List of United States Air Force Academy alumni

The United States Air Force Academy is an undergraduate college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with the mission of educating and commissioning officers for the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. The Academy was established in 1954, entered its first class in 1955, and graduated its first class in 1959. All students hold the Air Force rank of "Cadet."^[1] Sports media refer to the Academy as "Air Force"; this usage is officially endorsed.^[2] Most cadets are admitted through a congressional appointment system.^[3] The curriculum is broad-based but has traditionally emphasized science and engineering.^[4] Before the Academy's first graduating class in 1959, the United States Military Academy and United States Naval Academy were the primary sources of officers for the Air Force and its predecessors, the Army Air Corps and Army Air Forces. Though the primary focus of the Academy is for the Air Force and Space Force, some graduates are given the option of "cross-commissioning" into the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, or United States Coast Guard.^[5]

Traditional hat toss and flyover by Air Force Thunderbirds at the graduation ceremony at the United States Air Force Academy

Logo of the Air Force Academy

This list is drawn from graduates, non-graduate former cadets, current cadets, and faculty of the Air Force Academy. Over 410 noted scholars from a variety of academic fields are Academy graduates, including: 41 Rhodes Scholars, 24 Marshall Scholars, 13 Harry S. Truman Scholars, 115 John F. Kennedy School of Government Scholars, and 31 Gerahart Scholars.^[6] Additional notable graduates include 794 general officers, 164 graduates who were killed in combat, 36 repatriated prisoners of war, 1 Medal of Honor recipient, and 2 combat aces.^[6] 39 Academy graduates have become astronauts, second among institutions of higher learning only to the United States Naval Academy, with 52.^[7]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Academics

"Class year" refers to the individual's class year, which usually is the same as the individual's graduation year. In times of war, academy classes may graduate early, but this has never happened yet at the Air Force Academy.

Name Class year Notability References Bradley C. Hosmer 1959 Lieutenant General; first graduate in the order of merit in the first class at the Academy; Academy's first Rhodes Scholar; first graduate to return to the Academy as Superintendent of the Air Force Academy (1991–1994) [8] Ruben A. Cubero 1961 Brigadier General; combat pilot veteran of the Vietnam War; first Hispanic Dean of Faculty at the Academy [9] Ervin Rokke 1962 Lieutenant General; first USAFA graduate to be Dean of Faculty at the Academy, 1984–86; President of National Defense University 1994–97; President of Moravian College 1997–2006 Tad J. Oelstrom 1965 Director of the National Security Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (1997–2000) [10][11] Frank Klotz 1973 Lieutenant General; Rhodes scholar; Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command; missilier [12] Linda Garcia Cubero 1980 Member of the first class of women to graduate from the United States Air Force Academy, thus the first Hispanic woman to graduate from any service academy [13] Michelle D. Johnson 1981 Lieutenant General; jet transport/tanker pilot; first woman USAF Academy Rhodes Scholar; first woman Cadet Wing Commander; Academic All American Basketball player (1981–82); inaugural member USAF Academy Sports Hall of Fame (2007); Air Force Aide to the President of the United States (1992–94); Superintendent of the Air Force Academy 2013–2017 [14] Heather Wilson 1982 Rhodes Scholar; first graduate elected to the United States Congress; U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 1st congressional district (1998–2009); President of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (2013–2017); first graduate appointed as Secretary of the Air Force (2017–2019) [15] Dana H. Born 1983 Brigadier General; first female Dean of Faculty at the Academy Thomas W. Krise 1983 13th President of Pacific Lutheran University 2012–2017 [16] Christopher B. Howard 1991 Rhodes Scholar; President of Hampden-Sydney College, 2009-16; President of Robert Morris University, 2016- [17] Hila Levy 2008 First Puerto-Rican Rhodes Scholar (2008) [18] Linell Letendre 1996 Lawyer and Dean of the Faculty [19] David A. Wagner 2017 Marshall Scholar; United States Air Force officer [20] Aryemis C. Brown 2021 Rhodes Scholar; United States Space Force officer [21] Kyrolos I. Georgey 2023 Marshall Scholar; United States Air Force officer [22]

