nathaniel, has a deferred enlistment in the Air Force. He will have reported to Lackland by the time you read this article. He’ll be doing bomber maintenance. He hopes to get to work on the B-2.
Most importantly, for those who don’t know and didn’t read in the last Checkpoints, our classmate from CS-36, Col. (Ret.) Ed Hospodar passed away back in April. Please see his obituary at tinyurl. com/23ad8sj2.
Here’s a toast to THE host…Blessings, ’93 – Mike
Michael D. Sundsted, 5805 Bent Creek Trl., Dallas, TX 75252; 703-307-0903; mdsundsted@gmail.com
1994 Hey, Redhots. Happy winter edition. It’s been a great fall, with nice weather in Texas, good football and college kids doing well. Let me know how y’all have been. First up, I got a text from West Stark. He sent this picture with his son Micah from commissioning day at USAFA. Micah is a 2025 grad now at Arizona State for a master’s degree program, and he is headed to Sheppard in the summer for ENJJPT. That’s Red Hot! Congrats, West and Micah.
an email that said, “I
Recent USAFA Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Dan Oosterhous
Todd Gorsuch and his son, Cole, at the Big East Championship
Ben Malisow and Jon Boyd meet up for dinner.
West and 2nd Lt. Micah
Rob Lisch sent me
had a chance to spend a long weekend with John Kowalczyk at his home in Baltimore. We attended
CLASS NEWS
an old colleague’s 80th birthday party in New Jersey then made a stop in Philadelphia. John’s the same funny guy, and as you can see from the picture, his wife, Kelly, still favors me 30+ years later.” Haha, nice photo recreation guys!
Rob, Kelly and John
It’s been a while since we’ve had a ’94 active duty update, so I was glad to get the following from David “Baja” Shoemaker, who is currently at Al Udeid AB Qatar: “Greetings from the desert. For better or worse, some of us are still pulling on the uniform every day on active duty. Wanted to send you a picture of some two-star classmates gathered at Nellis for WEPTAC in 2024. We’re all still in, although most of us have changed jobs, and three have been promoted since then. I was the ACC/A3 at the time. I’ve since moved here as the deputy CFACC and deputy commander, 9 AF (AFCENT), working for Derek “Trapper” France ’92. Photo, from left: John “Speedy” Klein, deputy (current acting) AF/A3; Mark “Zulu” Pye, AF/A8P; Baja; now-Lt. Gen. Evan “Lamar” Pettus, SOUTHCOM DCOM; now-Lt. Gen. Stephen “Jester” Jost, 5AF/USFJ commander; and now-Lt. Gen. Case “Basket” Cunningham, current 11 AF commander and recently confirmed as AF/A3.” Thanks for the update, Baja!
’94
And to wrap up, I’ve had a couple ’94 sightings. Colleen and I were recently at the neighborhood gathering place (our grocery store’s bar) when I heard someone behind me say, “Red Hot ’94?” I turned to see fellow Viking 9 grad Joe Gordon. Turns out he has lived right near us for years. Great to see you, Joe. Next, I was in Mexico City on a layover and there were two other pilots checking in at the hotel. I was
looking at my phone when I heard one of them say “Kegger!” It was Jeff Dalrymple, my old roommate. Good to see you again, brother. Thanks for all the inputs! Keep sending me updates. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! — Kegger
The Class of 1994 30th reunion gift will enshrine the Red Hot ’94 legacy at Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy, benefiting future leaders and graduates. The Class of 1994 is the only class focused on fundraising for the hotel.
Tick tock, can’t stop the clock! 2025 is ending, but there is still time to be part of this project. Don’t bring it weak!
It was great to see so many of you at the 30th reunion! I heard we had ~350 in attendance. Hats off to Julie Price for knocking it out of the park again. Thank you, Julie, for herding cats and dedicating countless hours to hotel reservations, menus, itinerary, USAFA security measures, more hotel room block reservations, etc. I called Julie a few weeks before our reunion to say, “God Bless you, Julie. If I were fielding some of those Facebook group questions, I would have resorted to humor or sarcasm by now!” Julie is a good person, y’all! I was really impressed with Hotel Polaris. What a great venue for our gathering! The ladies of ’95 gathered for coffee on Saturday morning before the football game. I don’t think we’ve ever done this before, and it was a fabulous idea. The farther away
I get from our graduation date, the more special all these moments become. And while we are all feeling a little sentimental, can I just say that it is wonderful to see so many of your kids choosing to go to the Academy (or the other ones, haha).
Class of ’95 Ladies’ Coffee
We were blessed with good weather for the class golf outing on Friday, and the golf ball really flies at altitude. Dean and I had a great afternoon golfing and catching up with Andrea (Rolfe) Themely and her husband, Mike Johnson. Others had lunch at Mitch’s and walked around the Cadet Area or attended presentations. The good weather continued into Saturday for the football game against Hawaii. It didn’t seem to help the Falcons quite enough, but we enjoyed the F-22 and F/A-18 flyover. There was also a lot of spirit cheese flying at this game, probably faster than the fighters.
After the football game, a few CS-24 Phantoms gathered at Tom and Nikki Ulmer’s home to catch the Oregon versus Penn State game. It was nice to get a little time with Cliff Volpe, Andy Stone, Kirsten Palmer, Tom and Rob Barnett. I know there were dozens of other squadron gatherings, so please send pictures and tell us about it!
During reunion weekend, several of our classmates gathered to honor our fallen classmate, Lt. Col. Frank “Bruiser” Bryant Jr., at his USAFA memorial site. Frank was killed in action on April 27, 2011, at the Kabul International Airport while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He was meeting with American and Afghani forces when an armed
two- and three-stars
From left: Ron Storey, Todd Scherm, Stu Martin, Clarence Dunagan, Jon Rhone and Don Kang honoring Lt. Col. Frank “Bruiser” Bryant
Afghani colonel ambushed them and opened fire, claiming the lives of Bryant, seven other airmen and a U.S. contractor. Frank was an accomplished F-16 pilot and one of our two dozen fallen classmates whom we honored during the reunion banquet. Reading those names aloud was difficult, but I know you’ll agree that it’s really important to remember each classmate’s story. Julie and I appreciated everyone’s help with that.
C4C Emelia Storey with her mom, Julie (Martin) Swearingen, and her dad, Ron Storey
Another item brought to my attention during the reunion that I wanted to share was that there has been an information gap for those classmates who are not on Facebook. There was info about groups of friends meeting at different times throughout the weekend that was shared via Facebook but not everyone has an account. I’m not sure that a giant email listing is the answer; if anyone has an idea, please message me. I would like to fix this before the next reunion.
Chris Lesnick has graciously volunteered to be one of our class scribes, along with Mark Sotallaro, who has been volunteering for the past year. Thanks to both of you! It’s been an honor to be a scribe these past few years. I’ve enjoyed reaching out to you all and staying in touch. As you may have heard at the reunion, we are still looking for a few more volunteers: class president and a few people who would be interested in leading outreach for a future class gift to USAFA. Until next time, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. Please keep sharing updates via email with your class scribes, Mark Sotallaro (marksotallaro@ gmail.com) and Chris Lesnick (christopher.lesnick@ gmail.com). Sling the cheese and Keep the Pride!
Amanda
Chris Lesnick, christopher.lesnick@gmail.com
Mark Sotallaro, marksotallaro@gmail.com
1996
Happy holidays, Bricks! As 2025 draws to a close, our classmates continue to lead, explore and reconnect — from Antarctica to Warsaw, and from cybersecurity summits to Academy ceremonies. Here are the latest updates from around the world.
Rob Eller reports that after 28 years of service, he officially retired from the Army Reserve on July 30. Rob left the activeduty Air Force in 2017 but continued serving as a subspecialist surgeon in the Army Reserve. Rob says, “As the biggest branch, they just need more of people like me.” He adds, “While the Army was good to me, I’m disappointed that I won’t get to wear an Air Force retired ball cap!” Rob also took over as managing partner of Greenville ENT and Allergy this February — “from one extra duty to another.”
Across the Atlantic, Peter Blazeusz completed his tour as Eurocorps commanding general in Strasbourg, France, and now serves as strategic adviser to the chief of the general staff of the Polish Armed Forces (Poland’s CJCS equivalent). Way to represent, Zeus!
