December 2025 Checkpoints
In this issue:
- The Checkpoints team sat down for a Q&A with Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, United States Space Force, at his office in the Pentagon.
- Matthew Lohmeier ’06, the 29th undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force, shares his priorities in his new role and talks about his time as a USAFA cadet.
- A handful of graduates discuss their Wall Street experiences in taking companies public.
- Checkpoints recognizes 50 years of women at U.S. service academies.
- An update on the Institute for Future Conflict.
- The Madera Cyber Innovation Center is operational. How is it impacting cyber-minded cadets?
- The Association of Graduates celebrates its newest honorary member, USAFA architect Duane Boyle.
- Check out photo essays from this year’s reunions, as well as fall sports — and much more!
- And be sure to check out columns from Mark Hille ’97, Association & Foundation CEO, as well as Cathy Almand ’90, AOG board chair.
Newsroom and stories
Focus on Leadership: Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership
Dr. Heather Wilson ’82, former secretary of the Air Force, and Gen. (Ret.) David Goldfein ’83, former chief of staff of the Air Force, highlight the human side of leadership — honoring family, listening actively and using humility and humor to build strong teams. Their new book, Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership, challenges leaders to serve first and lead with character.
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Long Blue Leadership: Congressman August Pfluger ’00
Leadership demands grit, clarity and conviction. On Long Blue Leadership, Congressman August Pfluger ’00 reflects on these qualities through his experiences at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in the cockpit and as part of the U.S. House of Representatives. His story challenges every leader to ask where courage is calling them to go next.
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Long Blue Leadership: Rebecca Gray ’94
When Rebecca Gray ’94 arrived at her first duty station, she thought she was ready to lead — until a senior master sergeant told her to get a coffee cup and took her away from the safety of her desk. “You’ve got to know who people are, so that you know how to relate to them,” he told her. That simple moment became the foundation of her entire leadership journey.
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Focus on Leadership: Tanji Johnson Bridgeman ’97
In the premiere episode of Focus on Leadership, she joins host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 to share how resilience, self-care and feedback transform challenges into growth — and why caring for yourself is key to leading with presence and impact. Tune in now to learn practical ways to strengthen yourself and those you lead.
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Long Blue Leadership: Col. (Ret.) Mike Ott ’85
The path to progressing as a leader isn’t always linear. Col. (Ret.) Mike Ott ’85 shows how a childhood dream can evolve into a lifetime of impact — from commanding in uniform to leading innovation in health care and national defense. Hear more on Long Blue Leadership.
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Long Blue Leadership: Dave "Big D" Harden ’95
In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, hear how adversity, gratitude and courage forged a leader others would follow anywhere. From his harrowing experience during the 9/11 attacks to overcoming childhood adversity and pioneering innovation in the Air Force, Dave Harden shares practical lessons on gratitude, resilience and the importance of running toward challenges rather than away from them.
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Long Blue Leadership: Col. (Ret.) Michael Black ’85
What does leadership look like at the highest levels of service? In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Col. (Ret.) Michael Black ’85 discusses his journey from pilot to leading the White House communications team. He reflects on what it means to be a calm, steady presence in high-pressure environments — and how small daily practices can shape a lifetime of leadership.
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Long Blue Leadership: Capt. Garrett "Kap" Kauppila '19
As a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, now-Capt. Garrett “Kap” Kauppila ’19 experienced a life-changing moment involving his older brother. That trial taught him success doesn’t involve rank — it’s about being present, showing gratitude and supporting others.
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Long Blue Leadership: Lt. Col. Steven "Meathead" Mount '08
People matter more than position, and leadership starts with taking care of others. Doing that right means a million acts. Those are lessons Lt. Col. Steven “Meathead” Mount ’08 shares with listeners in the Season 4 premier of Long Blue Leadership.