Ruben Cubero Dana Born

Superintendents of the Academy

See also: List of Superintendents of the United States Air Force Academy

Name Class year Notability References Bradley C. Hosmer 1959 Lieutenant General; first graduate in the order of merit in the first class at the Academy; Academy's first Rhodes Scholar; first graduate to return to the Academy as Superintendent of the Air Force Academy (1991–1994) [8] Tad J. Oelstrom 1965 Director of the National Security Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (1997–2000) [10][11] Paul E. Stein 1966 Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (1994–1997) [23] John R. Dallager 1969 Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (2000–2003) [24] John F. Regni 1973 Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (2005–2009) [25] Michael C. Gould 1976 Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (2009–2013); commander of Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center (2000–2002) [26][27] Michelle D. Johnson 1981 Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (2013–2017); [28] Jay B. Silveria 1985 Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (2017–2020); [29] Richard M. Clark 1986 Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (2020–2024) [30] Tony D. Bauernfeind 1991 Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy (2024–present) [31]

Current Superintendent: Tony D. Bauernfeind

Astronauts

Name Class year Notability References Karol J. Bobko 1959 Pilot of STS-6; commanded STS-51-D and STS-51-J; only astronaut to have flown on the maiden flight of two Space Shuttle orbiters ( Challenger and Atlantis) [32] Frederick D. Gregory 1964 Pilot of STS-51-B; commanded STS-33 and STS-44; Former Deputy Administrator and former acting Administrator for NASA; first African American to command any space vehicle [33] John E. Blaha 1965 Pilot of STS-29 and STS-33; commanded STS-43 and STS-58, also flew a long-duration spaceflight on the Mir space station [34] Roy D. Bridges, Jr. 1965 Major General; Pilot of STS-51-F; Director of the Kennedy Space Center (1997–2003) and Director of Langley Research Center (2003–2005) [35] John Casper 1966 Pilot of STS-36; commanded STS-54, STS-62 and STS-77 [36] Ronald J. Grabe 1966 Pilot of STS-51-J and STS-30; commanded STS-42 and STS-57 [37] Charles L. Veach 1966 Mission specialist on STS-39 and STS-52 [38] Loren Shriver 1967 Pilot of STS-51-C; commanded STS-31 and STS-46 [39] Richard O. Covey 1968 Pilot of STS-51-I and STS-26; commanded STS-38 and STS-61 [40] Guy Gardner 1969 STS-27, STS-35 [41] Gary Payton 1971 Payload Spspecialistecialist on STS-51-C [42] Sidney M. Gutierrez 1973 Pilot of STS-40 and commanded STS-59 [43] L. Blaine Hammond 1973 Pilot of STS-39 and STS-64 [44] Terence T. Henricks 1974 Pilot of STS-44 and STS-55; commanded STS-70 and STS-78 [45] Mark C. Lee 1974 Mission specialist on STS-30, STS-64 and STS-82; payload commander of STS-47 [46] Donald R. McMonagle 1974 Mission specialist on STS-39, pilot of STS-54 and commanded STS-66 [47] William A. Pailes 1974 Payload specialist on STS-51-J [48] Ronald M. Sega 1974 Major General; mission specialist on STS-60 and STS-76; Former Undersecretary of the United States Air Force [49] Brian Duffy 1975 Pilot of STS-45 and STS-57; commanded STS-72 and STS-92 [50] Kevin P. Chilton 1976 General; only astronaut to reach 4-star rank; Pilot of STS-49 and STS-59; commanded STS-76; former commander of United States Strategic Command [51] Thomas D. Jones 1977 Mission specialist on STS-59, STS-80 and STS-98; payload commander on STS-68 [52] Charles J. Precourt 1977 Mission specialist on STS-55; Pilot of STS-71; commanded STS-84 and STS-91 [53] Curtis Brown 1978 Pilot of STS-47, STS-66 and STS-77; commanded STS-85, STS-95 and STS-103 [54] James D. Halsell 1978 Pilot of STS-65 and STS-74; commanded STS-83, STS-94 and STS-101 [55] Kevin R. Kregel 1978 Pilot of STS-70 and STS-78; commanded STS-87 and STS-99 [56] Richard A. Searfoss 1978 Pilot of STS-58 and STS-76; commanded STS-90 [57] William G. Gregory 1979 Pilot of STS-67 [58] Susan J. Helms 1980 Lieutenant general; mission specialist on STS-54, STS-64, STS-78 and STS-101; flight engineer of International Space Station Expedition 2; a member of the first class of women to graduate from the United States Air Force Academy [59] Michael J. Bloomfield 1981 Pilot of STS-86 and STS-97; commanded STS-110 [60] Steven W. Lindsey 1982 Pilot of STS-87 and STS-95; commanded STS-104, STS-121 and STS-133 [61] B. Alvin Drew 1984 Mission specialist on STS-118 and STS-133 [62] Gregory H. Johnson 1984 Pilot of STS-123, pilot of STS-134 [63] James M. Kelly 1986 Pilot of STS-102 and STS-114 [64] Eric A. Boe 1987 Pilot of STS-126 and STS-133 [65] Terry W. Virts 1989 Pilot of STS-130 [66] James Dutton 1991 Pilot of STS-131 [67] Kjell Lindgren 1995 Expedition 44, Expedition 45 [68] Jack Fischer 1996 Expedition 51, Expedition 52 [69] Nick Hague 1998 Soyuz MS-10, Soyuz MS-12 [70]