From the opposite pole — literally — Col. Christopher Lantagne, Oregon Air National Guard director of staff, recently wrapped a six-week tour as commander of the 13th Air Expeditionary Group at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. He served as the senior U.S. military officer on the continent, overseeing a joint team from the Army, Navy and Coast Guard supporting Operation Deep Freeze — the presidentially directed mission enabling U.S. scientific research in the harshest place on Earth.
Too many Bricks to name gathered at the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor recently, for what has become an annual Class of 1996 class photo tradition!
Dale Riedel shared that Andi Vinyard, PK Carlton, Meg Martin and Gavin Marks represented our class at the Sept. 27 groundbreaking for the long-awaited Tuskegee Airmen Memorial at the Academy — a project we helped fund through our Class of 1996 25th Reunion Gift. The memorial will feature a P-51 Mustang and a Boeing T-7A Red Hawk with the iconic red tail honoring the Tuskegee Airmen. A proud milestone for all the Bricks (and others) who made it possible!
On the tech front, Sonny Sarkar (now at Scale AI) and Kenny Cushing (now at NetCentrics)
linked up in Bucharest, Romania, for seniorlevel cybersecurity and AI discussions. Their companies cosponsored the Bucharest Cybersecurity Conference, where Sonny led a delegation on AIdriven governance while Kenny helped steer EU and partner-nation digital defense initiatives.
Back home, “Cobras” Jeff Hansen, Mat Weaver, Jeff Booth and Ian Moreno reunited for a long weekend at the Air Force versus Navy game on Oct. 4. Rumor has it they provided as much color in the stands as the Falcons did on the field!
Reid and Lori (Edinger) Rasmussen report that their son, Foster, is a two-degree. Meg Martin and her husband, Sean, have a four-degree, Sam, and Randy and Christy Oakland’s son, Samuel, is also a four-degree (and on the Air Force football team).
Linnell (Bartholic) Letendre shared a special update from her May retirement ceremony, where more than two dozen classmates gathered to honor her six years as dean of faculty. “Retirement is phenomenal,” she writes. “I have been fortunate to be traveling extensively with family for the past three months. Greg and I even earned our sailboat certifications!”
Linnell (Bartholic) Letendre, center, celebrated her retirement in May with more than two dozen classmates in attendance — shown here with our Class of 1996 painting after six years as dean of the faculty.
Reunion planning is also underway! Eric Larson, Tim Kao, Gigi (Angeles) Simko, Jason “Junk” Wilson and Dan Marine recently kicked off organizing our 30th reunion, coming next fall (September or October 2026). They’re joined by Jenn (Graving) Maceda, Bo Fraga, Teri (Allen) Williams and yours truly. Expect a survey soon to help choose dates and activities — and reach out if you’d like to lend a hand!
Meanwhile, an important note from DeAnna Franks ’99: She has joined forces with other grad
Linnell (Bartholic) Letendre joined Lori (Edinger) Rasmussen, Reid Rasmussen and Meg Martin at Foster Rasmussen’s Wings of Blue Blue Suit ceremony over Memorial Day.
CLASS NEWS
leaders to plan a milestone celebration honoring 50 years of USAFA Women, scheduled for April 2026. She invites all women grads to visit usafa-women. org for details and registration.
As for me, I’ve begun a new chapter leading the Anti-Defamation League in Los Angeles, serving the third-largest Jewish community in the world. Founded in 1913, ADL is one of America’s oldest and most respected civil rights organizations, fighting antisemitism, hate and extremism in all its forms. It’s an honor to lead this mission at such a pivotal time — building bridges across Southern California to protect democracy and ensure everyone can live free from fear and hate.
As always, thank you for sharing your updates and photos. Please keep them coming — and mark your calendars for our 30th reunion next fall. Stay strong and stay Tough as Bricks!
The Class of 1996 is continuing to fundraise to support the Tuskegee Airmen memorial at Davis Airfield. The project will include full-scale models of a P-51 Red Tail and a T-7 Red Hawk, currently being built at the airfield entrance.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Sept. 27, 2025. Watch the video of the event: usafa.org/tuskegee-video25
View photos from the event: usafa.org/tuskegee-photos25
The gift committee will contact classmates soon with an update on how you can support “tough as bricks” character development, military and academic excellence, and true airmanship.
Give at usafa.org/1996-25th
What is up, Silver Bullets? It’s your friendly classmate and class scribe Noah Oviedo, here for another update. I hope everyone is doing well. As always, I am thankful to our classmates who took the time to send an email, text or call to give me an update. I appreciate your contribution; it is great to hear from each of you and to hear about all the great things our classmates are doing. Selfishly, it certainly makes writing this article much easier. With that being said, let’s get to the updates. Let me kick this off with the “I missed an update a few issues back” files. Michael Dunn hit me up via email. He had the pleasure of flying Dom Martin as the first officer on Southwest Airlines. Mike is playing hockey in his free time and enjoying his second act of job life. Dom and I used to run the strips together yelling “Huzzah!” Everybody loved hearing the Huzzah, despite the disgruntled, annoyed look on their faces, the upperclassmen always managed to give us the peace sign. Anyway, Dom retired from active duty as a lieutenant colonel after a distinguished career with multiple commands, even returning to USAFA to command our beloved Tiger 10. He retired to Alamogordo, New Mexico, where he works in civil service. He told me what he does, but I got lost in the conversation after some big words. I am fairly certain it has to do with negotiating alien technology with regard to global positioning systems. Don’t hold me to that; I will get clarification from Dom and report back later. Next up, I heard from Tim Welter with a quick update. Before I jump into his update, I would like to congratulate Tim. Tim has now achieved the Gold Level Contributor status. You too can achieve Gold Contributor Status if you contribute not once but twice with an update to help your classmate create this 900-word article every quarter. Tim, congratulations, and thank you, sir. I think you have what it takes to achieve the coveted Platinum Contributor Level. Tim let me know that Bridget Gigliotti, Dave Epperson and he are in the same capstone class right now. I am not sure what the capstone class involves, but the picture makes it look pretty cool.
Nathan Scopac had sent me an update for the previous issue of Checkpoints. I saved this portion because the picture was too good not to share, and I was maxed out on the previous entry. Nate had a chance to grab a beer with my Prep School buddy and C-Squadron mate Art Locklear. Art was passing through Niceville, Florida. Art, drop me a line and let me know what you’re up to these days. Great picture. Thanks for sending it in, Nate.
I also received a text from my good friend Tanji Johnson Bridgeman. Tanji recently made the pilgrimage back to USAFA to record a session on the Long Blue Leadership podcast. I guess you get invited to record a podcast after competing for 18 years in the International Federation of Bodybuilding and winning 11 fitness championships. Tanji is the definition of Keep It Revvin’.
While on campus, Tanji had the opportunity to catch up with her fellow Honor Guard teammate Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks ’96. In addition to that visit, Tanji also connected with Dr. Mark Clifford. Mark is back at USAFA as the head boxing coach. Mark and I were Prep School grads and distinguished members (depends on who you ask) of Tiger 10. To this day I consider Mark to be one of the best and funniest people I know. Congrats to you, CliffDawg; the boxing team and Cadet Wing are lucky to have you, hermano.
recently at USAFA.
Tanji also let me know that she will be returning to USAFA in April for the 50-Year Commemoration Event: USAFA Women (1976-2026), where she will
From left: Tim Welter, Dave Epperson and Bridget Gigliotti at the equator in Ecuador. Each of them has a foot on either side of the equator, thus they are Keepin’ It Revvin’ in two hemispheres at the same time.
Nathan Scopac and Art Locklear having a beer in Niceville, Florida. Looking good, gentlemen.
Tanji Johnson Bridgeman and Mark Clifford caught up
be one of the keynote speakers. The event is April 23-26 at USAFA. Check out the website for more details (usafa-women.org).
On a side note, I am struggling with the idea that I attended the Academy with someone old enough to serve as the commandant of cadets. It feels like just yesterday that I was jumping out of bed after it was brought to my attention that creamed beef was being served for breakfast at Mitch’s. Has it been 28 years for real? Who else misses creamed beef?
Well, that about wraps it up. I appreciate everyone who reached out and sent pictures — you truly make this job easy and fun. I look forward to hearing from more classmates in the future. Until next time … Keep It Revvin’!!!
This is one of those Checkpoints posts that does not get easier to write, nor one in which the right words can be said. Here’s a toast to Shane Noyes, who passed away Sept. 30. A memorial service was held Nov. 7 at Dover Air Force Base. We will miss Shane and will always remember his kindness as a person, greatness as a wingman, and all that he brought to those around him. Many great things have been said and will continue to be said about Shane. Our best to his family; you all will always be a part of our class.
