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
Heritage Minute Special: The Long Blue Line — a way of life
This episode of Heritage Minute Special highlights Col. (Ret.) Carolyn Benyshek’s ’87 role as the U.S. Air Force Academy’s director of admissions.
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Heritage Minute: The Jabara Statue
A statue of Col. James Jabara — America’s first jet ace and the second-leading ace of the Korean War — stands above Arnold Hall’s main entrance.
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Heritage Minute: The Holaday Athletic Center
Unpredictable weather is no match for the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Holaday Athletic Center — the 92,000-square-foot indoor training facility that’s served USAFA for more than a decade.
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Heritage Minute Special: USAFA’s Cultural Resources, Part 2 of 2 - Erwin Roemer, Former Cultural Resources Manager
The second part of the This Heritage Minute Special dives into partnership, preservation and a unique perspective of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
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Heritage Minute Special: USAFA’s Cultural Resources, Part 1 of 2 - Erwin Roemer, Former Cultural Resources Manager
Native Americans have a long and proud history of military service. In fact, they are among the most represented ethnic groups in the U.S. armed forces. In this Heritage Minute Special podcast, Erwin Roemer shares how that tradition continues at USAFA today.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA's Mall of Heroes
As cadets march past the Mall of Heroes at the base of the Core Values Ramp, tradition demands a solemn salute. These statues embody courage, sacrifice and duty and act as a reminder of the legacy the U.S. Air Force Academy’s future officers are expected to uphold.
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Heritage Minute: Sabers - Heritage Forged in Steel
Precision. Pride. Heritage. Since 1961, the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Cadet Sabre Drill Team has honored tradition through elite saber performances across Colorado and beyond.
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Heritage Minute Special: USAFA's Modern Day Architect (3 of 3)
In Part 3 of this three-part Heritage Minute Special, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 talks with longtime USAFA architect Duane Boyle about his impactful career. They share stories of Boyle’s projects and their experiences working together dating back to the 1980s.
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Heritage Minute: Stillman Field
Some of the most significant cadet milestones take place on Stillman Field. From acceptance into the Cadet Wing to graduation parades (and even graduations), Stillman Field is steeped in history and heritage.
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Heritage Minute Special: 70 years of service. One legendary story.
Listen in to learn about a significant event that occurred 70 years ago.
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Heritage Minute: Contrails
Contrails is more than a handbook — it's a rite of passage at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
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Heritage Minute Special: USAFA's Modern Day Architect (2 of 3)
In Part 2 of this 3-part series, Heritage Minute Special host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77, continues his conversation with Duane Boyle, recently retired USAFA architect.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA's Jacks Valley
For graduates and cadets who trained here as basics, Jacks Valley will always occupy a special place in our memories.
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Heritage Minute Special: USAFA's Modern Day Architect (1 of 3)
In part one of this three-part series, Heritage Minute Special host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 gets his conversation started with Duane Boyle, recently retired USAFA architect.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA's Battle Ramp
In August 1958, when the U.S. Air Force Academy completed its move from Lowry Air Force Base in Denver to its permanent location, cadets first accessed the cadet area by marching up what is now known as the "Bring Me Men" ramp.
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Heritage Minute Special: The discovery of a legend
During his cadet days, Col. (Ret.) Jim Moschgat ’77 made a remarkable discovery: One of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s janitors had earned a Medal of Honor.
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Heritage Minute Special: The history-making Class of 1969
Col. (Ret.) Darrel Whitcomb ’69 recently led a class reunion, briefing attendees on his classmates' roles during the Vietnam War.
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Heritage Minute Special: the USAFA Founders Day story
April 1, 1954, is the day President Dwight D. Eisenhower shook hands with then-Secretary of the Air Force Harold E. Talbott. The president had just signed legislation authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA'S exceptional collector
Meredith Harlow, U.S. Air Force Academy curator of artifacts, discusses her background and the work she does preserving USAFA’s history and heritage.