Frederick Gregory Sidney Gutierrez Mark Lee Susan Helms B. Alvin Drew James Kelly

Athletes

Name Class year Notability References Brock Strom 1959 Air Force Academy’s first All-American; captain of the undefeated 1958 USAFA football team that tied TCU in the Cotton Bowl; inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame, Michigan, in 1977, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985, the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Air Force Academy Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 2007 Gregg Popovich 1970 Head coach (1997–) of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) San Antonio Spurs who led the team to NBA championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2014; three-time NBA Coach of the Year (2003, 2012, 2014) [71] Len Salvemini 1975 1972 Third Team and 1974 Second Team All American soccer player; holds Falcon career goals and points records; played for 1976 U.S. Olympic soccer team; played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League [72] Randall W. Spetman 1976 Athletic director at Florida State University (2008–2013); former athletic director at the Academy (1996–2003) and Utah State University (2004–2008) [73] Bob Djokovich 1978 Team handball player which competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics Los Angeles; 6th President of USA Team Handball [74] Tom Schneeberger 1978 Team handball player, competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics Los Angeles, United States men's national basketball team player and ninth round draft choice of the Denver Nuggets in the 1978 NBA draft [74] William Roy 1981 Former U.S. Olympian and world champion in skeet shooting; captain of 1996 U.S. Olympic shooting team; Professor of English at United States Air Force Academy; Boeing 747 pilot for United Airlines [75] Alonzo Babers 1983 Winner of two gold medals (400m and 4×400m relay) at the 1984 Summer Olympics; Boeing 777 pilot for United Airlines [76] Kathy Callaghan 1984 Team handball player, competed in the 1988 Summer Olympics Seoul, won a gold medal at the 1987 Pan American Games Indianapolis, 1986 Military Athlete of the Year and coach of USAFA Team Handball [74][77] Ted Sundquist 1984 General Manager of Denver Broncos (2002–2008); Director of College Scouting (1995–2001) [78] Chad Hennings 1988 A-10 Thunderbolt pilot; winner of the Outland Trophy; football player for NFL's Dallas Cowboys (1992–2001); earned three Super Bowl rings; 2006 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame [79] Troy Calhoun 1989 Head coach of the Air Force football team (2006–); former offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans (2006) [80] Dee Dowis 1990 USAFA quarterback 1987-89; set the NCAA Division I career record for rushing yards by a quarterback; Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year; inducted into the Air Force Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2009 and the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 [81] Bryce Fisher 1999 Played for Buffalo Bills, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans Dan Nwaelele 2007 Basketball player, formerly in the NBA D-League and now with Levallois Metropolitans in France Chad Hall 2008 NFL wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles 2010–2012; wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers 2012–present [82] Ben Garland 2010 NFL defensive end for the Denver Broncos 2010–2012; offensive guard 2012–present [83] Tom Whitney 2010 Professional golfer, 2010–present [84][85] Jim Walmsley 2012 Ultramarathoner, 2014–present [86] Kyle Westmoreland 2014 First Air Force Academy graduate to make the cut at the U.S. Open (made at 2021 U.S. Open) [87] Madison Tung 2019 Rhodes Scholar; first female wrestler on the Air Force Academy men's wrestling team [88]