In other news, we have a report in from Derek Bozman about participating in a 349.98-mile ride (give or take 0.02 miles) starting Sept. 18 (that’s an Air Force Day from minutes, I believe) at the Wright Brothers’ Memorial and spending four days on the road, ending at the Air Force Memorial. This dominating ride was also with Tom Preston. Great job, Dominators! We hope the seats are a lot more
comfortable now that it’s behind you (sts). In more news, we have Col. David “Moon” Halasi-Kun closing out the F-15 Eagle flying chapter in his life after a fini-flight as commander of the 104th Fighter Wing. He absolutely did a great job at our 20th reunion in 2018 with the F-15 flyover.
Across the pond we have two Dominators blending in with the locals to understand more of what this whole Oktoberfest in Munich is all about. Brian Ballew and Luke Gargasz totally dominated in their Lederhosen while taking a break from their post-retirement contractor lives. Great work, fellas!
Luke Gargasz
In some news that came around just as the last Checkpoints deadline was hitting was word that Brig. Gen. Mason Dula assumed command of Combined Special Operations Joint Task Force – Central way back in May. Great stuff, and great to see him rocking that red beret and showing he is still Hard Core (24)! Speaking of awesomeness, we also have Craig Fitzpatrick joining the growing list of authors among the Dominators. His book releases Jan. 27, 2026, with presales available now! Any Dominators that get the book to him can have it autographed; and if you bring a crisp Form O-96 with you, he can assist on the filling out of said Form O-96. Even though I know you all are awesome enough to buy the book, I should make sure you know what it is about. I’ll make sure to fill out the works cited for this, but Amazon says it best: “Craig Fitzpatrick is nearly completely blind but has taught over 300 blind adults and children to play ice hockey at a competitive level. As a member of the U.S. Blind Hockey team, he competed at the international level, studied the game under NHL trainers, and brought disability awareness to the forefront through his Try Blind Hockey program that partners with NHL teams.” All proceeds for the book, Finding the Puck, go to the International Blind Ice Hockey Foundation. So, get out there finding the book and get those books ready to go all over! Again, free autographs next time you see Craig with book in hand!
Our favorite European history major with a minor in French named Max is the first Dominator promoted to lieutenant general (that’s three-stars, Tate Hagland). Congratulations, Max Pearson! He did this in a very dominating way — by skipping
major general completely. That’s two-stars, Tate (took two, Tony DaCosta). To all our classmates with stars on their shoulders, we are glad you all survived that M5 sesh at Quantico. Way to hydrate and get those stretches in! We all have your back!
To close this Checkpoints out, we have news that Tony Barry ran into Col. Ron Sloma in Utah, where they both live these days. Tony is doing big things for Northrop Grumman while Ron, at the time, was leading the 419th Fighter Wing on the Air Force Reserve side at Hill Air Force Base.
A shorter than usual post for our Dominators. Make sure to work hard to call out your classmates for the next Checkpoints; we love reading the excellence and dominance of every one of you. Do not shy away from a good picture to send and a 9.8% true story.
We will publish it and make sure we all know how one another is doing. One more toast to Shane Noyes, and a hearty “Huah” to all our classmates who have passed.
Kevin Divers, 615-681-2539; kevindivers@gmail.com
1999 Happy holidays and Merry Christmas, Shiners! I hope this edition of the 1999 class news finds you happy, healthy and blessed! It’s me, Col. Brandon Alexander. I’m guest-scribing this edition of the class update. After 30 years of military affiliation, I apparently still hadn’t learned that when they’re looking for someone to do something, the first person to speak up usually gets volunteered. Well played, Bobby!! Alright, let’s get to it.
I’ll start with my own update. I’m joining the retiree ranks effective Jan. 1, 2026. I had my ceremony back
AOG Members 80% Sabre Society Donors 16 Polaris Society Members 1
Upper right and lower right: Shane Noyes and Carrey Chin
, left, and Brian Ballew in Munich for Oktoberfest, dominating the Lederhosen
Ron Sloma, left, and Tony Barry in Utah living the dream
CLASS NEWS
in August and have spent the past four months on a refreshing combination of use-or-lose and terminal leave, catching up on much-needed sleep and trying to figure out what comes next! It’s been a blessing and an honor, giving back where it all started here at USAFA. Not just in my roles of 1st Group commander and then Training and Support Division chief, but also as your official insider and rumor squasher/confirmer! I’ve enjoyed seeing so many classmates — both local and passing through — as well as keeping an eye on the many second-generation Shiners who have been cadets during my time here. We’re staying in Colorado Springs for the foreseeable future as our youngest graduates from high school this spring and plans to attend UCCS in the fall. I’ll do my best to stay connected and informed. If your cadet needs anything, I’m right outside the North Gate.
Everyone’s favorite former BCT/CC, Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks ’96 was at the ceremony. Thanks to Sara (Fortna) and Cory ’00 Cooper for being there to represent the class, along with an assortment of peers from various classes! This was a true full-circle experience — down to overseeing this past I-Day on the 30th anniversary of our own arrival at USAFA!
Brandon Alexander enjoying a well-earned retirement at USAFA with his family
For those who missed the article in the last Checkpoints, a huge congrats to Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, who has entered his own full-circle moment as the new USAFA vice superintendent. I think you get to be the class insider now! Congrats are also in order for Nate Day, Casey Guerrero and Danny Menashi on being selected for the GO ranks in the Air Force Reserve, as well as Leigh Otatti’s recent promotion to brigadier general. Way to go!
I get to catch up with a lot of you through your kids, who are now at USAFA. Some were mentioned last update, so I’ll add Taira (Curtis) Dinsmore, (Michael) Steve Hurt, Jamie (Ciesielski) and Mike McGuire, Steve Enbgerg, and Jennifer (Dolan) and Chad Hillberg, to that list of parents of four-degrees in the Class of 2029. I also ran into 2nd Lt. Carlie Walters (’25, daughter of Travis Walters) as she recruits the next class of cadets in admissions. In true parent fashion, many of you joined the Jacks Valley March Back. Thanks to Stefanie (Nocum) Santarina for providing a pic of several Shiner ladies and providing a quick update.
Deanna (Haylett) Franks, Naviere (Hall) Walkewicz, Stefanie (Nocum) Santarina, Jennifer (Dolan) Hillberg, Nambia Fagan, Jamie (Ciesielski) McGuire and Mary (Long) Sletten, ready for the Jacks Valley March Back
“Big year! Took a road trip from Los Angeles to Colorado Springs, dropped off Olivia for BCT this past summer, 30 years to the day I got dropped off at USAFA. It’s been an insane ride! I was able to do the march back with her from Jacks Valley, attend her Acceptance Day Parade, and do all of the things you do for Parents Weekend! Also, got to see her again for my volleyball alumni weekend this past weekend! Proud mama of my mini-shiner!”
While it pains me to have to watch Eagles games most weeks with my Philly wife since all their games seem to be nationally televised this year, and my Saints are awful! The saving grace is that I catch a glimpse of Jemal Singleton pretty much every time. I told her I am not cheering for the Eagles, but I’ll 100% support my classmate!
Speaking of football, Rob Giles, Amen-Ra Buckley, Jovan Hollins, Otis Hooper and Joe Starr took in the AF-UNLV game in style, gracing Allegiant Stadium with S.H. custom tees to let everyone know that ’99 was in the building. AF lost the high-scoring shootout, but it looks like they had a great time!
’99ers take in a Falcon football game at Allegiant Stadium.
Finally, I encourage you to continue to keep up with and support all the USAFA Women 50 Year Celebration activities coming in 2026, especially the big events scheduled for the weekend of April 23-26. Details can be found at usafa-women.org/copy-ofhome-3.
That’s all for this edition. Please send your updates to Bobby, even if it’s a repackage from social media. Not everyone sees them and y’all have some amazing lives to share. All the best to you and yours going into 2026. Keep shining!
