The U.S. Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors opened its Aug. 7 meeting at the Falcon Club.

Dr. Raquel Rimpola, the board’s designated federal officer, indicated to members that their role is to advise the secretary of defense and secretary of the Air Force on Academy matters — from curriculum and morale to facilities and fiscal policy.

U.S. Rep. August Pfluger ’00, the board’s chairman, opened the meeting with remarks.

“We have seen a level of success that has to be continued,” Congressman Pfluger said of the Academy. “It has to be maintained, and that development that is spent with four years of training here forges our character. It develops our minds, and it equips us with the necessary skills that are required to face the unknown.”

Pfluger noted support of the board from the secretary of defense, who expressed eagerness to receive its findings.

Pfluger highlighteed the quality and excellence of Academy cadets and described graduates as “leading in every domain.” As chairman of the BOV, he said his focus is on making sure USAFA executes its leadership development and prepare cadets for the challenges of tomorrow. He called on the board to “hit the reset button” as it moves forward.

Established under Title 10 U.S. Code 9455, the Board of Visitors inquires into the morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters relating to the Academy which the Board decides to consider.

The board consists of six members appointed by the president of the United States, three appointed by the vice president of the United States, four appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one designated by the Senate Armed Services Committee and one designated by the House Armed Services Committee.

At the Aug. 7 meeting, Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind ’91 and senior staff provided updates on the Academy, focusing on character, critical thinking and combat readiness. He introduced Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans ’99 as the new vice superintendent, Col. Steven Hasstedt '92 as acting dean, and Leslie Forrester as acting chief of staff in the absence of Col. (Ret.) Gail Colvin ’80, who he said was preparing for retirement.

Gen. Bauernfeind outlined a training shift toward agile combat employment. Cadets now train in weapons handling, tactical communication, navigation and battlefield medicine. A new Cadet Warfighter Instructor Course enhances peer-led training and cohesion, he said.

The superintendent said, academically, the 29-course, 98-credit-hour core curriculum spans foundational to advanced topics. Majors and minors are built to strengthen critical thinking and adaptability. A new future conflict minor is pending approval.

Over the past year, the Academy has reshaped its training model, he said, to meet modern security challenges. Cadet squadrons now own their training, including instruction in unmanned aerial systems and battlefield care. Physical readiness has been updated, with enhanced combatives and water survival, and a senior-year fitness capstone in development.

The superintendent said character development remains core, supported by a cadet-owned Honor Code and a structured, four-year leadership model:

• Freshmen: teamwork and followership
• Sophomores: frontline supervision
• Juniors: mission planning and team management
• Seniors: tactical and strategic leadership

Advancement is now performance-based, mirroring active-duty standards, the superintendent explained. Cadets falling short receive remedial training, and discipline is applied consistently, with tiered sanctions based on the experience of the offending cadet.

Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks ’96 outlined how this system shapes cadet development over 47 months. Cadets enter as learning foundational discipline and military customs. Three-degrees serve as cadet NCOs, building supervisory skills and personal connections with subordinates. Second-degrees assume team leader roles, mastering mission planning and risk management. Seniors serve as cadet officers, responsible for mission execution, personnel and culture.

Cadets progress from basic skills — such as gas-mask drill proficiency — to supervising, instructing and evaluating peers. The Cadet Warfighter Instructor Course certifies upperclassmen to lead training efforts, Gen. Marks explained. Training begins during Basic Cadet Training and continues through fall and spring culminating exercises. Summer experiences like airmanship and combat survival add additional experience. Promotions, he said, depend on demonstrated standards.

Col. Steven Hasstedt '92, acting dean of the faculty, outlined the Academy’s curriculum as a continuously evolving system that integrates academic coursework with military training and athletic development. It emphasizes airspace and cyber mindsets, he said, and regular feedback from stakeholders ensures course content remains relevant and prepares cadets for real-world challenges.

The curriculum’s design supports the Academy’s top priorities: forging warfighters to win, developing leaders of character and quality, and creating critical thinkers to adapt. Multidisciplinary teams continuously assess outcomes to ensure programs meet accreditation standards and drive improvement. 

Cadets select from 10 warfighting-related minors — such as aerospace materials and quantum studies — with additional options like the Future Conflict minor in development. 

Director of Athletics Nathan Pine and Athletics Executive Director Col. (Ret.) Jennifer Block ’92 provided their updates. 

Pine emphasized the department’s unique structure and purpose, highlighting its dual mission: competing at the highest level of NCAA Division I athletics while developing leaders for the Air Force and Space Force.

The department serves all 4,000 cadets through physical education, fitness testing intramurals, and varsity sports. While 30 programs fall under its purview, 28 compete in NCAA-sponsored events — primarily in the Mountain West Conference – and all are Division I.