Alonzo Babers (with baton)

Businesspeople

Name Class year Notability References Gerard Finneran 1959 Expert on Third World debt during Wall Street career with Citibank, Drexel Burnham Lambert and TCW; known for 1995 air rage incident in which he defecated off a food cart [89][90] T. Allen McArtor 1964 Senior manager, FedEx (1979–1987, 1989–1994); administrator of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (1987–1989); former CEO, Legend Airlines; current chair, Airbus, North American Holdings [91] Richard T. Schlosberg 1965 Former president and CEO of the David & Lucile Packard Foundation; former publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times; Vietnam War veteran [92] Robert J. Thomas 1967 Former president and CEO of Nissan Motor Corporation USA J.W. "Wild Bill" Stealey 1970 CEO of iEntertainment Network; founder of MicroProse Software and Interactive Magic [93] Grady Booch 1977 Developer of the Unified Modeling Language and the Booch method in software engineering [94] Charles E. Phillips Jr. 1981 President of the Oracle Corporation; served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps after graduation from the academy [95] Charles Patrick Garcia 1983 President of Sterling Hispanic Markets Capital Group [96]

Grady Booch

Civilian aviation

Name Class year Notability References Chesley Sullenberger 1973 Captain who safely ditched US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River [97] LeRoy Homer 1987 Co-pilot of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked and crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001 [98] Charles Edward Jones 1974 Passenger on American Flight 11, flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 [99]

