Distinguished Graduate Award
The United States Air Force Academy and the Association of Graduates are proud to announce the Distinguished Graduate honorees for 2017. John Fox '63, T. Allan McArtor '64, and Gen. (Ret.) Steve Lorenz '73 are this year's honorees. They join 34 fellow Academy graduates who have previously been honored as distinguished graduates.

Air Force to Honor Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr.
On Jan. 15 we will pause to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of our nation's most inspiring leaders who shared his dream to make America what it ought to be, to make America a better nation.

Moving Forward
A large crowd was on hand Monday, Jan. 8, at Doolittle Hall for a luncheon and the Commandant's quarterly update.

USAF Academy Skydivers Win Multiple Gold Medals
Off they jumped, into the "wild blue yonder." When they landed, members of the Air Force Academy Wings of Blue skydiving team were proud winners of multiple gold medals at the 2017 U.S. Parachute Association National Collegiate Parachuting Championships in Lake Wales, Florida. Watch video.

Graduate Dependent Scholarships
The Board of Directors of the Association of Graduates is pleased to once again offer Graduate Dependent Scholarships. These scholarships are annual awards of $500 and are intended to directly support post-secondary education for the children of AOG graduate members. The application deadline is March 4, 2018.

USAFA to Close Portion of Santa Fe Trail
A small section of the New Santa Fe Trail on the Academy will close intermittently beginning later this month through spring 2019 for construction of a roadway bridge that passes over the trail.

7258' — Your Association at Work
Read the latest issue of the AOG's newsletter.

Former Commandant Makes Major Gift to the Academy
Five programs at the Air Force Academy focused on academics, professional development and cadet mental health have received significant funding from former Commandant of Cadets Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Marcus Anderson '61 and his wife, Ginger.

Start the New Year with a Gift to the Academy
You can direct gifts to more than 200 projects and programs at the Air Force Academy that help mold cadets into leaders of character. Explore some of the unique giving opportunities that are available.

Seven Foundations Pulling Together
Get to know the seven foundations that are working together to expand the excellence of Academy projects and programs.

Keyser, Marshall Join Endowment Board of Directors
The United States Air Force Academy Endowment is pleased to welcome two new board directors: Jon Keyser '04 and Sarah (Saxer) Marshall '93.

USAFA Grads Bring A-10 Thunder, Lightning During Fight Against ISIS
The 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron is wrapping up a deployment that saw heavy involvement in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Elwell Named Acting FAA Administrator
FAA Deputy Administrator Dan Elwell '83 has taken over as acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Aim Higher
For one airman, the motto "aim high" is an understatement. From collegiate athlete to Ph.D. scientist, the sky's the limit. Capt. Olawale Lawal '13, Air Force Research Laboratory, shared his experience and life lessons during the University of West Florida's ROTC commissioning ceremony.

Grad Attends Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar
Rebecca Esselstein '15 led her class at Air Force Academy. Her dream is to become an astronaut.

Pakistan Promotes USAFA Grad
The Government of Pakistan has promoted Air Commodore Rizwan Riaz '90 to the rank of Air Vice Marshal.

Eastside Medical Center Announces New Chief Medical Officer
Eastside Medical Center in Snellville, Georgia, has announced the appointment of the hospital's new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Stephen Higgins '85, who officially assumed the role in mid-December.

Technology Workforce Educator Names Chief Executive Officer
Galvanize, a technology-enabled learning community that delivers the education, skills and platform to help people advance in key technical disciplines, has announced that Alfonso ("Al") P. Rosabal '93 has been named as chief executive officer.

Governor Names New Director of Military Affairs
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced that retired Col. Robert Ator II '89 has been hired as the Arkansas Economic Development Commission's director of Military Affairs.

Executive Q&A with Robert Cox: Aviation Consultant Flies by the Mantra 'Do the Fight Thing'
Two signs hang behind the desk of Robert Cox '84, founder and CEO of Altus-based Aviation Training Consulting.

Class of 2018: First Assignments
The Class of 2018 finds out where they're headed after graduation!

Academy Preps for Annual Research Awards Ceremony
The Air Force Academy will host its 22nd annual Research Awards Ceremony Jan. 25 in Polaris Hall to showcase how the school advances engineering, humanities, science and the social sciences. Associate Dean for Research Lt. Col. Don Rhymer '95 said the ceremony recognizes the often revolutionary research of cadets and faculty.

Academy Brainstorms at Research Center
Work by Air Force Academy cadets could revolutionize how the Air Force keeps tracks of its planes in battle and plans attacks.

Utahns Flourish at Air Force Academy
A few exceptional Utahns are fortunate and talented enough to be among a select group of young men and young women to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.

High-Flying Dream Comes True
For as long as he can remember, Lawson Barrett has wanted to fly jets.

Falcons Beat Mercyhurst, 5-1
Freshmen defenseman combined for two goals and two assists as Air Force defeated Mercyhurst, 5-1, in an Atlantic Hockey Conference game at the Cadet Ice Arena.

Air Force Opens Season With Win Over UW-La Crosse
The Air Force women's gymnastics team kicked off the 2018 season with a 193.425-191.350 victory over the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The Falcons, who registered the highest season-opening score of head coach Doug Day's 12-year tenure, nabbed three individual event titles and the all-around titles. The Falcons return to action when they travel to Denver to take on the eighth-ranked Pioneers at 2 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 14.