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 Special: Homestead Roots
In this Heritage Minute Special, Col. (Ret.) Jack Anthony ’78 shares how property research led to a connection with Col. David McAlroy ’03 — a direct descendant of those early settlers.
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Heritage Minute: Wecker Hall — Home at Last
From borrowed office space to a state-of-the-art headquarters — the Air Force Academy Foundation has a new home.
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Heritage Minute Special: Maj. Julian "Cosmo" Gluck ’12 - Honoring Air Power's Roots
In this Heritage Minute Special, Maj. Julian Gluck ’12 reflects on the enduring legacy of Gen. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz — the U.S. Air Force’s first chief of staff — and the Civil Air Patrol.
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Heritage Minute: Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold Sculpture
The statue honoring Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold has been a defining landmark at the U.S. Air Force Academy since its dedication on Nov. 5, 1993.
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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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