Chesley Sullenberger

Government

Name Class year Notability References Hansford T. Johnson 1959 General; first graduate to be promoted to the rank of four-star General (on October 01, 1989); Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment (2001–2005); Acting Secretary of the Navy (2003); pilot; Vietnam War veteran [100] T. Allen McArtor 1964 Senior manager FedEx (1979–1987, 1989–1994); administrator of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (1987–1989); former CEO, Legend Airlines; current chair, Airbus, North American Holdings [91] F. Michael Burkett 1970 Assistant Minority Leader of the Idaho State Senate (1989–1992, 2002–2008) [101] Chuck Reed 1970 Mayor of San Jose, California (2007–); graduated first in his class and scored the maximum on the Physical Readiness Test; his daughter Kim Reed-Campbell was also first in her Academy class [102][103] Gary A. Grappo 1972 United States Ambassador to Oman (2006–); career Foreign Service Officer [104] William "T" Thompson 1973 Commissioner, Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission, Boston, MA (1983–2000); Commissioner, Governor's Minority Business Commission (1987–1990); President and CEO, the Summit Group Companies (1981–2008), President and CEO, Association of Graduates, United States Air Force Academy (2008–), Colorado Aeronautical Board (2012-) [105] John C. Inglis 1976 Brigadier General; Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (2006–2014); U.S. National Cyber Director (2021–) [106] Joseph R. McLaughlin 1976 Commissioned into the United States Army; infantry platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division; Republican member of the Onslow County, North Carolina Board of Commissioners, candidate for U.S. Congress challenging incumbent Walter B. Jones, Jr. for the Republican nomination in North Carolina's 3rd congressional district in 2008 [107] James B. Smith 1974 Brigadier General; United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (2009–2013); Dean of Engineering, Technology, and Aeronautics at Southern New Hampshire University [108] Michael L. "Mikey" Weinstein 1977 Legal counsel to the Reagan White House; Committee Management Officer of the Iran-Contra Investigation while Assistant General Counsel of the White House Office of Administration; founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) [109] Geoff Mulligan 1979 Presidential Innovation Fellow serving the OSTP and NIST on Cyber-Physical Systems; co-creator of the White House SmartAmerica Challenge [110] Steve Dickson 1979 18th Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration Heather Wilson 1982 First graduate confirmed as Secretary of the Air Force (2017–2019); Rhodes Scholar; U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 1st congressional district (1998–2009); first graduate elected to the United States Congress; President, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (2013–2017) [111] Martha McSally 1988 Appointed to serve out remaining two years of late GOP Sen. John McCain's term by Gov. Doug Ducey (2019–2020); first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to be appointed to U.S Senate; pilot; retired as a Colonel (United States) in May 2010 after serving 22 years as a Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot [112] Chee Meng Ng 1991 Singaporean politician, current Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress; previously Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) 2013–2015 [113]

Gary Grappo John Inglis William 'T' Thompson

Legislators

Name Class year Notability References Kent Lambert 1974 Colonel; Colorado State Representative (2007–2011); Colorado State Senator (2011-2019) [104] Matthew K. Fong 1975 Former Chair of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation advisory committee; Treasurer of the State of California (1995–1999); Republican candidate for the United States Senate in the State of California in 1998 [114] Bob Gardner 1976 Colorado State Senator (2017–); Colorado State Representative (2007–2013) [115] Daryl Jones 1977 Florida State Representative (1990–1992); Florida State Senator (1992–2002); Florida gubernatorial candidate (2002); unsuccessful nominee for Secretary of the Air Force (1998) [116] Charlie Ross 1978 Fighter pilot; Mississippi State Representative (1997–1998); Mississippi State Senator (1998–2007) [117] Heather Wilson 1982 Rhodes Scholar; U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 1st congressional district (1998–2009); first graduate elected to the United States Congress [15] Martha McSally 1988 U.S. Representative from Arizona's 2nd congressional district (2015–2019); U.S. Senator from Arizona (2019–2020) [112] David L. Englin 1996 Virginia House of Delegates (2006–2012) [118] Jennifer Parenti 1995 Lieutenant Colonel; Colorado State Representative (2022–) [119] Gregory R. Ball 2001 New York State Assemblyman (2007–2010) and New York State Senator (2011-2014) [120] Troy Stubbs Member of the Alabama House of Representatives [121]

Kent Lambert Heather Wilson Bob Gardner

Literary figures

Name Class year Notability References Doug Beason 1977 Science fiction novelist; Ph.D in physics [122] Susan Grant 1982 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 20 books; RITA Award winner;[123] B-777 pilot, United Airlines; guest speaker (Class of 2015 Ring Dance) [124] John Robb 1984 Author of Brave New War; Fourth Generation War theorist [125]

Air Force figures

Air Force Chiefs of Staff

Name Class year Notability References John M. Loh 1960 General; Commander, Tactical Air Command; Commander, Air Combat Command, Vice Chief of Staff, and Acting Chief of Staff of the Air Force (1990–1991, acting); fighter pilot [126] Ronald R. Fogleman 1963 General; first graduate to serve as Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1994–1997); fighter pilot; Vietnam War veteran [127] Michael E. Ryan 1965 General; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1997–2001); Distinguished Flying Cross recipient for aerial combat in Vietnam; father John Dale Ryan also served as Chief of Staff (1969–1973) and was a bomber pilot in World War II [128] Norton A. Schwartz 1973 General; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (2008–2012); C-130/helicopter pilot [129] Mark A. Welsh III 1976 General; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (2012–2016); A-10, F-16 pilot [130] David L. Goldfein 1983 General; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (2016–); F-16 pilot [131]

