For the First Time, an Air Force Officer May Lead Joint Special Operations Command
Lt. Gen. Scott Howell '87 was announced as President Trump's nominee to lead the unit that oversees elite special mission units from the larger U.S. Special Operations Command, including the Navy's SEAL Team 6, the Air Force's 24th Special Tactics Squadron and the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment, better known as Delta Force.

Soaring Group Travels in Style
Leaders from the 94th Flying Training Squadron (which conducts USAFA's soaring program) stopped by Doolittle Hall Friday, May 4, to show off several of their recent purchases and to thank the Association of Graduates Board of Directors.

USAFA Releases Graduation Event Parking, Bad Weather Info and Prohibited Items List
The Air Force Academy's Class of 2018 graduation ceremony is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 23, at Falcon Stadium.

• Thunderbirds release practice, performance schedule

USAFA's New Eisenhower Golf Course Clubhouse Opens for Business
The Air Force Academy celebrated the completion of a new clubhouse at the Eisenhower Golf Course with a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 9. The event signaled the end of more than a decades' effort to fund construction of a new clubhouse.

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

2018 All Academy Challenge
A class color competition has been added to the 2018 All Academy Challenge. Whether you support the newest red class (2018) or honor the first gold graduates (1959), you are providing today's cadets access to experiences that expand the excellence of their Academy training. Accept the color challenge between May 31, 2018, and June 4, 2018, and watch for more information on social media and in your email inbox.

Support the USAFA Rodeo Team
Cadets on the USAFA rodeo team participate in 10 rodeos annually, competing in roping, barrel racing, bull riding and bareback riding. Help the team raise funds through the Endowment crowdfunding site for protective equipment, uniforms, competition fees and travel.

A New Decade of Support Begins
During 2017, graduates, families and friends provided more than $17 million in support of a wide range of programs at the Academy. The 2017 Annual Report highlights a cross-section of 10 gifts and their impact on cadets and the Academy.

Support Cadet Summer Research
Help cadets pursue important summer research opportunities that add valuable depth and experience to their academic careers.

Create Your Legacy
The Endowment's gift planning professionals can help you make sense out of estate and retirement planning options and show you how to use them to your best advantage. Visit our website to get started.

Wounded Warriors Soar Over Academy
The 94th Flying Training Squadron, led by Lt. Cols. Glendon Whelan '01 and Matthew Humphrey, facilitated an orientation flight for several wounded veterans. They partnered with the Wounded Warrior Program and Soaring Eagle Foundation, a nonprofit that provides veterans training necessary to obtain glider certification.

Air Force Honors Athletes of the Year
Maj. Ian Holt '04 and Capt. Abby Hall were recently named Air Force Athletes of the Year. Holt, combat operations division space control branch chief for the 614th Air Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, is a cyclist and past member of the World Class Athlete Program.

Air Force Marathon Names New Leader
Brandon Hough '11, a former Air Force officer once assigned to Wright-Patterson and who started his own running company, will lead the event that brings thousands of runners to the Dayton, Ohio, area every September.

Pilots Pay It Forward at Erie Airport
For all of Tyler McBride '10's high flying successes, the F-35 instructor pilot considers a municipal airport ground zero in a program offering free flights to kids.

Grad's Daughter Hopes to Become National Finalist in Doodle 4 Google Competition
Charlie Baker '95's daughter was selected as the New Hampshire winner in a doodle contest, and you can vote for her by May 18th to become a national finalist.

A Watery Tradition Follows Finals for Cadets
Senior Air Force cadets leapt into the fountains of the Air Force Academy's "Air Gardens" last week to celebrate the completion of their final exams before graduation.

Former Vice President Cheney Visits USAFA, Says Cadets Will Have Role in National Security
Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Air Force Academy cadets will have opportunities to influence national security during their Air Force careers.

CyberWorx Update: Air Force Cyber Innovation Center Increases Capabilities 1 Year After Opening for Business at USAFA
Air Force leaders know who to call when they need a problem solved — CyberWorx.

Groundbreaking Eye Surgery Has Airmen Seeing Careers Saved
The Academy is the third Air Force location to offer the procedure that is a game changer for airmen who would otherwise have their careers sidelined permanently.

USAFA Flying Team and Coach Consistent National Competitors
The U.S. Air Force Academy Flying Team participated in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association's annual Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference.

USAFA Educators Receive Heiser Award
Senior cadets at the Air Force Academy cast their votes for two faculty members to receive the Heiser Award May 4: Mathematics Department deputy head Lt. Col. Kris Pruitt and Political Science Department associate professor John Riley.

Air Force Men Win Mountain West Outdoor Title
The Air Force men's track and field team captured its third-straight Mountain West Outdoor title — and its fifth in seven years — as it won the 2018 conference title by 20.50 points. The men earned four event titles and 26 scoring finishes on Championship Saturday, as it completed the season sweep of conference championships.

77 Former Falcons Return for Alumni Game
The Air Force water polo alumni game on April 28, 2018, at the Cadet Natatorium drew a record number of alums back to the Academy.

USAFA Now Has Women's Hockey
After a year and a half of recruiting players, collecting funds, coordinating practice times, and getting support from USAFA leaders, the Women's Club Ice Hockey team was officially established as a USAFA club on Jan. 18, 2018.