Bobby Wolfe, 984-664-1999; robert.wolfe. usafa@gmail.com
First off, thank you to everyone who came out for our 25th reunion! What a whirlwind, but what an awesome time catching up and reconnecting. I also want to give a big shoutout to everyone who helped make the weekend happen. Starting with Elizabeth (Fontenot) Granier, who worked hard tracking people down (we’re still missing email addresses — reach out if you didn’t get the AOG reunion emails). Thanks to Loyd Childs and Eli Bremer for leading our golf tourney, and extra thanks to Eli and Cami for hosting the 19th Hole reception. Appreciation as well to Matt Husemann and his wife, Sarah, for being our go-to for any Cadet Area challenges. And finally, a huge thanks to Carissa (Niemi) Koran for helping with the Memorial Dinner, plus Cory Heitz and his Falcon for lightening the mood. I really appreciate all the kind words about my efforts to lead the reunion, as it honestly brought me so much joy to do it! If you have feedback, please email it. Looking ahead to our 30th reunion, I already have a few improvement ideas. But most importantly, we’d like to get an early start on our class gift planning. If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out. Mike “Baja” Cornielius and Jaron Roux have volunteered to assist.
As promised, here are some photos, but we need a highlight reel really to even start, but here we go. I’d be remiss if I didn’t start with our first event: the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School minireunion. Us Huskies were a little confused when P-School leadership called us the Class of 1996, because from day one, we had always seen ourselves as the future Class of 2000!
Here’s most of us (with a few stragglers joining later).
Col.
All smiles at the reunion
During the reunion, there were a few sightings of Gen. (Ret.) Stephen “G-Lo” Lorenz, our favorite commandant of cadets. Turns out, he was down at the airfield. Here’s a Fast, Neat, Average find.
From left: Lindsey White, Vanessa AndersonGoldwire, Stephen Lorenz ’73, Brenetta “Terri” (Hunter) Bolden, Melinda (Dumas) Evans and Ebony Johnson
Even with the reunion excitement, I barely received any class news updates, so Kristina (Welde) Piña gets the last photo for this round. She shared that Tom Piña and the ladies of CS-36, minus Tracy (Wilkerson) Foster, had a fantastic time catching up and seeing all the old and new at USAFA. Joann Kenneally and Kristen (Discala) Wagner are still wearing the uniform every day, while Elizabeth (Fontenot) Granier continues teaching at a community college in St. Louis. Kristina mentioned that she and Tom are still working on building their dream farm in southwest Ohio. Meanwhile, Paula (Kelly) McDonough was a fabulous addition to their squadron touring team, and she’s living the Texas life with her family near San Angelo (first photo, in order of mention). Paula and Kristina also grabbed a photo at the Friday reception with their four-degree squadronmates from Rebeleven (second photo). They both said it was an incredible weekend — and they can’t wait to do it again!
Please take a moment to drop a line and share what you’re up to these days. We shouldn’t have to wait for another reunion to hear what’s new in your lives. So, if you couldn’t attend but wanted to, consider this your nudge. Send a class news update now to USAFA2000@Outlook.com.
Thank you and until next time, “BALLS!!!”
2001
Hello, ’01ers,
Here are some updates I received! Hope all is well, and can’t believe our 25-year reunion will be this time next year!! Elizabeth (Benn) Mathias sent the following updates: Amy (Hultin) Glisson had her change of command back in July after two years as the 10 ABW commander (USAFA). She’s back doing legislative liaison stuff in D.C. Jennie (Schoeck) Hall is working in Harmon Hall as an adviser to the superintendent, as of August. Jenn (Glomb) Giovanetti, Nancy (Rosenow) Taylor and I are still at USAFA in the same jobs. Tim Spaulding assumed command of the AFLC Management Center Bombers Directorate in August. Cara (McBrayer) Deane ran into a bunch of ’01ers in September!
Lots of retirements happening! JD Foy let me know he attended the retirement ceremonies of Will Soto and John-Paul Mintz. Mike Pasquino retired in June, and Brent Greer retired in October.
There are a lot of ’01 run-ins, and I love when you post them on the Facebook page! Please remember to go check out our Class of 2001 Facebook page to keep up with everyone. We will be keeping everyone updated there on the plans for our 25-year reunion! We hope this finds everyone well, and remember to send me updates on what you are up to!!
Thanks!
Faith
Class of 2002! How is everyone’s fall going? A quick update from me: We still live in Las Vegas, and I started flying jets for MGM while also continuing to serve as a citizen-airman flying in the Air Force Reserve. MGM Aviation is comprised of about half USAFA grads in its pilot corps, so it’s a great team to fly with. I was at the Air Force vs. UNLV football game last weekend and it was a last-second heartbreaker, but so much fun to see multiple classmates at the game. I love living in Las Vegas and getting to see everyone as they pass through on vacations, business trips or TDYs to Nellis. Keep letting me know when you are passing through and I’ll keep buying the first round! Also, please continue to update me with pictures and job or family updates whenever you want to share good news for the next Checkpoints update. The AOG created a mobile app that you can download to your phone if you want to keep in touch with USAFA happenings.
Good times at the 20th reunion
Jason "JW" Simmons, usafa2000@outlook.com
All smiles at an Air & Space Forces Association conference
’01ers at Mike Pasquino’s retirement ceremony, from left: Frank and Audra Lyons, Bobby Schmitt, Mike Pasquino, Matt Shrull and Antonio Pargas
Wolfpackers at Brent Greer’s retirement: Tony Mariapain, Givey Kochanwoski, Jordan Collins, Amy and Brent Greer, Barry Weaver, Ian Swayze and Mark Lennon
Faith (Hitchcock) Dunn, faithd03@ hotmail.com; FB: USAFA Class of 2001
CLASS NEWS
Parents of basic cadets, Neils Barner, Christie (Cowart) Brophy, Mike Brophy, James Hamman and Anna (Rietze) Hamman ’03 with Basic Training Commander, Meredith Beavers, during the March Back from Jacks Valley
Class Sightings: Carlos Jayme was at the Air & Space Forces Association conference in September and ran into Ryan Walinski, Chris Pace, Sarah Kaiser and Randy Heusser. James Rodriguez shared that he ran into fellow classmates and now parents of basic cadets at the March Back from Jacks Valley. Classmates/parents include Neils Barner, Christie (Cowart) Brophy, Mike Brophy, James Hamman and Anna (Rietze) Hamman ’03. Meredith Beavers, the Jacks Valley Basic Training commander, took excellent care of their babies. Airline Captain Shiraz Dalal and First Officer Hamilton Shelfer got to fly a Delta jet together around the country for a day. Delta Airline Captain Hesham Aly and First Officer Tim Menges flew together and had a Tampa layover. Job Updates and Promotions: Kenda Garrett is currently serving with the Arkansas Air National Guard as the 189th Operations Support Squadron commander. Kenda arrived at Little Rock Air Force Base in 2008 and instructed at the C-130 schoolhouse. She separated from active duty in 2014 and joined the Arkansas National Guard. She recently spoke about the aviation industry at the University of Central Arkansas Aviation Academy to local Air Force JROTC cadets. Bret Echard is also currently in Arkansas as the commander of the 19th Air Wing. Bret previously served at Little Rock from 2017 to 2019 as the commander of the 41st Airlift Squadron.
Sarah Kaiser and Bret Echard at the USAF Expeditionary Center for the 21st AF reactivation
Mini Reunions: Kevin Watry ran into fellow Loose Hawg George Denehy while out shopping for sporting goods. Sarah Kaiser and Marcy Werner met up in Massachusetts over the summer. Sarah also saw Bret Echard at the USAF Expeditionary Center for the 21st AF reactivation ceremony. They are collaborating and working on the training design for the next Deployable Combat Wings. Carlos Jayme and Nic Conklin ran into each other at a high school cross-country meet. David Romero and Devon Christensen and their families ran into each other for the first time since graduation at Kona Coffee in Hawaii.
Robert Barnes and Chris Billau ’03 spent a year deployed working in the Office of Security Cooperation – Iraq
Gone But Not Forgotten: Shawn “Cody” Hatch passed away from colon cancer on July 22, 2025, at a hospital in Oklahoma. After graduation, Cody served as a capsule commander in missiles at Malmstrom AFB, and then did a tour in Colorado Springs with Space Command. Following that, Cody volunteered to deploy with the Army as an air liaison officer and electronic warfare officer. Cody was selected as the ALO/EWO for the Polish Army and “Grom” (Polish Special Forces) at Ghazni, Afghanistan.
