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
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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