Construction crews worked overtime through the summer to complete the renovation and expansion of the Falcon Stadium locker room in time for the 2018 Falcon Football season.

The $6.7 million phase II renovation includes a major expansion of the home team locker room facility, upgraded visiting locker room, medical areas and a presidential green room for visiting dignitaries participating in Academy graduations and special events.

Falcon Stadium first opened on September 22, 1962. The last significant upgrade was in 2006 when the playing field was converted to FieldTurf. Current renovations were set in motion with more than $13 million in private donations, including an anonymous $5 million gift in 2015, matched the following year by a $5 million donation from Jack Kucera ’78, chairman of the Endowment board of directors.

“Falcon Stadium is where I learned the most about true character, leadership, heart, camaraderie, teamwork and the power of being passionate,” Kucera said. “Vianne and I feel very blessed to be able to support the stadium renovation project as well as other Academy objectives.”

Creating cyber warriors

Supporting the new Center for Cyber Innovation

Plans for the new USAFA Center for Cyber Innovation are coming together quickly to meet the pressing need for the United States Air Force and Department of Defense to maintain dominance in the realm of cyber warfare.

The $60 million facility will serve as a center for research and development for Air Force CyberWorx, the Department of Homeland Security’s Center of Innovation, and the Academy’s Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences. Cadets, industry leaders, academics and military operators will work together to analyze critical cyber problems and provide effective solutions for the modern war fighter.

The Endowment is committed to raising $30 million to provide classrooms, office spaces and a series of 10 fully equipped labs devoted to all areas of cyber: forensics, robotics, data visualization, cyber law, cross-domain integration and command, communications security, cyber education, vehicle testing and industrial platform security.

“Cyber harnesses the ingenuity of our more than 4,000 digital native cadets, innovating ways to revolutionize our employment of cyber technologies and directly influence the capabilities that our Air Force employs,” says Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria ’85, superintendent of the Air Force Academy. “The partnerships built here allow us to educate and train officers who enter the Air Force ready to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and effectively integrate operations in all three mission domains: air, space and cyberspace. The future of cyber is bright with possibilities.”

On the battlefield

Cadets receive leadership training at Gettysburg

A group of 43 Air Force Academy cadets received valuable leadership training on the Civil War battleground at Gettysburg as part of the annual Gettysburg Leadership Summit.

Coordinated through Air Force Athletics and the Department of History, the summit integrated the common threads of leadership, teamwork, communications and warrior ethos that are critical to success in sports competitions and military engagements.

The battlefield served as an open-air classroom. USAFA history professors facilitated the tour, recounting the events that unfolded during the pivotal 1863 battle and leading cadets in discussions.

For the third year in a row, the Gettysburg Leadership Summit was sponsored by Paul Madera ’78, a board director of the USAFA Endowment.

“I was glad to sponsor the trips and was able to join the trip in 2017 to see how it flowed and what lessons were being learned. It was fabulous,” Madera says. “It was intensely interesting as a former military officer and as an American. And it was a privilege to be able to help our cadets get a great, memorable experience that hopefully will last far beyond their year as a team captain.”

The Gettysburg Leadership Summit and similar staff rides are being coordinated through the USAFA Endowment with the support of Academy graduates and friends. Read more about the Gettysburg experience at usafa.org/news/gettysburg.

The Cadet Chapel to close for four years

Major renovation begins soon

The Academy’s iconic Cadet Chapel is closing on January 1, 2019, for its first major renovation that is expected to last four years.

The Cadet Area of the Air Force Academy has been designated a National Historic Landmark, with the 56-year-old chapel serving as the centerpiece of the site.

The massive structure, which is an architectural masterpiece of aluminum spires, glass and steel, will essentially be dismantled, refitted with leak-proof seals, refurbished inside and out and restored to its original splendor.

While the government is covering the cost of structural repairs, the USAFA Endowment is working with Academy alumni and friends to restore interior elements of the chapel, including furnishings, liturgical items, adornments and the impressive 4,300-pipe organ.

Over the years, age and water damage have rendered 200 of the pipes inoperable. The entire instrument will be refurbished.

“The chapel restoration provides a wonderful opportunity for graduates to invest in the unique heritage of the Academy,” says Mike Gould, president and CEO of the Endowment. “The Cadet Chapel is an iconic symbol of the Academy, respecting the faiths of all cadets and reinforcing the core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do.”

A Winning Team

Introducing Randy Helms - Director of Class Giving 

Randy Helms ’79 serves the Endowment as the director of class giving, working with thousands of Academy graduates to promote class fundraising campaigns that support the Academy and elevate the excellence of cadet education and training.

Helms retired with the rank of colonel from the Air Force in 2008 after 29 years of active service. During a tour at the Academy, he mentored cadets as an Air Officer Commanding (AOC) and instructor pilot in the 94th ATS. He joined the Endowment in 2016 as a way to give back to the Academy. 

In addition to his Air Force service, Helms served in several leadership and faculty positions at National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, D.C. He gained fundraising experience with the NDU Foundation and served on the board of directors of the nonprofit organization Northern Virginia American Pride Youth Football League. He is a life member of the Association of Graduates (AOG) and represents his class as senator in the Class Advisory Senate.

The Academy welcomes the Class of '22

1,170  men and women were accepted into the Academy

   295  women

   875  men

   296  recruited athletes

   170  first-generation college students

   246  Prep School and Falcon Scholars

     59  prior service members

     79  children of USAFA graduates