The U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation is sharing the announcement of the new commandant of cadets as part of our mission to support the U.S. Air Force Academy, serve graduates and preserve the heritage of the institution and Long Blue Line.

In preparation for a change of command ceremony next month, Col. Brandon Tellez'01 has been assigned as the Academy’s 32nd commandant of cadets, succeeding Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks '96, who will retire this summer after a distinguished Air Force career.

Col. Tellez is currently serving as senior executive officer to the Air Force vice chief of staff, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, where he advises and assists the vice chief in the administration of the Air Staff, which develops policies, plans and programs for the service, and the organization, training and equipping of 689,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces.

Elevating Warfighting Readiness

Gen. Marks has served as commandant of cadets since June 2023, leading the Cadet Wing with a sharpened focus on meeting the warfighting demands of an evolving global security environment. His leadership emphasized a culture of discipline, accountability and adherence to world-class standards across all aspects of military training, leadership and character development. He recently announced plans to retire from the Air Force following a successful three-year tour in the position, concluding a distinguished career that began with his commissioning from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

During his tenure, Gen. Marks emphasized the Academy’s responsibility to prepare officers to lead on Day 1 post commissioning and aligning cadet training with the operational demands faced by today’s Air Force and Space Force. Typically, commandants serve two or three years in the role, and Gen. Marks is concluding his tour having made significant contributions to the Academy’s mission. He leaves a legacy characterized by a relentless focus on warfighting readiness, elevated standards and empowering cadets to lead.

“Brig. Gen. Marks has been an exceptional commandant of cadets,” said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind ’91. “He kept the Academy on a clear course as we reoriented deliberately toward warfighting, elevating standards, expanding training and ensuring our graduates are ready to lead on Day 1. I am grateful for his leadership and proud of the transformation he led across the Cadet Wing.”

Together with the Cadet Wing, Gen. Marks deepened cadets’ warfighting capabilities by expanding year-round, adversary-focused training. The Wing executed exercises aligned with Ready Airman Training and Agile Combat Employment concepts, emphasizing skills crucial for contested conditions: weapons proficiency, small-unit tactics, casualty care and navigation. He also drove significant updates to Basic Cadet Training by integrating expeditionary skills and realistic tactical scenarios.

To reinforce a culture of ownership, Gen. Marks introduced the Cadet Warfighter Instructor Course, which empowered upper-class cadets to lead, plan and evaluate training exercises. He also reorganized the cadet squadrons to prioritize leadership development over functional expertise. This strategic shift was anchored by the transformation of the Academy’s “fourth-class system” into a tiered and increasing responsibility four-class leadership development system, integrating leadership education throughout all four years of a cadet’s career.

Notably, the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School was aligned under the Cadet Wing during his tenure, enhancing integration and development pathways for future cadets. The Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development was also realigned under the Cadet Wing, a move that aligns the CCLD’s responsibility within the commandant’s primary responsibility of cadet leadership development.

Gen. Marks expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Cadet Wing.

“Serving as commandant of cadets has truly been the professional honor of my lifetime,” Gen. Marks said. “Our cadets have embraced higher standards, harder training and a clearer understanding of what it means to enter the profession of arms. They are more ready, more lethal and more grounded in our core values, and I am confident they will continue to thrive under Col. Tellez’s leadership.”

A Legacy of Service

Gen. Marks’ career has been characterized by a consistent dedication to developing the next generation of air and space leaders and ensuring the operational readiness of the force.

A command pilot with over 3,400 flying hours in aircraft such as the T-1A, E-3B/C and multiple RC-135 variants, his leadership has been tested and proven at all levels. After earning his pilot wings, he served as an instructor pilot and flight examiner before taking command of the 99th Flying Training Squadron at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and, later, the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. His expertise extended to the highest levels of the Pentagon, where he held key staff positions as director of the secretary of the Air Force and chief of staff executive action group, and as director of electromagnetic spectrum superiority. His experience in the joint environment includes roles as an observer and trainer at U.S. Joint Forces Command and as an operations planner on the Joint Staff.

Gen. Marks holds an advanced degree from and is a distinguished graduate of the National War College and holds a second Master of Science degree from George Washington University.

A Proven Leader to Continue the Mission

Col. Tellez’s selection will place a proven leader with extensive operational and strategic experience in charge of the 4,300-member Cadet Wing.

“I offer my congratulations to Col. Brandon Tellez on his selection,” said Lt. Gen. Bauernfeind. “As a combat-tested leader who understands the demands of current and future military operations, he is exceptionally well-qualified to ensure our cadets embody a warfighter mindset and are prepared to lead airmen and guardians on Day 1.”

Col. Tellez received his commission upon graduating in 2001 ("Fire It Up!"), earning his wings through Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He began his operational career flying the F-15C at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, later transitioning to the F-22A Raptor. Over four flying tours and multiple deployments worldwide, he has led at the squadron and wing levels, culminating in command of the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

Col. Tellez is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and a command pilot with approximately 2,500 flight hours, including about 300 combat hours in the T-38, F-15C/D and F-22A. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business and a master’s degree in National Security Resourcing Strategy from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University.

Click here to view the Academy's official announcement of Col. Valpiani's naming as commandant of cadets.