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Heritage Minute Special: USAFA's command historian
The Air Force Academy’s Command Historian Dr. Brian Laslie talks about his love of history and how that led him to the Academy.
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Heritage Minute Special: A lifetime chronicling and preserving history
Maj. (Ret.) Don Rightmyer ’73 has spent a lifetime chronicling and preserving history, a passion he shares with Heritage Minute Special host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77.
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Heritage Minute Special: The most decorated hockey player in Academy history
Former Air Force Academy hockey player Chuck Delich '77 is a living legend who continues to contribute to the game to this day.
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Heritage Minute Special: From cadet to senator and president
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon '77 talks with AOG Class Advisory Senate President Col. (Ret.) Randy Helms '79.
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Heritage Minute Special: What's coming in 2025
Listen in to find out plans for Heritage Minute coverage in 2025.
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Heritage Minute Special: Cadet sabers now made in the USA
The production of USAFA’s cadet sabers has moved from Germany to Colorado Springs. Heritage Minute Special host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 explains the change.
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Heritage Minute Special: 30 years of the Sabre Society
The Sabre Society came into existence 30 years ago when the Air Force Academy joined with the Association of Graduates in 1995 to sign a memorandum of understanding.
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Heritage Minute Special: A Legacy of Leadership and Scholarship
Gen. (Ret.) Steve Lorenz graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1973 and went on to participate in some of the most impactful moments in our nation’s history.
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Heritage Minute Special: How the Wings of Blue got its start
The Wings of Blue started in the spring of 1962 when a group of daring cadets — later dubbed the "bootleg jumpers" — made their first parachute jumps.
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Heritage Minute Special: "Honor Bound: A Portrait in Courage"
Host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon '77 welcome Jim Nance ’71 and Maj. Joe Flescher ’14, to the studio. Nance created the 2,000-pound "Honor Bound - A Portrait in Courage" plaque now mounted on the east exterior wall of USAFA's Southeast Asia Pavilion. Flescher served as his model.
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Heritage Minute Special: Things you might not know about Jimmy Doolittle
In this Heritage Minute Special, Col. (Ret.) John Abbatiello, PhD., author and historian, talks with host, Steve Simon ’77 about his work deep researching and studying the life and times of WWII pilot, Jim Doolittle.
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Heritage Minute Special: Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bob Vasquez
Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) Bob Vasquez has a deep history serving the Long Blue Line, including at the Air Force Academy.
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Heritage Minute Special: 45 Years Serving the Long Blue Line
In the waning days of his 45-year career serving and supporting the Long Blue Line, Maj. (Ret.) Tom Kroboth was inducted as an honorary member of the Association of Graduates.
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Heritage Minute: The Falcon Mews
Explore the Falcon Mews with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 in final Heritage Minute episode of the season. Members of the Class of ’59 chose the falcon as the U.S. Air Force Academy's mascot on Sept. 25, 1955.
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Heritage Minute Special: Eyewitness to Operation Homecoming
Maj. (Ret.) Penny Grossman served 21 years on active duty as a U.S. Air Force nurse. In 1973, she was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines during Operation Homecoming, when nearly 600 American prisoners of war were released.
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Heritage Minute: The Air Garden - Part 3
In this last part in this series featuring the history of the USAFA Air Garden, Steve Simon ’77 brings us the stories behind the displays featured in the newly restored space.
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Heritage Minute: The Air Garden - Part 2
In the next part in this series featuring the history of the USAFA Air Garden, Steve Simon ’77 walks us though the restoration efforts that took place in two phases over nearly 30 years.
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Heritage Minute: The Air Garden - Part 1
In this episode of Heritage Minute, Steve Simon ’77 brings you the history of the Air Garden. From it’s design inspirations and features, to the challenges that lead to the filling of the space with dirt and grass…
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Heritage Minute: The Dorris Mural "Order Sabers"
Discover the inspiration behind “Order Sabers” A mural painted by then cadet, now Lt. Col. (Ret.) Joe Dorris ’74. The mural illustrates life as a cadet in the early 1970s and features depictions of the cadet journey from Basic to Officer.
