U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (April 4, 2025) — The U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates has announced the 2024 Young Alumni Excellence Award recipients. The award is presented to graduates within the last 15 years based on the recipient’s outstanding professional achievement and community contributions, whether in military or civilian life.

This year’s honorees are Maj. Megan Biles ’10, Maj. Joseph Bledsoe ’11 and Anson Cheng ’18.

Maj. Megan Biles ’10 is an accomplished Air Force special operations pilot currently assigned to the Pentagon, conducting strategic analysis for the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force. She has held key positions, including special operations evaluator pilot, liaison officer to the U.S. embassy in Burkina Faso and aide-de-camp to the vice commander at U.S. Special Operations Command. After studying military strategy at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, the Air Force selected her to pursue a Ph.D. focused on operationalizing military integration with allies and partners.

Biles co-chaired the Department of the Air Force’s Barrier Analysis Working Groups, influencing policies affecting over 230,000 active-duty women, 50,000 civilians, and Guard and Reserve members. Her advocacy led to the Cadet Act, groundbreaking reform for pregnant cadets at U.S. service academies, and the data-driven modernization of flight restrictions for pregnant aviators, improving service readiness. Biles has also completed national security fellowships with the Center for a New American Security and the Irregular Warfare Initiative.

Maj. Joseph Bledsoe ’11 is an Intermediate Developmental Education fellow at USAFA’s Institute for Future Conflict. Bledsoe, president of his Academy class, graduated from USAFA with distinction and has continued making an impact through his leadership in both the military and alumni community. A combat-proven F-15E pilot, Bledsoe innovated training programs for fighter pilots and helped strengthen the U.S.-Israeli military relationship. He earned a fellowship at the University of Maryland, focusing on public policy with an emphasis on international security and economic policy.

Bledsoe’s commitment to leadership extends to his work within the USAFA alumni community. As an influential figure in the Class Advisory Senate and AOG board of directors, he played a role in the Association of Graduates shifting to no-cost membership for all graduates. Since Membership for All Graduates launched in early 2022, the percentage of members has increased from 58% to 72%. Bledsoe also served at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, where he oversaw the 366th Fighter Wing’s training operations, prioritizing the Fighter Wing’s first deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

Recently selected as a Rising Leader Fellow with the Aspen Security Group, Bledsoe collaborates with top emerging national security professionals on policy challenges shaping the future.

Anson Cheng ’18 has made significant strides in both military service and technology. After earning his degree in operations research at USAFA, Cheng served as an operations research analyst, where he conducted groundbreaking research on artificial neural networks in support of space launch operations as well as leading analytical efforts for the Air Force's air-to-ground weapons systems evaluation program.

Cheng’s leadership roles within the Department of Defense have been integral in advancing cybersecurity and communication efforts, including during critical events such as the SolarWinds hack, Hurricane Ian response and the Russia-Ukraine War. He later applied his artificial intelligence expertise at software start-up companies such as Plato Systems and SkyFi. Cheng has also worked at Google, contributing to privacy and security initiatives across major products. 

In addition to his career in technology, Cheng volunteers as the chief financial officer for Service to School, helping hundreds of veterans transition to higher education each year. He is currently a graduate student at The Wharton School and Harvard Kennedy School, continuing his commitment to leadership, service and innovation.

Biles, Bledsoe and Chang will be honored as part of USAFA’s Long Blue Line Weekend July 24-27.

Registration for the event will open this spring.