September 2026 Checkpoints
In this issue:
- The 23rd superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Lt. Gen. Paul “Max” Moga ’95, assumes command.
- Celebrate a lifetime of service with Checkpoints’ Distinguished Graduate Award, Leadership Achievement Award and Young Alumni Excellence Award honoree profiles.
- A quarter century has passed since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Read about the grads who have fought in the Global War on Terrorism and how their time at USAFA prepared them.
- Learn about the Institute for Future Conflict’s new economic warfare fellow.
- Take a deep dive into the results from the Association & Foundation’s recent all-graduate survey.
- Check out photo essays of the Class of 2030 and significant ribbon cuttings from around the Academy.
- The Academy is honoring legendary coach Fisher DeBerry with a bronze statue at Falcon Stadium and endowment in his name.
- Association & Foundation CEO Mark Hille ’97 writes about the commitment to service before self that binds all USAFA grads.
- AOG board chair Cathy Almand ’90 reflects on the USAFA people and events who recently impacted her and reinforced her pride in the institution.
- Learn about those who designed USAFA’s interiors — and so much more!
Newsroom and stories
Air Force Gradcast: July 2025
The Class of 2029 arrives and brings a record-breaking crowd; the Academy releases new security info for non-military ID holders; USAFA athletes are exhibiting excellence on a national level; and we share an informational, motivational and emotional conversation with Rick Wright ’74, AOG North Texas chapter president.
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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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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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Checkpoints: Embedded: The inception of enlisted leaders in cadet squadrons
Thirty years ago, enlisted leaders were imbedded in cadet squadrons, enhancing leadership development and how elisted personne and officers worked together.
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Checkpoints: From the Tilton Hilton to Bell CEO
Checkpoints sat down with Lisa Atherton '96, president and CEO of Bell Textron, an 8,500-employee aerospace company manufacturing and delivering helicopters and vertical lift aircraft to military and commercial customers around the world, to talk about her USAFA journey and leadership philosophy.
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Checkpoints: Eagles Peak: Jemal Singleton ’99 soars in rarified air — and has the Super Bowl ring to prove it
In April 2025, the Checkpoints team traveled to Philadelphia to visit with Singleton for this feature story and a Long Blue Leadership podcast interview. Singleton also took time from his busy schedule to meet with graduates for a Long Blue Line Social in the City of Brotherly Love.
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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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Checkpoints: Four graduates reimagining patient care through innovation and education
The Air Force Academy’s influence extends far beyond the cockpit and into health care innovation, as four graduates — among many — demonstrate daily in applying their military precision to pioneering medical advances across diverse specialties.
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Checkpoints: Forged in fire: Largest-ever Culminating Exercise puts Ready Airman Training skills to the test
Over a span of four late-winter days, the U.S. Air Force Academy transformed from a world-class military and educational institution into an Indo-Pacific island rife with escalating geopolitical tensions in what was the largest Culiminating Exercise to date.
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Checkpoints: Augmenting an Academy education
Dr. Paul Kaminski ’64 enjoyed a U.S. Air Force career full of technological firsts that made the United States safer and demonstrated its technological prowess.
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Sabre Society Podcast: USAFA grad making a global impact
Rod Little '92, president and CEO of Edgewell Personal Care, discusses his leadership journey and his ongoing engagement with the 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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