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Heritage Minute Special: Mystery, history and stories
Col. (Ret.) Jack Anthony ’78 is the U.S. Air Force Academy’s recognized authority on its “pre-history,” which has earned him the handle “USAFA Before USAFA History Guy.”
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Heritage Minute: The Carlton House - Part 2
In part 2 of this edition of Heritage Minute with Steve Simon '77 we follow the journey of the Carlton House complex through its varied eras — serving as a country club, high school and finally home of the Air Force Academy’s superintendent.
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Heritage Minute: The Carlton House - Part 1
In this episode of Heritage Minute with Steve Simon '77 we explore the history of the Carlton House, it’s architecture, and it’s story in Pine Valley before it became the residence of the Air Force Academy’s Superintendent.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA's 70th Birthday
It’s the Air Force Academy’s 70th year bringing up great leaders who go on to serve the nation in uniform!
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Heritage Minute: Hall of Exemplars
Let's explore the history of the Hall of Exemplars on this episode of Heritage Minute with Steve Simon '77! This display pays tribute to those individuals chosen by Air Force Academy classes as their official role models.
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Heritage Minute: McDermott Library
In this episode of Heritage Minute with Steve Simon '77 we explore the McDermott Library and its evolution throughout USAFA's history.
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Heritage Minute: Clark Special Collections
Heritage Minute with Steve Simon '77 is back! In this first episode of Season 6 we explore the story of Lt. Gen. Albert P. Clark, the 6th Superintendent of USAFA, and tour the Clark Special Collections facility located on the sixth floor of the McDermott Library.
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Heritage Minute Podcast Introduction
One key mission of the Association of Graduates is to highlight some of those things that make the Academy the special place that it is.
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Heritage Minute: Eagle Peak
Make the trek up Eagle Peak with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon '77 in this Heritage Minute!
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Heritage Minute: USAFA Chapel cocoon
In this Heritage Minute with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon '77, we take you inside the massive 180-foot tall enclosure surrounding the U.S. Air Force Academy's Cadet Chapel.
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Heritage Minute: Air Force Academy Liaison Office in Washington, D.C.
Did you know that not every U.S. Air Force Academy employee works on the Colorado Springs campus? Some are assigned to the Air Force Academy Liaison Office in Washington, D.C.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA Cemetery (4 of 4)
Burial eligibility at the USAFA Cemetery is governed by USAFA Instruction 34-501, published on Nov. 13, 2018.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA Cemetery (3 of 4)
The USAFA Cemetery serves not only as the final resting place for many distinguished individuals but also as the site of several notable structures that honor their service and legacy.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA Cemetery (2 of 4)
The USAFA Cemetery has become a revered final resting place for many of the Air Force's most distinguished leaders and heroes.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA Cemetery (1 of 4)
Tucked among pine trees just east of the Cadet Area, the 100-acre USAFA cemetery is the final resting place for nearly 2,000 individuals. It stands as a place of honor and reflection, with a history that reaches back to the Academy’s earliest days at its permanent location.
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Heritage Minute: Historic Ice Lake
Just west of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s service and supply area lies Ice Lake — a quiet spot with a surprisingly industrious past.
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Heritage Minute: Pioneer Cabin
Nestled in the wooded stretch of the Douglass Valley stands the oldest structure on the U.S. Air Force Academy grounds, and one of the oldest buildings in the entire Pikes Peak region.
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Heritage Minute: The Gallery of Great Airmen
The “Gallery of Great Airmen” is an artistic gem located in the Exemplar area of Fairchild Hall.
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Heritage Minute: The Bell of Neuville
A church bell near the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Community Center predates the Academy by more than 140 years.