After leaving active duty in 2011, Cody moved to McAlester, Oklahoma. He is survived by his daughter, Brooke, and is missed by many family, friends and classmates. A toast…
Check in with Checkpoints: As always, please continue to update me with your latest job moves and family updates anytime something cool happens! Keep taking photos and posting them to Facebook or email me anytime so I can keep our classmates updated on what’s new! We now have a Facebook page and a class page on LinkedIn, so come join the party!
Eric Ballew, 850.543.9936; ericballew86@ yahoo.com; FB: USAFA Class of 2002
2003
Hey, Bongers, I hope 2025 is winding down well! Please keep the updates coming. If you’re reading this and thinking, “I should submit something.” Please do! Emily (Heidgerd) Steinfort checked in and shared pictures from Jamil Musa’s change of command, where he took over the 436th Wing at Dover AFB. Congrats, Jamil!
DeDe,
Jamil Musa’s change of command — attendees included Race Steinfort ’02, Emily (Heidgerd) Steinfort, John Berger, Jamil Musa and Patrick Anderson
In August, Greg and I attended Dave Thompson’s retirement ceremony in St. Louis, where Dave retired after 22 years and three months (BONG!!!) of service. Greg led the invocation, and Scott Crowel ’04 presided over the ceremony. Greg and Dave were Mighty War Eagles, while Dave and I were chemistry lab partners. Congrats again, Dave! We hope you are enjoying this new phase of life!
Jamil,
Gabriel, Abraham and Mariam Musa at his change of command ceremony
USAFA reunion at Dave Thompson’s retirement ceremony: Greg and Susan (Doyle) Maly, Catherine (O’Brien) ’97 and Dave ’00 Ware, Dave Thompson and Scott Crowel ’04
In September, I published my first book: Big Business to Small Business: 10 Strategies to Grow Your Company and Find Work You Love. Featured in the 2025 Harvard Authors’ Bookshelf Holiday Reading List, it’s ideal for those who want to build a profitable business based on their experience and expertise. It’s available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I hope everyone enjoys the holidays and has a great new year! Please keep the updates coming, and send to our class Gmail account (usafa2003@gmail.com). Take care, Susan
AOG Members 86% Sabre Society Donors 10 Polaris Society Members 0
Susan (Doyle) Maly, usafa2003@gmail.com; FB: Usafa Zerothree; LinkedIn: USAFA 03
2004
Class of 2004, Sharing is caring; thank you for sharing moments to celebrate as we promote, retire and transition to new chapters in our careers. We want to highlight and celebrate you — let’s connect ’04!
Jacob Colman and Bryan Zumbro retired together in June from the SCANG (fini-flight and retirement pictured). They served together flying F-16s since leaving active duty in 2016. Bryan is currently a 777 captain at FedEx, and JC is an A330 first officer at Delta. Trip Raymond of Dos Gringos, Bryan’s former commander, played at their retirement party — a true wingman!
Lt. Col. Jay Capper is handing over command of the 731st Airlift Squadron (C-130s) at Peterson Space Force Base and retiring in October 2025 after 22 years of service. Jay commanded the 731st for the past two years. He is also a full time captain on the Airbus 320 for Delta Air Lines. While his flying for the military comes to an end, his commercial flying will continue, and so will the trips with friends and fellow grads. For me, I’d love to include more pictures like this.
In October, Mark Armstrong, Neil Armstrong’s son, dedicated original Wright Flyer wing fabric flown on Apollo 11 and the lunar module to the Frontiers
of Flight Museum in Dallas. I chaired the luncheon and highlighted classmate Monessa (Catuncan) Balzhiser — Lockheed Martin F-16 pilot, F-35 chief production pilot and senior manager — to attendees and students. We spoke with some of the 40 students who attended. Let’s continue to promote aerospace and each other and pay it ’04ward!
A few updates (and email dyangibbens@me.com if you’d like to be on the distro):
I bought the domain USAFA2004.com, where we’ll include focused info.
In Your Dreams: We’ll include a cadet recurring dream next quarter.
We’ll continue quarterly emails to convene, collaborate and contribute.
Reminder, when you receive Checkpoints, send Checkpoints updates. Thanks!
It was great getting to see everyone at the reunion! My family and I had a wonderful time, and I hope that everyone had a memorable experience. A huge thank you again to Jessica Switzer and the rest of our Reunion Committee team for putting everything together!
I think this photo sums up what a special weekend it was for those who were able to attend. Here’s to the next 20 years!
Jacob Colman, Taylor Blevins ’05 (CS-21) and Bryan Zumbro, among others
From left: Brook (Taylor) Kolarcik, Laura (Frank) Easton and Cody Gravitt (all freshman in CS-20)
From freshman squadronmates to fresh colonel … Laura promoted to colonel with friends and family present. I joined my roomie for her celebratory brunch at Old Ebbitt Grill in D.C.
Lt. Col. CJ Thomsen ’08, left, and Lt. Col. Jay Capper
CLASS NEWS
John Tamasitis, 803-360-2970; jgtamasitis@ gmail.com; FB: USAFA Class of 2005
2006
There was no submission by the Class of 2006 this quarter. Please submit content to usafacad@hotmail.com.
Shawn “The Schulz” Schulz, 3603 LakotaRd., Alexandria, VA 22303; 915-309-5612; usafacad @hotmail.com; FB: AFA Checkpoints 2006
2007 ’007, I only received one update for this quarter, and it came from Jace McCown, who is currently the chief pilot at Lift Aircraft (liftaircraft.com) based in Austin, Texas.
As the chief pilot, Jace has been demonstrating the HEXA electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at airshows and expos around the world. In the past few years, he’s successfully demonstrated the HEXA’s capabilities at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan; the ICAO Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE; and SXSW in Austin. Jace has also successfully flown the HEXA on 60 Minutes, the Today show, and many other national and international media venues.
Jace McCown flies HEXA in a demonstration flight at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
It was great seeing a lot of fellow grads at the Air Force-Navy football game, even though we lost by a field goal. I’m currently enroute to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, for a rotation flying C-130s to support
AFRICOM — so if you’re in the neighborhood, please say hello. For my first deployment in about five years, two moves and a promotion, I had to take some extreme measures to bring my antique onepiece desert flight suit into compliance with uniform regs. Us Herk drivers take pride in “unimproved and austere” things, so I’m pretty proud of my work.
Cheers and best wishes, Chris
Chris Donohoe, cdonohoe07@gmaill.com 2008 Hey Richter Classmates!
I hope your holidays are going fantastic this year. Not too many updates this quarter, but let’s get started on those few!
In July, classmates Jake Miller and Meghan Lansford flew a redeye flight for United from Denver to Richmond together. Turns out the Big Blue really is a small world!
In August, Katie Newkirk Evans, Abe Umanah and Dan Holder had a mini class reunion at Scott AFB, Illinois. Abe and Dan came through for a precommand training course. How in the world has it been 17.5 years since we graduated?
In September, CJ Thomsen flew with long-time friend and mentor Lt. Col. Jay Capper ’03 while on a trip for Delta Air Lines to Calgary, Canada. Jay handed over command of the 731st Airlift Squadron (C-130s) at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, to Clay Ten-Eck in October 2025. CJ also started a podcast featuring Service Academy graduates capturing their journeys from service in the military to serving in the civilian sector. If you need something cool to listen to on your way to work, check it out. It’s titled Rad Grads Podcast.
and Ten-Eck
Matthew Ables ran into a fellow ’08 grad, Lt. Col. Paul Lasorda, in the CENTCOM a while back. Lasorda is a squadron commander pushing the mission in the AOR. Ables is a traditional reservist out of Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, currently flying the line during his unit’s deployment. However, Matt wanted to put the word out for the next big air show at Niagara Falls, June 20-21, 2026. This will be their first show on base in eight years and is promised to be a bit of a big deal! The unit has an industry-wide reputation for taking care of their visitors and the plan is to pack the ramp with static displays to their max capacity. He asks if you are interested in joining the fun, please reach out to Matt directly and he’ll get you plugged in! The Thunderbirds will be headlining (we have some grads in there if you missed the movie … wink wink) as well as some recognizable USAFA teams!
and Lt.
Hopefully, we have even more exciting updates after the holidays. Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Until we chat again.
Chris Donohoe doing some pre-deployment arts and crafts. #GorillaGlue
Hello, fellow HUBsters! It’s Angélica (Plazas) Bergoo here. I hope you all have had a fabulous 2025.
Thank you to everyone who sent updates via Facebook and email. If you would like to share updates for future editions, feel free to send me an email at angelicabergoo84@gmail.com or comment in the USAFA Class of 2009 Facebook group.