Ron Fogleman

Air Force Vice Chiefs of Staff

Name Class year Notability References Michael P.C. Carns 1959 General; Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (1991–1994); fighter pilot; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient for aerial combat in Vietnam [132] John M. Loh 1960 General; Commander, Tactical Air Command; Commander, Air Combat Command; Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Acting Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1990–1991, acting); fighter pilot [126] Ralph Eberhart 1968 General; Commander, United States Space Command; Commander, United States Northern Command; Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (1997–1999); Distinguished Flying Cross recipient; combat veteran of Vietnam and Gulf War [133] Duncan J. McNabb 1974 General; Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (2008–2011) [134] David W. Allvin 1986 General; Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (2020–) [135]

Ralph Eberhart

Commanders of Air Force Major Commands

Name Class year Notability References Robert C. Oaks 1959 General; Commander, Air Training Command; Commander, United States Air Forces in Europe; fighter pilot [136] Ronald W. Yates 1960 General; Commander, Air Force Materiel Command; Commander, Air Force Systems Command; test pilot; combat veteran of Vietnam War [137] George Lee Butler 1961 General; Commander, United States Strategic Command; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient; fighter and bomber pilot; combat veteran of Vietnam War [138] Richard E. Hawley 1964 General; Commander, Air Combat Command; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient (three); combat veteran of Vietnam War [139] John G. Lorber 1964 General; Commander, Pacific Air Forces; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient (two); fighter pilot; combat veteran of Vietnam War [140] Howell M. Estes III 1965 General; Commander, United States Space Command; Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command; Commander, Air Force Space Command; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient (two); fighter pilot; combat veteran of Vietnam War [141] William J. Begert 1968 General; Commander, Pacific Air Forces; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient (two); pilot; combat veteran of Vietnam War [142] Charles R. Holland 1968 General; Commander, United States Special Operations Command; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient; AC-130 gunship pilot; combat veteran of Vietnam War [143] Charles T. Robertson 1968 General; Commander, United States Transportation Command; Commander, Air Mobility Command; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient (two); AC-130 gunship, bomber, and tanker pilot; combat veteran of Vietnam War [144] William R. Looney III 1972 General; Commander, Air Education and Training Command; pilot; combat veteran of Operation Southern Watch [145] John D. W. Corley 1973 General; Commander, Air Combat Command; fighter pilot [146] Frank Klotz 1973 Lieutenant General; Rhodes scholar; Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command; missileer [12] Stephen R. Lorenz 1973 General; Commander, Air Education and Training Command; pilot [147] Carrol Chandler 1974 General; Commander, Pacific Air Forces; fighter pilot [148] Donald J. Hoffman 1974 General; Commander, Air Force Materiel Command; fighter pilot [149] Douglas M. Fraser 1975 General; Commander, United States Southern Command; fighter pilot [150]