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Heritage Minute: Lowry AFB
On July 11, 1955, 306 basic cadets arrived at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, to begin their journey at the United States Air Force Academy.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA's Defunct Ski Tow
In the early 1960s, some enterprising residents of Douglass Valley tried to build a neighborhood ski area in the west end of the valley.
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Heritage Minute: Falcon Stadium Heritage
Almost all of the Air Force Academy football games are televised, drawing large national audiences.
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Heritage Minute: Husted, CO
Before there was an Air Force Academy, the 18,500 acres that now host USAFA had a few settlements, most notably the small community called Husted.
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Heritage Minute: Cathedral Rock
Best known for the “Run to the Rock,” a key rite-of-passage milestone in Doolie-year training, Cathedral Rock, has an interesting history.
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Heritage Minute: The F-100 Super Sabre
One of the Academy’s best, and mostly unknown, historical artifacts is located on the campus of the Air Force Academy Preparatory School. The North American F-100 Super Sabre aircraft on static display here has an amazing history.
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Heritage Minute: C-49-J Crash Site
The Academy is home to a large number of impressive static display aircraft. In addition to those in populated areas, there is one aircraft well off the beaten path, just to the west of the Academy, that predates the others by decades.
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Heritage Minute: KAFA Radio
Lots of colleges and universities have radio stations, but there is only one KAFA!
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Heritage Minute: Cadet Field House Mural
The Air Force Academy houses one of the largest permanently hung murals in the world.
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Heritage Minute: Cadet Ice Rink
One of the three sporting venues in the Cadet Field House is the 2,600-seat Cadet Ice Rink.
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Heritage Minute: Clune Arena
Covering nearly five acres of terrain and encompassing three distinct sporting areas, the Cadet Field House plays host to a number of events, not all athletic in nature. The largest of the three venues, in terms of seating capacity, is Clune Arena.
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Heritage Minute: Cadet Field House
The Air Force Academy’s cavernous Cadet Field House contains facilities for intercollegiate basketball, hockey, and track & field, among other sports and events. Sometimes IT'S mistakenly called Clune Arena.
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Heritage Minute: T-38 Talon Static Display
Just to the west of the Academy airfield is the Thunderbird Overlook. It contains two interesting static display aircraft: the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt and the Northrop T-38 Talon.
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Heritage Minute: B-52 Stratofortress Static Display
Can you believe this behemoth shot down a MiG? Well, it did!
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Heritage Minute: A-10 Thunderbolt Static Display
The Thunderbird Overlook near the south end of the Academy is home to two static display aircraft: the Northrop T-38 Talon and the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt (aka the Warthog).
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Heritage Minute: Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Statue
A bronze statue in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen is on display outside Harmon Hall on the Academy’s Honor Court.
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Heritage Minute: The Harmon Memorial
Just to the west of the Cadet Chapel, concealed by a stand of pine trees, is a bronze statue honoring Lieutenant General Hubert Harmon, the first superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy.
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Heritage Minute: The Capt. Lance P. Sijan Memorial Sculpture
The United States Air Force Academy has one graduate Medal of Honor recipient. His name is Lance Peter Sijan, Class of 1965.
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Heritage Minute: The Belk Falcon Statue
Just outside of Falcon Stadium, on the east side, soars the largest falcon statue in the United States.
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Heritage Minute: The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy
In the early days — the 1950s, ’60s and early ’70s — Army and Navy were hesitant to face the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, citing concerns about the altitude.
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Heritage Minute: Falcon Stadium Events
The Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium has played host to countless significant events since its opening in 1962. The first event was, appropriately, a football game.
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Heritage Minute: Falcon Stadium - Home of the Fighting Falcons
Falcon Stadium, home of the Air Force Fighting Falcons, has a rich history. Plans for the facility date back to 1955, the year the first cadets reported to the Academy’s temporary home at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA Chapel — Buddhism and Other Faiths
The Cadet Chapel and surrounding areas offer worship spaces that accommodate nearly every cadet’s spiritual needs, including a Buddhist Chapel.