What sets Air Force apart, he said, is its embedded nonprofit, the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation, which allows flexibility in hiring and funding. Pine pointed to the $90 million privately funded renovation of Falcon Stadium’s Kucera Legacy Center as a prime example of projects executed on time and within budget.

Despite hiring challenges and the turnover many Division I athletics programs experience, the department remains a key marketing arm for the Academy. Pine said the teams’ earned media value totaled nearly $400 million last year, benefiting admissions and the military’s visibility.

Col. Block, executive director of athletic programs, reinforced the department’s broader role, explaining that all cadets take 10 physical education courses over four years.

The core includes boxing, combatives, aquatics and physical development. As the Academy enhances its emphasis on warfighting readiness, new senior-year electives are being introduced:

• Advanced Water Survival: for rated and special warfare tracks, emphasizing teamwork and adaptability.
• Rated Physical Readiness: preparing cadets “to fly on Day 1.”
• Close Quarters Battle: targeting defenders and special warfare cadets, focused on grit, discipline and tactical room-clearing skills.

Rounding out the new curriculum, Col. Block detailed a beta test for a capstone physical education course that integrates elements from all core training areas. The course is designed to emphasize operational stress recovery, situational awareness, and leadership under uncertainty — reflecting the increasing complexity of modern combat environments. 

During the following Q&A, board members asked questions about the Academy’s position on name, image and likeness compensation. Pine clarified that the Air Force Academy, like its sister service academies, does not participate in NIL due to legal constraints for government employees. 

Further discussion highlighted concern over the NCAA transfer portal’s impact on competitive balance. Unlike traditional schools, the Academy cannot replace a departing upperclassman with another at the same level. 

Once cadets commit, transfer is no longer an option unless they pursue enlistment or financial payback in lieu of service.

Members of the board noted bipartisan concern in Congress, acknowledging that the current system unfairly disadvantages service academies. 

Col. Ahave Brown, commander of the 10th Air Base Wing, described the unit’s critical role in supporting the Air Force Academy’s mission through “base operating support and integrator,” or BOS-I. This includes logistics, security, maintenance and medical operations.

Col. Brown emphasized a data-driven approach to managing aging infrastructure, focusing on modernization, academic support and maintenance.

Recent infrastructure wins, he said, include the $60 million Madera Cyber Innovation Center and the Hosmer Visitor Center at TrueNorth Commons. Col. Brown also highlighted the ongoing restoration of the Cadet Chapel.

Looking ahead, the Academy is launching Fix USAFA 2.0, a long-term revitalization plan starting with Sijan Hall, home to 2,000 cadets. Future phases will address Vandenberg or Fairchild Halls, Clune Arena, the cadet fitness center and the headquarters building. Updating the heat plant and 14 miles of underground utility tunnels are also part of the plan.

Board of Visitors members, in particular Charlie Kirk, expressed concern about the Cadet Chapel closure. Though built in two years, restoration is projected to take nine, he observed. 

Kirk added that he would like to see the project be treated as a national priority, possibly elevated to the secretary of defense or White House. 

The superintendent indicated his willingness to accept the board’s support and accelerate the timeline if possible.

Pfluger concluded the proceedings stating his time at the Academy during the previous two days had been “incredibly insightful.”

He said, “Given our current geopolitical environment and the serious threats we face, there has perhaps never been a more critical time for this mission. The intersection of technology and global conflict means that air and space dominance will be decisive in every theater and potential conflict. While this is not a competition with other services, the truth is clear: Air and Space are domains where we must lead.”

Pfluger thanked the senior staff for the ongoing partnership between this board and the Academy — access to the institution, opportunities to engage with cadets and faculty and working together to advocate effectively. 

Pfluger said the board anticipates holding four meetings annually: at least one in person at USAFA, one in Washington, D.C., and two virtually.

• Alabama Sen. Tommy H. Tuberville; Dan Clark; Col. (Ret.) Doug J. Nikolai ’89; Charlie Kirk; Dina Powell; Robert Bigelow: Appointed by the president
• Texas Rep. August Pfluger; Colorado Rep. Jeff Crank: Appointed by the speaker of the House 
• North Carolina Rep. Don Davis: Appointed by the House minority leader 
• Montana Sen. Steve Daines: Appointed by the Senate majority leader; [Additional vacant seat]
• Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin: Appointed by the Senate minority leader; [Additional vacant seat]
• Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker: Appointed by the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman 
• Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper: Appointed by the Senate Armed Services ranking (Designee)
• Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon: Appointed by the House Armed Services Committee (Designee)
• New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez: Appointed by the House Armed Services ranking (Designee)

For more information about the USAFA Board of Visitors, including its charter and bylaws, click here to visit its webpage.