Robert Oaks Charles Holland Stephen Lorenz

Notable Vietnam War combatants

Name Class year Notability References Victor Joe Apodaca, Jr 1961 Major; first Native American (Navajo) graduate of the United States Air Force Academy; Vietnam War Aircraft Commander, F-4C fighter pilot; shot down over North Vietnam on June 8th, 1967, listed as Missing in Action (MIA); remains returned 2001 [151][152][153] James P. Ulm 1961 Brigadier General; commander of the 8th Flying Training Squadron and 14th Flying Training Wing [154] Richard Stephen Ritchie 1964 Brigadier General; Vietnam War pilot flying ace; Air Force Cross recipient [155] Robin G. Tornow 1964 Brigadier General; commander of the 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron; commander of the 405th Tactical Training Wing; commander of the United States Air Force Southern Air Division; Commandant of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps; recipient of the Silver Star and Legion of Merit [156] Lance Sijan 1965 Captain; prisoner of war during the Vietnam War; fighter pilot; first graduate to be awarded the Medal of Honor; the Air Force Lance P. Sijan Award for leadership in one's career and personal life is named in his honor [157] Nicholas Kehoe 1966 Lieutenant General; fighter pilot during the Vietnam War; Inspector General, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force; Assistant Inspector General in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); President and CEO of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (2003–) [158] Dale Stovall 1967 Brigadier General; Vietnam War rescue pilot; recipient of the Air Force Cross and Jabara Award; 12 successful rescue missions including Roger Locher, the deepest rescue inside North Vietnam [159] Jeffrey Feinstein 1968 Colonel; Vietnam War weapons systems officer flying ace [160] Michael Blassie 1970 First Lieutenant; A-37B Dragonfly attack aircraft pilot; prior to identification of his remains, Blassie was the unknown service member from the Vietnam War laid to rest at the Tomb of the Unknowns (1984–1998) [161]

Vic Apodaca Lance Sijan Michael Blassie

Notable Gulf War combatants

Name Class year Notability References Patrick P. Caruana 1963 Lieutenant General; commander of the 14th Air Force; Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command [162] John A. Warden III 1965 Colonel; noted air power theorist; Air Force Distinguished Service Medal recipient [163] Charles C. Baldwin 1969 Major General; Chief of Chaplains [164] John F. Nichols 1979 Brigadier General; Commander of the Texas Air National Guard [165] Brent Brandon 1984 Captain; EF-111 pilot who downed an Iraqi F-1EQ in an air-to-air engagement on the first day of Operation Desert Storm; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient for aerial combat during the Gulf War [166]

Notable War on Terror combatants

Name Class year Notability References C. Donald Alston 1978 Major General; commander of the 12th Missile Squadron, 341st Operations Group, 341st Space Wing and Twentieth Air Force [167] Martha McSally 1988 Colonel; although American women had been flying combat missions in traditionally "non-combat" aircraft (airlift, tankers, helicopters) for years, she became the first American woman to fly a "combat" aircraft in combat since the lifting of the 1991 prohibition of women in combat; veteran of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom; elected to Congress in 2014, representing Arizona's 2nd congressional district [168] Kim Reed-Campbell 1997 Colonel; graduated first in her class, as did her father Chuck Reed; Distinguished Flying Cross recipient for aerial combat during the Iraq War [102][103][169] Roslyn L. Schulte 2006 First Lieutenant; first female academy graduate killed by enemy combatants in War on Terror in Afghanistan; awarded the National Intelligence Medal for Valor [170]

Other notable Air Force graduates

Name Class year Notability References Nicole Malachowski 1996 Colonel; first woman to serve as a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds [171] Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell 1998 Major; first African-American woman to serve as a combat pilot [172] Janet C. Wolfenbarger 1980 General; as of June 5, 2012, first female in the U.S. Air Force to attain the rank of General Charles V. Bush 1963 Officer; first African-American to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy [173] Paul K. Carlton, Jr. 1969 Lieutenant General; Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force; recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal; son of General Paul K. Carlton [174] Charles C. Baldwin 1969 Major General; Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force; pilot; recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster [164] Scott A. Hammond 1975 Major general; commander and chief of staff of the Georgia Air National Guard [175] Héctor Andrés Negroni 1961 Colonel, fighter pilot, historian, defense industry executive, first Puerto Rican to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy Susan K. Mashiko 1980 Major General; first female of Japanese descent from any military service to be promoted to Flag/General Officer [176] Sharon K.G. Dunbar 1982 Major General; first military member of Korean descent to be promoted to Flag/General Officer; first female to command the Air Force District of Washington and Hill Air Force Base [176]

