The U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors met at the Falcon Club Oct. 16 to hear updates on Academy operations, strategic priorities and major initiatives shaping the institution. Discussions focused on cadet development, academics, athletics, Space Force integration and ongoing efforts to modernize the Academy's aging infrastructure.

Board Chairman Rep. August Pfluger ’00 opened the meeting by welcoming USAFA’s 23rd superintendent, Lt. Gen. Paul Moga ’95, to his first Board of Visitors meeting as the Academy’s top senior leader. Rep. Pfluger then recognized several recent Academy accomplishments, including the football team’s recent victory over the U.S. Naval Academy, top three placement in the U.S. News & World Report public college rankings and a new Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously performing push-ups for one minute (which the Naval Academy had held).

Rep. Pfluger also reviewed recommendations from the board’s latest semiannual report.

“I have sent the board's semiannual report to the secretary of War in September,” he said, “and it also includes key recommendations for the Department of War.”

The recommendations address a range of topics, including infrastructure funding, flying training, cadet internships, military faculty development, the Preparatory School, updates to the bylaws of the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation to give the superintendent more authority over AFAAC actions and expanded opportunities in air, space and cyber training.

Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Richard Anderson attended his first Board of Visitors meeting and voiced his support for both the board and the Academy’s mission.

“I will make it a personal priority to be at these meetings in person because I think what you do is essential and crucial not only to the cadets here but to our nation,” Sec. Anderson said.

Gen. Moga reflected on what he has learned during his first 60 days as superintendent and the areas he believes deserve the Academy’s attention moving forward.

He said his initial focus has been on listening, understanding where resources are needed and ensuring the Academy remains centered on its mission of preparing young officers for service in the Air Force and Space Force.

“I don’t think that the mission of this Academy has fundamentally changed over the years…. We build and inspire the next generation of warfighters that are prepared to go out and lead with character, so we can deliver elite military leaders to win the future fight,” Gen. Moga said.

He said the words to describe the Academy’s work may change, but the mission is clear, he added.

He emphasized the importance of helping cadets stay connected to their purpose throughout their time at the Academy and ensuring military, academic and athletic programs work together toward that common goal.

“Their purpose for being here should be to complete the 47 months, get their degree, get their commission, and go out and serve their country as members of the profession of arms,” he said, adding that they need to be ready to “fight and win wars on command and on demand.”

Gen. Moga said every aspect of the cadet experience should reinforce that sense of purpose rather than compete with it.

“Everything the cadets experience here should, optimally, be complementary. It should never be contradictory,” he said.

He also spoke about accountability, institutional pride and maintaining the standards expected of future officers. He said that the Academy is hard and cadets “should be dang proud to be here.” He said USAFA graduates are known for being smart, well-rounded and tough, and having character and integrity.

“These phenomenal young men and women who compete, apply and get selected to attend this academy are the best our nation has to offer,” Gen. Moga said. “When they graduate, they should be proud to be from here.”

Gen. Moga concluded his update by saying he’s taking his time with big changes regarding mission, vision and priorities. Any changes to those may be rolled out next year, but he noted institutional changes are already underway “inside the Academic Wing, the Cadet Wing, the airfield and the Athletic Department.”

Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Brandon Tellez ’01 gave an overview of military training programs and the Academy’s approach to developing resilient leaders for the Air and Space Forces.

Gen. Tellez said the Academy intentionally challenges cadets physically, mentally and emotionally throughout their 47 months at USAFA, creating experiences that build confidence, adaptability and the ability to perform under pressure.

“That’s exactly what my job is: to create moments of doubt, to find ways to motivate and encourage, and push them to a limit that they did not know they could get through,” Gen. Tellez told the board.

Those moments of doubt often become defining points in a cadet’s development, he said. By overcoming difficult challenges, cadets gain confidence in their abilities and learn they are capable of more than they initially believed possible.