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Long Blue Line Podcast Network Special Presentation: Lt. Col. Nichole "Vapor" Ayers ’11
From cadet to astronaut, Lt. Col. Nichole “Vapor” Ayers ’11 shares how the U.S. Air Force Academy prepared her for life aboard the International Space Station, the lessons she learned in the space program about leadership, and how viewing Earth from 250 miles up reshapes one's call to serve.
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Leadership Elevated: A Long Blue Leadership Retrospective
Season 3 of the Long Blue Leadership podcast is a wrap! From established national leaders to rising stars, this season features bold and inspiring stories from U.S. Air Force Academy grads.
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Long Blue Leadership: Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman '95
Long Blue Line podcast host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz ’99 sat with Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Sherman ’95, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s vice superintendent, for a deep dive into leadership, humanity and building a world-class service academy. This episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring, emerging, and seasoned leaders alike.
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Long Blue Leadership: Dr. John Torres '82
Dr. John Torres '82 shares his inspiring journey from being the first in his family to attend college to becoming NBC's senior medical correspondent.
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Long Blue Leadership: Jemal Singleton ’99
We explore the evolution and elevation of leadership with a leader who knows what it means to build champions in every sense of the word.
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Long Blue Leadership: Chad Hennings ’88
From A-10 combat missions to three Super Bowl championships, Chad Hennings has led in the air, on the field and now through character-based leadership.
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Long Blue Leadership: Emma Przybyslawski ’10
Emma Przybyslawski ’10 discusses her path from the front lines of combat zones to the founder’s chair at Strike Solutions.
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Long Blue Leadership: 2nd Lt. Wyatt Hendrickson ’24
2nd Lt. Wyatt Hendrickson ’24 gained national attention in 2025 by winning the NCAA heavyweight championship, defeating Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson in a dramatic upset.
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Long Blue Leadership: Jake DeRuyter ’15
Jake DeRuyter '15 shares a compelling leadership journey marked by unexpected challenges and resilient adaptation.
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Long Blue Leadership: Christian Evans ’08
Christian Evans '08 shares his journey from a jovial cadet to a dedicated leader focused on uplifting others.
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Long Blue Leadership: Sullenberger Award for Courage
Hear from Sullenberger Award for Courage recipients “Atomic,” “Batman,” “Guns,” and “Royal”, who were honored during the 2025 National Character and Leadership Symposium.
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Long Blue Leadership: NCLS 2025 Special Coverage
In this special episode of Long Blue Leadership, we present our Long Blue Line Podcast Network coverage of the 2025 National Character and Leadership Symposium.
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Long Blue Leadership: Dr. Heather Wilson ’82
Dr. Heather Wilson '82 was the first Academy graduate to serve as secretary of the Air Force. She discusses her unexpected journey to the role, emphasizing the importance of integrity, service and leadership.
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Long Blue Leadership: Unscripted Lives
We reflect on the leadership lessons shared by accomplished graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy over the first two seasons of the podcast.
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Long Blue Leadership: Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Burt Field '79
In Episode 10 of Long Blue Leadership, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Burt Field ’79, now president and CEO of the Air & Space Forces Association, discusses his leadership philosophy, and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, effective communication, family, and the five core values by which he lives.
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Long Blue Leadership: Col. (Ret.) Nicole Malachowski '96
Col. (Ret.) Nicole Malachowski ’96 shares her insights on leadership, resilience, resurgence, perseverance, advocacy, and how she continues to serve her country, even after her military career.
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Long Blue Leadership: C1C Andrew Cormier
In this episode of the Long Blue Leadership Podcast, Cadet First Class Andrew Cormier opens up about his inspiring journey from growing up in Massachusetts to becoming a squadron commander at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
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Long Blue Leadership: The Honorable Dr. Ravi I. Chaudhary '93
Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy Installations and Environment, is a leader who has taught his team to, "Eat no for breakfast." He lives by a value he learned from his mother at an early age: "If you do your full duty, the rest will take care of itself."
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Long Blue Leadership: Brian Campbell '08
Brian Campbell, Assistant Vice President for Athletics Development at the University of Miami, shares his journey from growing up in Columbus, Ohio, to becoming a leader in athletics fundraising, his experiences as a cadet at the Air Force Academy, the challenges he faced, and the resilience he developed.