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Heritage Minute: Jewish Chapel
The Jewish Chapel shares the downstairs area of the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel with the Catholic and Buddhist worship spaces.
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Heritage Minute: Catholic Chapel
Occupying the bulk of the Cadet Chapel’s lower level is the Catholic Chapel. Called Our Lady of the Skies, the space was designed to give the impression of being a grotto.
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Heritage Minute: Protestant Chapel
The U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel stands alone as the only chapel at a service academy that accommodates all faith groups under one roof.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA Cadet Chapel
The U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel rises 150 feet into the thin Colorado air, its 17 gleaming spires echoing the jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains, jet formations in flight and sabres held high in salute.
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Heritage Minute: The P.O.W memorial
The Association of Graduates’ Heritage Trail features the POW Memorial Sculpture, a solemn tribute to 33 U.S. Air Force Academy graduates who endured captivity as prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.
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Heritage Minute: The Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion
The most prominent and commanding structure along the Heritage Trail is the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion. A gift from the Class of 1970, it was dedicated on Oct. 1, 2010, during its 40-year reunion.
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Heritage Minute: The Pegasus Statue
Outside Doolittle Hall at the Air Force Academy stands a striking sculpture of Pegasus, the legendary winged horse.
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Heritage Minute: Distinguished Graduate Pedestals
A vital part of the Association of Graduates’ commitment to preserving our heritage is recognizing and honoring the Academy’s most exceptional alumni.
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Heritage Minute: Class of 1959 Challenge Bridge
A key feature of the Heritage Trail at Doolittle Hall is the Challenge Bridge. The bridge was commissioned by the Academy’s first graduating class, the Class of ’59, and their surrogate upperclassmen, the Air Training Officers.
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Heritage Minute: The Heritage Trail
One of the three missions of the Association of Graduates is to promote the heritage of the Academy and the accomplishments of its graduates. One very visible representation of this undertaking is the Heritage Trail, located adjacent to Doolittle Hall, the AOG’s headquarters building.
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Heritage Minute: Doolittle Hall
In this episode, a walk-through of the Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation headquarters named for Gen. James "Jimmy" Doolittle.
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Heritage Minute: Medal of Honor Wall
In this Heritage Minute season finale, host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon '77 focuses on the Medal of Honor Wall. The display, located on the second floor of Fairchild Hall, features the names and likenesses of all members of the U.S. Air Force and predecessor organizations who have received the Medal of Honor.
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Heritage Minute: Col. Richard Gimbel Aeronautical Library
Dive into the story behind the Col. Richard Gimbel Aeronautical Library, located at the top floor of USAFA's McDermott Library!
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Heritage Minute: The Wright Brothers Display
One of the most interesting areas in the McDermott Library is the stunning circular staircase pinnacled by a replica of the Wright Brothers' airplane.
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Heritage Minute: Clark Firearm Collection
Displayed along the spiral staircase of USAFA’s McDermott Library is an impressive collection of rifles used by U.S. troops throughout the ages.
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Heritage Minute: The Graduate War Memorial
Situated at the north end of the Air Garden on the Academy Cadet area’s Terrazzo, just under the flagpole proudly displaying the American flag, is the Academy’s Graduate War Memorial.
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Heritage Minute: F-15A & F-16A
A pair of fighter jets on display at the Academy played key roles in our national defense! Steve Simon ’77 has their story.
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Heritage Minute: F-105D Thunderchief
In this episode of the Heritage Minute podcast, host Steve Simon '77, flashes back to May 1968 when the F-105D Thunderchief static display on the USAFA Terrazzo was dedicated.
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Heritage Minute: F-4D Phantom II
The most historically significant static display is the McDonnell-Douglas F-4D Phantom II located on the southeast corner near Mitchell Hall and the Air Garden.
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Heritage Minute: USAFA's 9/11 Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial was dedicated on September 9, 2011, as part of the Class of 1976's 35th reunion class giving project. The memorial incorporates an actual girder from the World Trade Center.
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