Here are some updates from our fellow ’09ers: Forrest Underwood moved back to sunny San Diego and is building a new company to help DoW problem-owners and industry problem-solvers deliver better capabilities. Jon Rodgers moved to Hanoi. Josh Seefried left Veterans Affairs and is now an assistant CIO at HUD.
The entire Bergoo circus ran into Esther (Ludvicek) Anderson at DFW this summer (’09 Olmsted Reunion Time!).
Some hardcore 2-4 meetings happened in September — Jeff Maciejewski got together with former CS-24 cadets Mike Snodgrass and Garrett Glover during the class reunion for the USAFA Class of ’95. Dave Simon is living the dream in Europe while stationed in Germany. Madison Gilbert is also having an amazing time in Hawaii as the AMXS commander. Julie (Luce) Rainwaters and Kyle Rainwaters celebrated their ’09 HUB wedding anniversary — congratulations! Adam Bergoo met with Drew Vorhies in August, marking a great ’09 Viking 9 reunion in Atlanta.
Have you been following Chris Ferguson’s amazing journey and crazy dream of riding in the MotoAmerica 2025 season? If not, you’re missing out! Chris is doing great things. And yes — Rebecca (Childres) and Kevin McDonald are still traveling full time as of August of this year. What an amazing experience for your family!
Please keep the updates coming for the next issue of Checkpoints ’09, OUR Time!
Angélica (Plazas) Bergoo, angelicabergoo84 @gmail.com; FB: USAFA Class of 2009
Hello, Class of Luke, I will start this update with a bit of information about our Class Endowment from Nate Dial: “Class Fund Update: As of June 30, our endowment holds a net fund balance of $268,717.92. These funds are continuing to strengthen cadet life at USAFA by recognizing excellence and providing tangible morale support to top-performing squadrons. Squadron Award Recipients:
Fall 2024 Winner: Cadet Squadron 38 “All-Stars” Spring 2025 Winner: Cadet Squadron 10 “Tiger Ten”
Each squadron received a $5,000 award to enhance their squadron spaces and reward teamwork, performance and leadership.
Staff tower check presentation for Cadet Squadron 13
How the funds were used by Cadet Squadron 13 (Spring 2024):
“Used funds for vacuums, office chairs, a microwave, a sectional couch, a 65” TV, a Nintendo Switch, and a variety of board and video games. They also began a squadron pool table refurbishing project. These upgrades made the space feel more like home and supported cadet morale through a long semester.”
I also heard from Mark Hammond, who took command of the 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, California, on June 17. They PCSed back (second time around) at the beginning of June. He originally flew KC-135s but has transitioned to the KC-46 and now is simultaneously flying T-38s for the Test Pilot School. Since they have been back, his wife, Melissa (Evans) ’09 picked up AGR orders with the 370th Flight Test Squadron.
The Hammond family
Lastly, I had the honor of starting at United earlier this year, and Mychol Alexander and I were in the same indoc class! It was great catching back up and being back in Colorado for a few months, but now I am flying the A320 out of Chicago.
Forrest Underwood and family
Jon Rodgers and wife, Monika
The Bergoos and Esther (Ludvicek) Anderson at DFW.
CLASS NEWS
Erin and Mychol
That’s all for now. Send news if you want to share it. I look forward to hearing from you guys!
We start off our update with many exciting developments for the Bradley family in 2025! Jonathan Bradley wrapped up command of the 23rd MXS at Moody AFB in June and took command of the 436th AMXS at Dover in July and then promoted to lieutenant colonel in September. He and Greg Hoyt caught up at an Astros game in Houston, and then he and his wife, Holly (Rettig) Bradley ’10 welcomed their newest son, Isaac, in October! Let’s hope things slow down in 2026!
Congratulations are in order for Jerra (Turner) Brown and Rachel Donoho who were both recently selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel in the Space Force!
Last, but certainly not least, Margo (Zhukov) Shields was awarded the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Cross of Honor and the Ukrainian Commander in Chief Medal for Service to the Armed Forces for her leadership and courageous service while permanently assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine! What an amazing accomplishment!
Thank you all for the great updates, and keep them coming!
I am pleased to announce that the Class of 2012 continues to lead with vision, grit and heart.
Mark and Lauren (Delaney) Olme welcomed Eleanor Grace to their growing tribe — certainly a future leader, if her name and bloodline are any indication. The family is thriving in the NCR, navigating the throes of being dual-military badasses and parents.
Francis Usher was recently appointed the chief executive officer in the Ministry of National Defense and Border Security of Belize, equivalent to the SECDEF/SECWAR. Before stepping into this national leadership role, he commanded Belize’s Air Wing (and secured new aircraft courtesy of Uncle Sam). He led the Support Battalion, which includes Special Forces, the Special Boat Unit and the Light Engineering Company. #FearTheReaper
Colton Reid extended the mission of High Flight Heroes Foundation to East Tennessee this summer with the inaugural Smoky Mountain Salute. High Flight Heroes Foundation, co-founded by Trae Span and Jake Allen, is a nonprofit organization that supports veterans and first responders through elevated outdoor adventure. Together, the Smoky Mountain Salute community raised just over $9,000, every dollar of which will go directly toward supporting veterans and first responders. Beyond the money, the weekend was about connection. This gathering created space for veterans and first responders to be recognized for their dedication, to open up about what they may need, to network with one another, and to hit the reset button in life. A special shout-out goes to the seven members of the Class of 2012 whose time, donations and dedication made this possible: Jake Allen, Trae Span, Colton Reid, Ben Kopacka, Stephen Caple, Landon Grover and Carlee Koutnik. Their leadership and commitment to service — both in and out of uniform — embody the heart of High Flight Heroes. The Smoky Mountain Salute was not just a weekend; it was a reminder of what happens when community, gratitude and service come together.
Jonathan Bradley and his wife, Holly ’10, pictured with their three sons, Bennett (9), Jameson (6) and Asher (5), welcomed their fourth child, Issac (pictured still en utero!) in 2025.
Margo (Zhukov) Shields accepts high honors for her work at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine!
The Olme ensemble in a symphony of smiles and shenanigans
Smoky Mountain Standouts: Sharing stories, strength and spirited solidarity
Allison (Paddock) Gustafson has another belated and beautiful birthday declaration, as she welcomed Andromeda (Andra) Maeve in May.
Maeve and Mama: Moments of magic with the newest navigator in the Gustafson galaxy
Finally, Trent Rodriguez didn’t want to provide any updates — he just wanted to say, “hey.” I believe that gesture is within all of us. Sometimes, showing up is the update.
You can’t Haps ’til Taps if you never showed up in the first place.
Cheers, LeRoi
LeRoi Edwards, leroi.edwards@gmail.com; FB: USAFA Class of 2012
2013
There was no submission by the Class of 2013 this quarter. Please submit content to usafa2013news@gmail.com
Karen Johnson and Dymond James, usafa2013news@gmail.com
2014
Hey, everyone!
I have an exciting update on our classmate Derek Demyanek. Derek recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as part of the “7 Reasons Project,” a mental health awareness initiative he created that combines his passion for mountaineering with advocacy for mental health and treatment.
As an active-duty U.S. Air Force instructor pilot with more than 1,500 flight hours, Derek went through a mental health-related medical board that resulted in his reclassification as an active-duty engineer. That experience taught him many lessons, one of the most important being how uniquely difficult it can be for high achievers — people accustomed to overcoming adversity — to recognize and address their own mental health challenges. Through the “7 Reasons Project,” Derek hopes to show that acknowledging and seeking help for mental health needs does not make anyone less capable of doing hard things. By taking on the challenge of climbing the Seven Summits, he aims to reach those who may need help, especially those who might not even realize it, and to serve as a resource and supportive voice for anyone struggling or simply wanting to talk.
Derek with videographer, Rob, and their guide, Daniel.
Derek welcomes anyone interested in the project, or in having a conversation about mental health, to connect with him through the project’s Instagram page: @7reasonsproject. He’s also working on launching a new website, with all updates and links to be shared there.
Additionally, there’s a film project in progress that documents his journey. The film focuses on his first of the Seven Summits, Mount Kilimanjaro, which he summited on Sept. 25. Future climbs include tentative plans for Denali in 2026 and Aconcagua in 2027.