Gen. Tellez highlighted the strength of incoming classes and expanded military training opportunities, which provide cadets additional chances to test themselves in demanding environments. He also emphasized the continued importance of the Cadet Honor Code and a renewed focus on teamwork, peer leadership and healthy competition across the Cadet Wing.

He pointed to programs such as Commandant’s Challenge and VALEX exercises as examples of how cadets develop trust, teamwork and leadership while learning to operate effectively in complex situations.

Gen. Tellez also cited the Cadet-for-a-Day program as an example of the character and compassion demonstrated throughout the Cadet Wing. The program gives children facing serious health challenges an opportunity to experience cadet life, with cadets volunteering their time to make the day memorable for each participant.

“If a warrior’s heart is strong, it’s also warm,” he said. “That’s evident in the way our cadets care for one another and serve others.”

Provost Brig. Gen. James Valpiani ’04 opened his update by explaining two titles that are new to the Academy's lexicon: Academic Wing and provost. He said the terminology reflects a significant reorganization intended to better align academic programs with the increasingly complex problems future officers will face. As chief academic officer, Gen. Valpiani now serves as the Academy's provost, overseeing an Academic Wing structure designed to foster greater collaboration across disciplines.

The reorganization replaces a model in which more than 20 departments reported directly to the dean of the faculty with four integrated schools: the School of Integrated Engineering Sciences, the School of Integrated Basic Sciences, the School of Integrated Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and the School of Integrated General Studies.

Gen. Valpiani also outlined planned updates to the core curriculum, including greater emphasis on the humanities, engineering, military studies, emerging technologies and constitutional foundations. A significant element of the redesign is the addition of an American history course to the core curriculum.

He said the redesign is intended to help cadets see how multiple disciplines come together to solve real-world challenges.

“Our objective is not necessarily to make our cadets excellent in aeronautical engineering, astronautical engineering, mechanical engineering,” he said. “What we really want them to understand is how those elements come together in order to design, develop, operate, maintain and employ the world’s finest technologies.”

Gen. Valpiani also discussed efforts to prepare cadets for a future shaped by superintelligence, autonomy and rapidly evolving technology. New initiatives include hands-on experiences involving drones, war-gaming environments and integrated engineering design projects.

Responding to questions from board members about remotely piloted aircraft and the future of collaborative combat aircraft, Gen. Valpiani said cadets are increasingly exposed to autonomous systems and emerging operational concepts. He described efforts to integrate superintelligence, unmanned systems and realistic war-gaming scenarios into cadet experiences so graduates better understand how future air and space forces are likely to fight.

“These are not technologies of the future. These are technologies of today,” Gen. Valpiani said, adding that exposure to autonomous and SI-enabled systems helps cadets understand both the capabilities and limitations of rapidly evolving technologies.

Board members discussed the role that American history plays in preparing officers to serve in a constitutional republic and lead in increasingly complex strategic environments. Gen. Valpiani said the revised curriculum will help cadets develop a deeper appreciation of the historical foundations of military service while bolstering their understanding of the nation's institutions and values.

“It is currently the case that we do not have a course on American history,” Gen. Valpiani said, noting that a stronger understanding of the nation’s history, founding principles and constitutional framework is essential to developing future military officers. He said the Academy cannot rely on high schools to fill this need and noted that American history would make “a comeback” at the Academy so cadets have “the long view.”

Acting Athletic Director Dr. Nancy Hixson and Executive Director of Athletics Col. (Ret.) Jennifer Block ’92 updated board members on athletic achievements and physical fitness initiatives.

Academy teams recorded several notable victories over service-academy rivals during the fall season, while the football team continued its pursuit of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

Athletics leaders also reported expanded fitness training during Basic Cadet Training and measurable improvements in physical readiness across the Cadet Wing. Officials said the incoming class achieved high average Physical Fitness Test scores during Basic Cadet Training, while cadets also posted the highest average aerobic fitness assessment score in the past five years.

