air force academy

Air Force Academy graduates throw their caps into the air as F-16 jets from the Thunderbirds make a flyover May 28 at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Brennan Linsley/AP)

US News: USAFA engineering program among best in nation

By Stephen Losey on September 9, 2015 Air Force Academy

US News & World Report on Wednesday released its annual ranking of the best colleges in the nation, and it includes several accolades for the Air Force Academy — especially its engineering programs. The academy’s undergraduate engineering program tied for fifth place with the Naval Academy in Annapolis (and behind West Point, which tied for third). Its aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering program ranked second, behind Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Its electrical, electronic and communications engineering program tied for fourth, and its mechanical engineering program tied for fifth, in both cases with Harvey Mudd College in California. The academy, located in Colorado…

In this 2013 photo, Air Force Academy Falcons freshman quarterback Nate Romine runs for a touchdown. Romine took over for starter Karson Roberts who suffered a concussion. Officials say sports are responsible for half of all concussions at the academy. (Courtesy U.S. Air Force/Mike Kaplan)

USAFA Cadets aid in concussion study

By Phillip Swarts on July 27, 2015 Uncategorized

U.S. Air Force Academy cadets are helping the NCAA in a national study on concussions, the service announced. Hundreds of cadets took part in the research July 13, the Air Force said in a press release. It’s part of a three-year, $30 million joint program by the Pentagon and the National Collegiate Athletic Association to better understand concussions that have bene plaguing both sports and the military. “The collected results of these evaluations will be compiled into a database and form a baseline of a cadet’s complete physical assessment,” Col. Darren Campbell, the director of the academy’s Concussion Center, said…

If your kid has a question about space, ask an astronaut

By Markeshia Ricks on January 9, 2013 Uncategorized

If your child is a serious space geek and driving you nuts with all sorts of questions that Google just can’t answer, you should let your kid ask a real astronaut. The Air Force Academy is taking questions about space from students in kindergarten through 12th grade until Jan. 18, according to a press release. The best questions asked will be selected and answered in a video that will be posted online in February. Former astronaut and retired Col Jim Dutton will be doing the question answering. Dutton, one of the Academy’s resident experts on space, piloted the NASA…

Snow Day information at your fingertips

By Markeshia Ricks on January 2, 2013 Uncategorized

Air Force Academy personnel will no longer have to keep up with base maps, snow routes and important numbers to be ready for the major snow event. Instead, with a few swipes across their smartphones, they’ll have the information at their fingertips. The 10th Mission Support Group has developed a free phone application called “USAFA Snow” to make the information more accessible. The Air Force Academy snow application contains vital information including base maps, snow routes, important phone numbers, base closure information and survival tips. The application is a digital version of the “United States Air Force Academy Snow Routes…

Academy volunteer coach’s Olympic quest comes up short

By Markeshia Ricks on August 9, 2012 Uncategorized

Air Force Academy volunteer coach Jenny Simpson’s quest for Olympic gold came up short during the 1500-meter semifinal Wednesday. Simpson, who trains at the Air Force Academy with head cross country coach Juli Benson, finished 22nd in in the semifinals, clocking in at 4:06.89, according to an Academy press release.

Academy volunteer coach makes the cut

By Markeshia Ricks on August 7, 2012 Uncategorized

A volunteer coach for the Air Force Academy Falcons track and field team is trying to make her mark on the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Jenny Simpson advanced to the semifinals of the 1500-meter run in London Tuesday morning, earning the final automatic qualifying spot of her heat, according to a press release from the Air Force Academy. Simpson is the reigning world champion in the 1500-meter event and is coached by the Falcons’ distance coach Juli Benson. Look for Simpson in the semifinal round Wednesday, Aug. 8.

It’s been 60 days. Do you know where your investigation is?

By Markeshia Ricks on May 22, 2012 Air Force, Uncategorized

Sixty days ago, the Air Force said it would give “appropriate consideration” to allegations that the Air Force Academy’s dean of faculty ordered a campaign against a religious freedom watchdog group and then lied about it during a deposition. And low and behold the organization in question — the Military Religious Freedom Foundation — wants to know what the Air Force has found since it began it’s considering. The foundation has pressed the Air Force to investigate allegations that Brig. Gen. Dana Born directed a subordinate, in writing, to launch a campaign against the watchdog group and then denied it…

Schriever Airmen Take Aim at Dodgeball World Record

By Markeshia Ricks on March 15, 2012 Uncategorized

You probably couldn’t imagine playing dodgeball for more than a few hours, let alone more than 31 hours — the longest dodgeball marathon, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. But that’s what airmen at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado plan to do March 22-23. They’ll attempt to break the Hometown Dodgeball and Albany Dodgeball teams of Albany, N.Y. — current record holders of almost two years for a game that lasted 31 hours 11 minutes and 13 seconds — by playing dodgeball for 40 hours. Breaking the record is no small feat. To do it, playing members must…

AFA cadets grab world record … briefly

By Markeshia Ricks on January 10, 2012 Uncategorized

Air Force Academy cadets managed to bounce their way to a Guinness World Record on May 18 by holding the world’s largest dodgeball game ever played, featuring 3,612 participants. But blink and you might have missed their place in history. By the time the cadets received confirmation that they had successfully broken the record set at the Rochester Institute of Technology (the 2,136-player game at RIT is still listed as the record-holder here), another school had already set a new mark. In September, 4,488 students at the University of California-Irvine participated in a dodgeball game, breaking the cadets’ record.

Air Force Lt. Col. is a White House Fellow

By Markeshia Ricks on December 28, 2011 Uncategorized

Lt. Col. Rodney Lewis is one of four military members in the 15-member 2011-2012 class of White House Fellows. Lewis, who previously commanded the 4th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., is a C-17A pilot who was directly responsible for the Defense Department’s only Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, which handles sensitive cargo and provides tactical C-17A crews that airdrop combat troops and supplies anywhere in the world. Prior to his command position, he was assigned to the office of Legislative Liaison, Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C., where he served as the executive to the senior general officer,…

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