Derek and videographer, Rob, at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro
Congratulations, Derek! We’re proud of your incredible accomplishment and can’t wait to follow your journey as you continue this meaningful and inspiring mission.
Erin Grindstaff, erinrost1317@gmail.com
There was no submission by the Class of 2015 this quarter. Please submit content to mullins.timothy.j@gmail.com
The Class of 2015’s 10th reunion project will raise $40,000 for cadet morale and enrichment. The project will provide each squadron with $1,000 to invest in improvements that reflect their unique needs and priorities. Your support for current cadets will foster camaraderie, encourage balance amid demanding schedules and instill a lasting sense of pride in squadron communities.
As 2025 comes to an end, it’s not too late to join your 2015 classmates in donating today and finishing strong. Together, the Class of 2015 can give back to the Academy, celebrate its legacy and empower the next generation of leaders.
One Fight! One Team! Give it to us at usafa.org/2015-10th
Derek on his climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, with Mount Meru in the background
CLASS NEWS
TJ Mullins, mullins.timothy.j@gmail.com
2016Hey, Kleptos! Unfortunately, I’m starting out with the sad news of Landon Morrison’s passing. Landon was a developmental engineer and joined the Space Force once it stood up. He passed away in late July surrounded by his family after a battle with cancer. Jeremiah Hoffman notified me of the sad news. He told me, “[Landon] was one of the most caring, hardworking and sincerely service-minded people we have had the honor of serving alongside, and he will be sorely missed by all.” Here’s a toast.
Congrats to Grayson Gist and his wife, Danielle, and daughter Florance, on their newest family member, Margot Lane. Margot was born this past July! Grayson is at Whiteman AFB, serving as an IP in the T-38 and B-2!
Grayson, Danielle, Florance and little Margot Gist
This August, Alex Crandell, his wife, Alex, and son Maverick welcomed Parker August to the fam! The Crandells are still at Columbus AFB, where Alex is instructing the next generation of pilots. Congratulations!
For athletic news, Amy Silverbush ran the Air Force Marathon in 3:16!! This personal record for Amy earned her 2nd Military Female Finisher and qualification for the Boston Marathon! Amy is currently an AFROTC instructor at Virginia Tech and is slated for DO of CE at Fairchild AFB this coming summer. Congratulations, Amy, on all your incredible accomplishments!
In mid-October, Drew and I attended the Air Rescue Association Gala, celebrating the Combat Search and Rescue community. We happened to run into Mary McElwee and her husband, Luke Duncavage ’15, and got to catch up! Mary is currently commanding the 27th Special Operations Comptroller Squadron at Cannon AFB. You never know when you’ll run into a Klepto!
That’s all the updates I have this quarter. I saw the photos from the ’15ers’ reunion a few weekends ago, and it just made me so pumped to meet back with y’all next fall! Our class president, Zach He, has started working on our reunion. He has asked that we send an email to reunions@usafa.org with our email, class year, name, title and rank so we can be included! As always, please reach out if you have an update for me. I’m starting to tone back social media for my own peace, so I might miss your accomplishment if you don’t send them to me!
I’m back!!!!!!!! Koja je prva rilec svake pjesme pilota borbenog aviona? I have $17 to whoever responds with the answer to me first!
But first and foremost, I want to apologize to my faithful readers who look forward to reading up on their classmates, or kids’ classmates, through me each quarter. I was busy keeping Kim Jung ... whatever his name (little fat boy or little rocketman as known to most) … awake at night, shaking in fear; but as promised, this issue will be rivaled by none. So here we go ...
Malik Washington got married too ... ? I actually don’t know, because he did not include her name in his email; But he didn’t waste any time creating a baby though; a little one is due on their one-year wedding anniversary. He also just finished up his second deployment in the U-28 along with fellow grad Andrew “MoneyBag” Banez Malik is also moving to Oklahoma City in the most conservative state in America to be the initial cadre for the supersecret OA-1K. That’s a true American hero, ladies and gents. He truly embodies service before self.
Malik and Andrew with their crew as they finished their final U-28 deployment
But Malik wasn’t the only one expressing his love for his spouse. Millie Gao had a baby with her husband, Gordan Sitt, back in June. Lucas McKinney is expecting his second baby. Cameron Dudley, yes that Cameron, is a proud father to a beautiful baby girl named Avery Anne. Montana Pelegrini and her country music star husband Kyle Appelt are expecting their second baby. Rumor has it Kyle has a feature on Cowboy Carter II. Congratulations, and do us proud. But not to be outdone is Ben Hightower, who is once again in the spotlight. Catch Ben, unlike last time in mess and service dress, rocking the newest Chelsea boot and brimmed hat on AGT next season on ABC 8/9 central. Levi Hilgenhold celebrated graduating weapons school for the B-52 as their DG with some good loving with his wife, creating their first child, who was born back in July!
Levi’s graduation from Weapons School with some pretty heavy hardware!
He wasn’t the only one to graduate Weapons School. Scott “WaterBoy” Hester and Tyler “RocketArm” Jones both recently completed the grueling course, solidifying them as the true masters of their craft. Who would have thought those two could not
Amy Silverbush receiving her trophy from Deputy Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Lt. Gen. Hurry and Chief Fitch.
Mary McElwee and Charli (Kemp) and Drew Rosenthal at the ARA Gala
only titrate a chemical equation but also lead their community in tactical flying? The one person I am not surprised by is Sydney Dole; she is a true trailblazer, completing Weapons School for the C-130, showing that even those that attended Northwestern Prep and showed up on I-day in Hawaiian shirts can achieve greatness, no matter what Nathan R. Bradka says. Riley Quinlan is outpacing everyone so far with baby number three enroute. He’ll have a water polo roster soon at this pace. Briana “Moana” Strang-Lockhart not only found her John Smith and got married but also is pregnant and is soon to be welcoming her first baby in November, conveniently nine months after Valentines day! Holly Martin and Bobby Uebelacker are enjoying marital bliss flying planes together at Vance, as well as creating little humans together. Holly gave birth to almost-1-year-old Noel in January2025.
Haley Merrill Morton is still in the Army and has taken command of the 2d Calvary Company, showcasing her might in a combat role and exceeding all standards.
So many baby announcements it took up my entire time, class. More announcement to come in the next issue, as I had to combine nearly two issues in one. Fear not, for I have not forgotten about you if you sent updates.
I just ran into our fearless class president, James Hanley, over the Indigenous Peoples Day weekend, and with great delight, he has welcomed anyone wanting to run as class president at our 10-year reunion, which is fast approaching. And with that I am proudly announcing my candidacy for the presidency of USAFA Class of 2017! Donations can be made to my Zelle or Venmo @Austin-Anderson-156!
In closing, remember to run your race, draw your line, and a rocking horse is always in motion but never makes progress. Make sure you are making progress and not just in motion.
Next issue I may write about the classmates who didn’t quite make it as intended (Penalosa update)! Stay tuned, and until then, fly safe and be easy! — Flare
Austin Anderson, austin.anderson13@yahoo.com
2018 Hey, Zamps!
Short update coming to you all to celebrate the news of some new babies, engagements and weddings.
First up, Jacob Oare and his wife, Katelyn, welcomed their first daughter, Rylee Marie, in September. Jacob is doing an air mobility liaison officer (AMLO) assignment with the Big Red One (First Infantry Division) at Fort Riley, Kansas. AMLOs are stationed at each joint combat division in the Army and Marines to advise and assist in any air mobility movements. Jacob was previously a KC-135 pilot at McConnell and now does drop zone and landing zone control. Jacob told me he went TDY this summer for mobility guardian, where he worked with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) to move them from Okinawa up to Korea with 31 chocks of aircraft, and then controlled some drop zones in Korea for their exercises. Woah! That sounds so impressive and like a lot of logistics, but I am sure he crushed it — just like he will crush fatherhood! Jacob will go back to a flying squadron next summer after he finishes his time with the Army.
Another new dad is Ben Paulk, whose wife delivered their first child, Hosanna, in September. The unique Christian name they chose for their daughter means “save us please.” Ben says, “It’s a beautiful reminder that we all need saving and that there is a savior (Jesus) who offers that salvation freely.” Ben is an acquisitions officer and shortly after the new addition to their family, the Paulks moved from Hanscom AFB to Hill AFB. Another update from Ben is that he just finished his Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary! His plan for after the Air Force is to be a full-time pastor, but he will use his degree in the meantime as he serves in his church and leads his growing family in their faith.