Officials also highlighted a significant reduction in the number of cadets on athletic probation, reflecting improvements in overall fitness across the wing. Leaders credited increased emphasis on year-round conditioning, performance education and collaboration between athletic and military training staffs.

The briefing also highlighted leadership development opportunities for cadet-athletes, increased exposure to rated career fields and community engagement events hosted at Academy facilities, such as the recent Bruno Mars concert at Falcon Stadium, which drew approximately 67,000 concertgoers over two nights.

Col. Stephanie Silva ’04, commander of Space Force Delta 1, Detachment 1, provided an update on the Academy's ongoing integration of Space Force education and training.

Col. Silva said approximately 40 guardians currently serve across Academy organizations, helping build greater awareness and understanding of the space domain among cadets.

“Our job is to motivate, inspire, educate and train cadets to commission elite, space-minded second lieutenants in both the Space Force and the Air Force,” Col. Silva said.

She highlighted growth in space-focused academic courses, operational training opportunities, summer programs, satellite operations, international partnerships and rocketry initiatives.

Col. Silva noted that the Academy continues to commission roughly 100 future guardians each year and remains the largest commissioning source for the Space Force.

Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment Michael Borders discussed the USAFA 2050 initiative and the challenges associated with maintaining an aging campus.

“This is my 10th month in the job and my third trip out to the Academy. And just to be completely blunt, the reason why is the chapel,” he said.

Sec. Borders emphasized the urgency of addressing decades of infrastructure underinvestment across the Academy, adding the institution has more than $4 billion in deferred maintenance projects. Recent congressional support and legislative protections were credited with helping preserve funding for projects such as the Sijan Hall renovation and providing more positive outlooks for future infrastructure investments.

In addition, the Pentagon is reviewing enhanced-use leasing and gift-acceptance authorities to provide Academy leadership with greater flexibility to direct resources where they are most needed. Sec. Borders expressed confidence that USAFA 2050, combined with congressional support and advocacy from Academy graduates, provides a viable path to restoring and modernizing the institution.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment Nancy Balkus ’88 provided an overview of the USAFA 2050 task force, which is developing a long-range strategy for facilities modernization.

The initiative prioritizes critical repairs, ongoing sustainment requirements and long-term modernization efforts.

Col. Bryan Cooper, director of the Cadet Chapel Program Management Office, provided an update on the chapel restoration project.

Col. Cooper said construction remains on track, with beneficial occupancy scheduled for April 2028 and final contract completion projected for August 2028.

Work continues on exterior weatherproofing, glass installation and interior restoration. Col. Cooper announced plans to remove the chapel's protective enclosure before the Class of 2027 graduation, marking a significant milestone in the restoration effort.

Board members also discussed topics including cadet nutrition, club sports participation and military faculty copyright protections.

The board voted to continue monitoring two existing action items related to faculty copyrights and implementation of the USAFA 2050 initiative. Public comments were allowed following the action item discussion.

During closing remarks, Rep. Pfluger thanked Academy leaders for hosting board members and providing opportunities to engage directly with cadets and observe Academy life.

“Our commitment from this board is that we are going to fight to ensure that the Air Force Academy has the resources to train these elite military members,” Rep. Pfluger said.

The meeting concluded with recognition of the newest board members, Erika Kirk and Jon Hotaling, and departing board member Rep. Don Bacon for his decade of service on the Board of Visitors. The board will next meet virtually in December.

The U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors is established under Title 10 U.S. Code 9455. The Board 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. Its members are:

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Dan Clark, Doug Nikolai, Dina Powell, Erika Kirk, Jon Hotaling — appointed by the president of the United States.

Colorado Rep. Jeff Crank, Texas Rep. August Pfluger — appointed by the speaker of the House.

North Carolina Rep. Donald Davis, Vacant — appointed by the House minority leader.

North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer, South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds — appointed by the House minority leader.

Delaware Sen. Christopher Coons, Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen — appointed by the Senate minority leader. 

North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd — 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, bylaws and official minutes, click here to visit its webpage.