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
News: Association of Graduates Board Update
Several hundred Air Force Academy graduates, parents and family members have contacted the Association of Graduates since Wednesday to share their perspectives on two motions included among many in the agenda for today’s Association of Graduates Board of Directors meeting.
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A Prep School shoulder board origin story
In September 1974, the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School sought to replace the cheap plastic shoulder boards worn by cadet candidates with a more professional design. Leadership invited the Class of 1975 to help. The final product has remained in use for over a half century.
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Long Blue Leadership: Col. (Ret.) Michael Black ’85
What does leadership look like at the highest levels of service? In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Col. (Ret.) Michael Black ’85 discusses his journey from pilot to leading the White House communications team. He reflects on what it means to be a calm, steady presence in high-pressure environments — and how small daily practices can shape a lifetime of leadership.
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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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News: Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Groundbreaking
Supporters of the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial at the United States Air Force Academy gathered Saturday, Sept. 27, to break ground on a long-awaited project honoring these American heroes.
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Checkpoints: Mr. Jerome "Jerry" Bruni ’70, Distinguished Graduate Award Recipient
The U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation celebrates this year’s Distinguished Graduate Award winners who were recognized in late July during Long Blue Line Weekend.
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Checkpoints: Gen. (Ret.) William J. “Bill” Begert ’68, Distinguished Graduate Award Recipient
The U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation celebrates this year’s Distinguished Graduate Award winners who were recognized in late July during Long Blue Line Weekend.
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Checkpoints: Leadership Achievement Award Recipients
The U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation celebrates this year’s Leadership Achievement Award winners who were recognized in late July during Long Blue Line Weekend.
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Checkpoints: Young Alumni Excellence Award Recipients
The U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation celebrates this year’s Young Alumni Excellence Award winners who were recognized in late July during Long Blue Line Weekend.
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20/20 vision: Ensuring others experience an incentive flight like I did
Poor eyesight ended Lt. Col. (Ret.) Chuck "Dutch" Holland’s pilot dreams, but an unforgettable incentive flight in 1997 inspired his mission: ensuring cadets with similar limitations still experience flight. He now champions flight opportunities for future Space Force leaders.
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News: U.S. Air Force Academy ranks among nation's finest in U.S. News & World Report 2026 "Best Colleges" report
The U.S. Air Force Academy continues its ascent as a premier undergraduate institution, achieving significant gains in the latest U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges" rankings, released Sept. 23. USAFA ranked #2 among Public Schools, #5 among National Liberal Arts Colleges and #7 among Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.
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Long Blue Leadership: Capt. Garrett "Kap" Kauppila '19
As a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet, now-Capt. Garrett “Kap” Kauppila ’19 experienced a life-changing moment involving his older brother. That trial taught him success doesn’t involve rank — it’s about being present, showing gratitude and supporting others.
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