Here's the latest Air Force Academy and grad news! JUNE 9, 2022 Created in collaboration with current cadets and alumni, the new Falcon spirit mark connects to a heritage of warriors while building towards a future defined by new challenges and undiscovered domains. The logo does not replace the AF symbol as the U.S. Air Force Academy's primary logo, nor does it replace the Bolt that represents Falcon Athletics. LEARN MORE ► Artist Betty Ruggles sculpted a nine-foot nutcracker inspired by her grandson Brooks, who just graduated from the Academy. WATCH VIDEO ► • Cadet Xuan "An" Nguyen says the Academy's international programs strengthen relationships between the U.S. and its allies. ► • High school student utilizes extra time during the pandemic to write college application essays. 89 acceptances later, he has decided to accept an appointment to the Air Force Academy. ► • DOD official says cyber, computer science majors advance security for U.S. ► • 'Opportunity exists everywhere': Academy's top IT official retires, tells story of family's escape from Vietnam. ► • Lt. Gen. James B. Hecker '89 has been nominated to lead U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa and receive his fourth star. ► 1st Lt. Christopher Clark '19 died on May 29, 2022, in an avalanche at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. He had been at Sheppard Air Force Base in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program. ► • Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Nelson '97 assumed command of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing during the official wing Change of Command ceremony on May 30, 2022, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Nelson takes over for outgoing commander Brig. Gen. Gerald Donohue '95. ► Colorado Springs School District 11 selects Michael Gaal '89 as new superintendent. ► • Col. (Ret.) Mark Hyatt '74 is the founder and CEO of Falcon AeroLab. This nonprofit organization includes several Air Force Academy grads and provides educational enrichment programs for kids. ► • George Nield '72 first turned his eyes toward the stars in the 1960s. He was 10 years old when Alan Shepard made history as the first American in space. Nield could not have known that one day he would buy a ticket to space on a commercial rocket named in Shepard's honor. ► • Timothy Bench '70 just scored his seventh hole-in-one, but there's more to his story. ► • Meet 20 young people working to make our post-pandemic world better than ever, including Caleb Buchanan '05 ► • Maj. Jonathan Appleby '08 and George Griffiths '91 soared past an electric aircraft milestone. ► Join us on June 13 to hear from BCT Commander Col. J. Brandon Alexander '99 and BCT Cadet Commander C1C Emily Reeves as they chat about the Class of 2026's upcoming Basic Cadet Training. REGISTER NOW ► • Calling all past USAFA Philmont Rangers! 2022 is the 50th Anniversary of the USAFA Ranger program, and the Philmont Staff Association is hosting a reunion June 20-24, 2022, honoring all past Service Academy Rangers. ► • Join us in San Diego Aug. 25-26 for the only career conference exclusive to service academy graduates. Network with other service academy alumni and discover amazing employment opportunities after your service in the military. Connect face-to-face with companies like Tesla, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Amazon, Meta, Deloitte, Lockheed Martin, JP Morgan Chase and many more. ► • Please join us for a full day of camaraderie and celebration, as we host two events on Friday, July 22, 2022 — the Distinguished Graduate Dinner and Jacks Valley Grad March Back. ► • Do you have a class reunion coming up? Each year, the Association of Graduates welcomes approximately 4,300 graduates and their guests back to the Academy for class reunions. ► Air Force's future team captains embarked on a trip to the Gettysburg National Battlefield in Pennsylvania as part of a leadership experience. Thanks to the generous donations of graduates through the Air Force Academy Foundation for making this experience possible. ► • The next phase of the Falcon Stadium modernization, a priority of the Defining Our Future campaign, will update the east side for better fan enjoyment and more use beyond athletic contests. ► Air Force baseball made it all the way to the finals in their first NCAA Regional appearance since 1969. Four Falcons were named to the All-Tournament Team. ► • Former Air Force pitcher Edward Cole '70 reflects on that 1969 team 53 years after the last postseason appearance. ► • NEW AOG CHAPTER: Connect with local grads in your area! The AOG has more than 50 chapters in 30+ states and overseas, including our latest chapter in Alaska. Find a chapter and connect today! ► • For Janet Edwards, the director of the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery, every day is Memorial Day. ► • Whether you're an out-of-town visitor, cadet parent or a frequent local guest, here are some top Academy experiences to add to your summer itinerary. ► Colorado Springs Airport is Colorado's small airport which means we offer small lines, small walks to gates, and small waits, but big options on flights. ► The University of Southern California, Viterbi School of Engineering is consistently ranked amongst the top 3 best online graduate computer science programs for veterans and top 5 best online graduate engineering programs for veterans — across 40+ programs (U.S. News and World Report, 2022). USC Viterbi supports U.S. veterans and active duty service members through a variety of military benefits including scholarships, an unlimited number of Yellow Ribbon awards to eligible candidates, and an application fee waiver. No GRE required — learn more today! ► The Bremont USAFA Graduate Watch is exclusively for USAFA graduates. Each design features the Academy Crest, Prop and Wings, and "The Long Blue Line." ► Rick Broome is one of the most notable aviation and space artists in the world today. His work captures the spirit and wonder of flight from commercial to military aircraft, and from the dawn of aviation to the most advanced aircraft today. ► If you have difficulty viewing this page, you can always catch the most recent ZoomiEnews at: usafa.org/zoomienews Association of Graduates 3116 Academy Drive | USAF Academy, CO 80840 (719) 472-0300 | www.usafa.org | aog@aogusafa.org Your Subscription Preferences | Privacy Policy