Yet another baby girl comes to us from Silvia (Seraly) Baker, who gave birth to their sweet daughter, Stella Marie, at the end of August. Silvia and her husband, Andrew, are both MQ-9 pilots. In engagement news, Rem Hoyer proposed to his girlfriend, Alison, and was able to promote her to
the title of fiancée. Rem is in clinic rotations in med school at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He will be applying to residency next year and is hoping for anesthesiology. Rem and Alison are planning their wedding for next May.
Last, but not least, I will leave you all with a picture of some absolute studs who had an ’18er reunion in California in October for the wedding of Karl Sapper (who didn’t make it in this picture). The pic features Alan Lancaster, Aubrey (Lowe) Lancaster, Ben Vandenbroeke, Morgan Records, Benson Anderson, Kevin Schuster, Ben White and Ben Hatfield
Sapper Wedding Party
That’s all I have for the class news this edition. Always good catching up with you all. Happy holidays!
In service, Liza Matson
Liza Matson, Lkmatson18@gmail.com
There was no submission by the Class of 2019 this quarter. Please submit content to mcgriddle96@ gmail.com
Holly and Bobby with their sweet baby girl, Noel!
The Paulk family
Rem Hoyer and his fiancée, Alison
CLASS NEWS
Michael Grindle, 419-215-3067; mcgriddle96@gmail.com
There was no submission by the Class of 2020 this quarter. Please submit content to bobnews2020@gmail.com
Curtis G. Smith, bobnews2020@gmail.com
Happy Holidays, 2021!
I pray everyone enjoyed a familyfilled Thanksgiving and finds themselves surrounded by loved ones during this holiday season. I want to challenge each one of you this new year to reach out to a classmate you have not checked on in a while. Even better, find out something exciting they have been up to and send it in to me to share with the rest of the class :). We have two stellar individuals to highlight this issue!
1st Lt. Triet Bui, acquisitions officer, recently graduated from the Army Mountain Warfare School’s Basic Military Mountaineering Course in Jericho, Vermont. The Air Force only allows two slots per class. It is so awesome to see Triet stepping beyond his conventional role to build readiness, enhance lethality and strengthen joint interoperability.
And, Olivia Lane won Special Operations Command Combat Forces Operator of the Year (field command) for 2024 and was selected to be the combat Squadron Commander for Space Force CS 4-2 next spring! Amazing job, Olivia! Keep up the incredible work.
Thanks for reading this issue’s updates and be sure to send in any news, engagements, weddings, arriving baby “falcons,” etc. You get the gist. Feel free to shout out a classmate on behalf of the awesome things you see them doing. As always, Rise!
There was no submission by the Class of 2022 this quarter. Please submit content to jacob. ellison623@gmail.com
Jacob Ellison, jacob.ellison623@gmail.com
Hi, everybody! This quarter we have a special feature, Colt Crowson. Since graduating from the Air Force Academy, Colt has stayed busy pursuing research, exploration and pilot training. While in graduate school at Purdue University, Colt completed his graduate research focused on developing medical technology for use in space. The work culminated in a successful zero gravity parabolic flight test, where his device, which separates blood from air in zero gravity, performed better than expected! So well, in fact, Purdue is now in the process of patenting the design. For Colt, the most rewarding part of this research has been contributing to the advancement of human medicine and helping expand the possibilities for future space exploration.
Outside of academics, Colt has dedicated much of his time to travel and adventure. He recently completed his goal of visiting all seven continents, finishing with trips to Antarctica and Africa in 2025. He claims the experiences opened his eyes to the diversity of the world and the different perspectives of people across it.
Among his highlights over the past year of traveling, Colt has scuba dived the Great Barrier Reef, studied penguins and albatrosses in Antarctica, hiked through the jungles of Uganda to see silverback mountain gorillas, learned salsa dancing in Argentina, and flew around Mount Everest in Nepal. He says that each destination offered something unique, from wildlife encounters to unforgettable views of some of the planet’s most remote and remarkable places.
1st Lt. Triet Bui, right, in front of the schoolhouse for Army Mountain Warfare School.
1st Lt Olivia Lane at the awards ceremony, where she won SpOC Combat Forces Operator of the Year.
Colt Crowson testing the device he developed in a zero gravity parabolic flight test.
Even while traveling, he found time for longtime friends from the Class of 2023. More specifically, while in Alaska, he reconnected with longtime friend and fellow classmate Isaac Melvin in Fairbanks and caught up over drinks at a local bar.
He also spent the past two Christmases visiting his longtime friend and four-year roommate, Luke Wojcik, in Connecticut, where the two inevitably found themselves in and somehow out of mischief. Since then, they have reconnected numerous times over drinks.
In September 2025, Colt began Undergraduate Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, marking the start of a new chapter in his Air Force journey. He looks forward to the challenge and excitement of flight training and the opportunity to develop as a pilot.
HUGE shoutout to Colt for being so willing to give insight into the incredible life he is leading. If you want to brag on a buddy, let me know; I would love nothing more than to make that happen! Happy holidays to all! Signing off ’til next time!
Happy holidays, Class of 2024! It’s hard to believe that this is our second winter since graduating from the Academy. I am working on adjusting to the Alaska winters since PCSing from Texas. I am jealous of those of you stationed in warmer weather :).
Kyra Watts and I were able to go on so many fun adventures here in Alaska while the sun was out, and we cannot wait to get out more next summer. For now, we will be hibernating and watching lots of movies with friends while the snow continues to fall.
In other news, congratulations are in order for Nick Marconi, who got engaged to Ana Sofía Becerra Salinas, on June 9. Not only did they get engaged in Central Park, but they also had time to see a Yankees versus Red Sox game; visit Times Square, the Hamptons and the Bronx Zoo, and have fun shopping on Canal Street. Congrats to you both!
We also had our first Class of ’24ers graduate from the Space Force’s Officer Training Course. This course dives into space, cyber operations and intelligence over the course of a year and prepares officers for their Space Force careers. Graduates include but are not limited to Blake Balser, Katie Evans, Mika Culter, Kiara Morales, Abby Ryan, Dylan Tomlinson and Sara Scrapchansky. Congratulations on all the hard work, and good luck in the next endeavor! (If you graduated and I missed you, reach out to me so I can shout you out next time!)
receives her certificate at the Space Force Officer Training Course graduation.
As always, reach out to me with whatever fun things are happening in your life! Until next time, Happy holidays!
Holly Boudreau, hboudreau.usafa@gmail.com
There was no submission by the Class of 2025 this quarter. Please submit content to henrytaylor2021@gmail.com.
Henry Taylor, 719-301-7646; henrytaylor2021@gmail.com
Colt Crowson scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef
Colt Crowson and Isaac Melvin catching up in Alaska
Holly Boudreau and Kyra Watts exploring South Forks Valley Trail with friends in Eagle River, Alaska
Nick and his fiancée, Ana, in Central Park after their engagement!
Kiara Morales
LT. GEN. ERVIN J. ROKKE ’62 REMEMBERED
FOR A LIFETIME OF SERVICE
Lt. Gen. Ervin J. Rokke ’62, a towering figure in U.S. Air Force Academy history, died Sept. 5, 2025. Over his distinguished career, he left an enduring mark in intelligence, diplomacy, education and character development.
A Harvard-educated scholar, Gen. Rokke became the first USAFA graduate appointed as a permanent professor and later dean of faculty. He broke precedent in 1986 by stepping down as dean — and relinquishing general officer rank — to serve as defense attaché in Moscow at the time of the Soviet Union’s collapse. He was later promoted again, eventually retiring as a lieutenant general and president of the National Defense University in 1997.
Post-retirement, Gen. Rokke served as president of Moravian College before returning to Colorado Springs. In 2007, he became the first president of the newly founded USAFA Endowment (now Air Force Academy Foundation), shaping both the institution and its mission.
He was instrumental in launching the USAFA Center for Character and Leadership Development and guiding its growth. As the inaugural holder of the General Malham Wakin Character Chair, he shaped USAFA’s moral and leadership programs for nearly two decades. Polaris Hall, home to the CCLD, stands as a testament to his vision.
Colleagues and former cadets recall him as a brilliant, humble leader committed to honor and intellectual rigor. The Rokke-Simon Chair in Political Science and the Distinguished Graduate Award (2007) reflect his legacy. He is remembered as a gentleman, mentor and transformative force at USAFA and beyond.