Space Force figures

Space Force Vice Chiefs of Space Operations

Name Class year Notability References David D. Thompson 1985 General; Vice Chief of Space Operations (2020–); first USAFA graduate to make general in the Space Force; USAFA astronautics professor (1989–1992); Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering [177]

David D. Thompson

Commanders of Space Force Field Commands

Name Class year Notability References Stephen N. Whiting 1989 Lieutenant general; commander of Space Operations Command (2020–); first commander of a Space Force field command; Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering [178]

Stephen N. Whiting

Space Force general officers

Name Class year Notability References Nina M. Armagno 1988 Lieutenant general; Space Force director of staff (2020–); first woman and first USAFA graduate to make lieutenant general in the Space Force; Bachelor of Science in Biology [178][179] John E. Shaw 1990 Lieutenant general; deputy commander of U.S. Space Command (2020–); Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering and minor in Russian Language [180]

Nina M. Armagno

Television figures

Name Class year Notability References Keith Monahan 1984 Retired Chief Meteorologist at KARK TV in Little Rock, Arkansas. Former Chief Meteorologist at KIAH TV in Houston, Texas, KDLT TV in Sioux Falls, Weekend Meteorologist at WOOD TV, Grand Rapids and Chief Meteorologist at KGWN in Cheyenne. Recipient of Television Emmy Awards for coverage of 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and coverage of the 2014 Mayflower-Vilonia EF-4 Tornado and a Television Emmy Nomination for coverage during the 2006 Houston Ice Storm. Recognized by the American Meteorology Society for scientific competence and effective communication skills and awarded the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal (#17). He graduated from AFOSI Academy in 1985 served at Bolling AFB, DC, Suwon AB, Republic of Korea and attained the rank of Captain after before being assigned as Commander of the AFOSI Detachment at the USAF Academy from 1988-1990. [181] Reichen Lehmkuhl 1996 Winner of the reality game show The Amazing Race 4; model, author, and actor; ex-boyfriend of former 'N Sync member Lance Bass; autobiography Here's What We'll Say details his time in the Academy and as a commissioned officer in the Air Force under the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy [182]

Non-graduates

As these alumni did not graduate, their class year is listed as "x-" followed by the class year they would have graduated, if known, and they are listed alphabetically by family name.

Name Class year Notability References Brian Billick x–1976 Head coach of the NFL Baltimore Ravens (1999–2007) [183] Harry Chapin x–1964 Singer [184] Larry Cole x–1968 NFL football player for the Dallas Cowboys (1968–1980); earned two Super Bowl rings [185] Brian Dubie x–1981 Pilot; Lieutenant Governor of Vermont (2003–) [186] Derio Gambaro x–1977 Missouri House of Representatives member (1999–2003) [187] Clarence Gilyard x–1978 Actor; associate professor in the College of Fine Arts Department of Theatre at the University of Nevada Las Vegas [188] Alberto Gonzales x–1979 Attorney General of the United States (2005–2007), professor at Texas Tech University (2009–) [189] Stevin Hoover x–1971 Author [190] Miles O'Keeffe x–1976 Television and movie actor [191] Justin Olsen unknown Olympic gold medalist (2010) and World Champion (2009) in four-man bobsled [192] Jody Powell x–1965 White House press secretary for President Jimmy Carter; expelled from the Academy during his senior year for cheating [193] Anthony Schlegel x-2005 Football player with the NFL's New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals (2006–2007) [194] Paul Skenes x–2024 Current baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Recipient of the 2022 John Olerud Award as the best two-way player in college baseball while at the Academy. Transferred to LSU after his 2022 third-class season and received multiple national awards with a team that won the 2023 Men's College World Series, was selected first overall in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft, and was named National League Rookie of the Year in 2024. [195][196][197] Jamil Walker x–2003 Major League Soccer player (2003–2007); 2003 MLS Cup champion [198] Daniel Wasson x–2006 Major League Soccer player [199]

See also

• Education portal
• United States portal
• Colorado portal

• United States service academies
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