AOG History

In 1965, the conflict in Vietnam began to escalate, and U.S. involvement became more prominent with U.S. forces stepping up their air attacks over North Vietnam. Although only seven classes had graduated, many Academy graduates took part in these air attacks.

As graduates began to build the heritage of the Long Blue Line, then Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, saw a need to record and preserve this heritage for graduates to come. He also saw a need to foster an affinity among graduates for their alma mater, and to tell the Academy story. Thus, in 1965, Gen. Moorman directed the creation of an alumni association and added an official position on the Superintendent's staff to make it happen.

In the early days, the AOG was operated as an additional duty by select Academy staff members. In 1968, the AOG became incorporated as a Colorado charitable non-profit organization operated entirely by graduate volunteers assigned to the Academy staff. In 1983, the first non-active duty executive was hired to take over the operation of the AOG.

Under the leadership of Richard Coppock, '61, the AOG grew from a handful of employees operating out of a couple of rooms in Sijan Hall to our own building, Doolittle Hall, in 1992. Doolittle Hall was our first major fund raising effort. Today, the AOG has a workforce of more than 40 people yet still relies on volunteers, chapters and affinity groups for hosting events, social gatherings or just being ambassadors for the Academy.