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Long Blue Leadership: Jason Kim '99
While a cadet at the Air Force Academy, Jason Kim ’99 experienced the “pedestal effect” and learned the importance of curiosity, compassion, trust and mutual respect.
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Long Blue Leadership: 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23
A conversation with 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh ’23, the first active duty military member to be crowned Miss America 2024, about her background, leadership experiences, transition to Harvard Kennedy School, and key lessons on empathetic leadership and following one's passions.
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Long Blue Leadership: Brig. Gen. Gavin P. Marks '96
Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks ’96 discusses the absolute importance of standards and integrity in leadership, and how a new, more rigorous approach at the Academy will build that in to cadets making them Day-1 leaders.
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Long Blue Leadership: Coach Troy Calhoun '89
Perhaps best known for his accomplishments on the field, at its core, Coach Troy Calhoun's work is about building athletes in to leaders of character.
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Long Blue Leadership: Sam Eckholm '18
A conversation with Sam Eckholm ’18 about his unique path and work to inspire the next generation of military leaders through social media and content creation.
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Long Blue Leadership: Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre '96
Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre '96 opens up about how her leadership journey was transformed by a mis-step she once made that led her to introspection and clarity.
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Long Blue Leadership: Maj. Austin McKinney '10
USAFA Class of 2010 valedictorian, Maj. Austin McKinney, discusses how the trust he earned and integrity he learned as a cadet led him to the U.S. Department of State where he helps build relationships between U.S. and global leaders.
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Long Blue Leadership: Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Richard Clark '86
A conversation between brothers in arms who have known each other since the early 1980s - one an athlete, the other his coach at the time.
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Long Blue Leadership: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Rochelle Kimbrell '98
As a child, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Rochelle Kimbrell ’98, dreamt that one day she would defy gravity, taking her rightful place in the sky among the stars.
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Long Blue Leadership: Maj. Julian "Cosmo" Gluck '12
A conversation with Maj. Julian “Cosmo” Gluck '12, a flyer with the heart of a pilot, the soul of a golden age aviator, and an insatiable yearning to learn. Why? In part to support developing leaders of tomorrow.
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Long Blue Leadership: Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dana Born '83
To influence for good, character paired with strong leadership skills is paramount. Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dana Born '83 brings the two together in episode 8 of Long Blue Leadership.
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Long Blue Leadership: NCLS 2024 Special Coverage
The Long Blue Leadership team was in attendance at the 2024 National Character and Leadership Symposium and interviewed several NCLS speakers.
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Long Blue Leadership: Karl Falk '98
Does being bold make a good leader or does a good leader have to be bold? Karl Falk '98, is leader who knows bold both ways.
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Long Blue Leadership: Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Heather Pringle '91
Gen. Pringle discusses her experiences as a cadet, including unique firsts. And she highlights the challenges she faced in her career and the lessons she learned.
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Long Blue Leadership: Alison '15 and Paul '16 Yang
What are the top five characteristics great leaders share? Academy graduates, Alison ’15 and Paul ’16 Yang, discuss that answer — and more!
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Long Blue Leadership: Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Bradford J. Shwedo '87
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Bradford J. Shwedo ’87, uniquely suited to his calling, explains how he leverages lessons from the past to equip present-day warriors to dominate future warfare.
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Long Blue Leadership: Maj. Nathan Dial '10
Third-generation warrior, RC-135 pilot, and thought leader, Maj. Nathan Dial ’10, describes his connection to USAFA, his bond with the cadets and how the leadership lessons he learned fuel his drive to serve and support the Long Blue Line.
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Long Blue Leadership: Col. (Ret.) Kim "KC" Campbell '97
A-10 Warthog pilot and combat veteran, Col. (Ret.) Kim “KC” Campbell ’97, recounts an incident over Baghdad leading her to make a decision that changed her life then and informs how she leads to this day.
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