Award Nominations

The Distinguished Graduate Award is a lifetime achievement honor that recognizes exceptional contributions to our Academy, our nation and our communities by those who graduated 40 or more years ago.

Below are the sections that should be included in a nomination packet, as well as their point values:

• CV/Resume: 0-15 points
• Personal Information: 0-15 points
  • Nominee’s name
  • Current address
  • Phone number
  • Email
  • Hometown
  • Graduation year
  • Military status
  • AFSC
  • Current role/job
  • Current civilian occupation
  • Current civilian employer
  • Other education
  • Awards and recognition
• Executive Summary: 0-15 points
  • USAFA and military career highlights
  • Military awards and medals
  • Government, civilian, business, or community career highlights and awards/certificates
  • Additional education
  • Other notable achievements
• Two Letters of Recommendation (3-page limit): 0-55 points
  • Describe the nominee’s outstanding professional and/or philanthropic accomplishments in a civilian or military setting.
  • Highlight examples from their career that showcase character and integrity, both at the Academy and beyond.
  • Explain how the nominee has been a positive reflection on the Academy as a leader of character.

Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 31, 2025.

While submitting a nomination only takes a few minutes, the preparation process requires planning and communication. Plan on a personal committement of 1-3 hours to gather and compile all necessary materials.

You have until Dec. 31, 2025 to submit your nomination.

You can complete the nomination form at your own speed, using the "Save" button to save your progress as you go.

Only graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy are eligible for nomination. Nominations must also be submitted by a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate.

Nominations do not carry over from one year to the next. If you nominated a graduate previously, please update your nomination materials and resubmit.

The Leadership Achievement Award recognizes professional accomplishments and integrity by those who graduated 16 to 39 years ago.

Below are the sections that should be included in a nomination packet, as well as their point values:

• CV/Resume: 0-15 points
• Personal Information: 0-15 points
  • Nominee’s name
  • Current address
  • Phone number
  • Email
  • Hometown
  • Graduation year
  • Military status
  • AFSC
  • Current role/job
  • Current civilian occupation
  • Current civilian employer
  • Other education
  • Awards and recognition
• Executive Summary: 0-15 points
  • USAFA and military career highlights
  • Military awards and medals
  • Government, civilian, business, or community career highlights and awards/certificates
  • Additional education
  • Other notable achievements
• Two Letters of Recommendation (3-page limit): 0-55 points
  • Describe the nominee’s outstanding professional and/or philanthropic accomplishments in a civilian or military setting.
  • Highlight examples from their career that showcase character and integrity, both at the Academy and beyond.
  • Explain how the nominee has been a positive reflection on the Academy as a leader of character.

Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 31, 2025.

While submitting a nomination only takes a few minutes, the preparation process requires planning and communication. Plan on a personal committement of 1-3 hours to gather and compile all necessary materials.

You have until Dec. 31, 2025 to submit your nomination.

You can complete the nomination form at your own speed, using the "Save" button to save your progress as you go.

Only graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy are eligible for nomination. Nominations must also be submitted by a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate.

Nominations do not carry over from one year to the next. If you nominated a graduate previously, please update your nomination materials and resubmit.

The Young Alumni Excellence Award celebrates recent graduates, 0 to 15 years from graduation, who are making an impact.

Below are the sections that should be included in a nomination packet, as well as their point values:

• CV/Resume: 0-15 points
• Personal Information: 0-15 points
  • Nominee’s name
  • Current address
  • Phone number
  • Email
  • Hometown
  • Graduation year
  • Military status
  • AFSC
  • Current role/job
  • Current civilian occupation
  • Current civilian employer
  • Other education
  • Awards and recognition
• Executive Summary: 0-15 points
  • USAFA and military career highlights
  • Military awards and medals
  • Government, civilian, business, or community career highlights and awards/certificates
  • Additional education
  • Other notable achievements
• Two Letters of Recommendation (3-page limit): 0-55 points
  • Describe the nominee’s outstanding professional and/or philanthropic accomplishments in a civilian or military setting.
  • Highlight examples from their career that showcase character and integrity, both at the Academy and beyond.
  • Explain how the nominee has been a positive reflection on the Academy as a leader of character.

Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 31, 2025.

While submitting a nomination only takes a few minutes, the preparation process requires planning and communication. Plan on a personal committement of 1-3 hours to gather and compile all necessary materials.

You have until Dec. 31, 2025 to submit your nomination.

You can complete the nomination form at your own speed, using the "Save" button to save your progress as you go.

Only graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy are eligible for nomination. Nominations must also be submitted by a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate.

Nominations do not carry over from one year to the next. If you nominated a graduate previously, please update your nomination materials and resubmit.

The Sullenberger Award for Courage is open to graduates of all ages. It honors acts of exemplary bravery.

Below are the sections that should be included in a nomination packet, as well as their point values:

• CV/Resume: 0-15 points
• Personal Information: 0-15 points
  • Nominee’s name
  • Current address
  • Phone number
  • Email
  • Hometown
  • Graduation year
  • Military status
  • AFSC
  • Current role/job
  • Current civilian occupation
  • Current civilian employer
  • Other education
  • Awards and recognition
• Executive Summary: 0-15 points
  • USAFA and military career highlights
  • Military awards and medals
  • Government, civilian, business, or community career highlights and awards/certificates
  • Additional education
  • Other notable achievements
• Two Letters of Recommendation (3-page limit): 0-55 points
  • Describe the nominee’s outstanding act(s) of airmanship and bravery.
  • Highlight examples from their career that showcase courage, character and integrity, both at the Academy and beyond.
  • Explain how the nominee has been a positive reflection on the Academy as a leader of character.*

Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 31, 2025.

While submitting a nomination only takes a few minutes, the preparation process requires planning and communication. Plan on a personal committement of 1-3 hours to gather and compile all necessary materials.

You have until Dec. 31, 2025 to submit your nomination.

You can complete the nomination form at your own speed, using the "Save" button to save your progress as you go.

Anyone can submit a nomination. Only graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy are eligible for nomination.

Nominations do not carry over from one year to the next. If you nominated a graduate previously, please update your nomination materials and resubmit.