U.S. Air Force Academy

Academy School District 20 broke ground on a new pre-k through eighth-grade school at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, funded by a $42.7 million federal grant. The school will replace Douglas Valley Elementary and provide military children with uninterrupted education by adding sixth through eighth grades on base.

The U.S. Air Force Academy's newest cadets are undergoing an intensified training program in Jack's Valley, designed to be more challenging than previous years. This increased rigor aims to prepare them for a 'different war' focused on great power competition.

The Department of the Air Force restored funding for 26 civilian faculty positions at the U.S. Air Force Academy and approved an exemption from a hiring freeze for academic faculty and training instructors. The decision followed advocacy by Rep. Jeff Crank and aims to maintain academic excellence and STEM qualifications at the academy.

The Department of the Air Force restored funding for 26 civilian faculty positions at the U.S. Air Force Academy and approved an exemption to its hiring freeze for academic faculty and training instructors. The decision followed a review of the FY2026 workforce optimization plan and aims to maintain academic excellence by allowing the academy to fill vacancies in STEM and other critical fields.

Vice President JD Vance shared a playful chest-bump with a graduating airman during the U.S. Air Force Academy commencement ceremony, drawing cheers from the crowd. The lighthearted exchange went viral on social media, with supporters praising the interaction.

The U.S. Air Force Academy conducted its annual 24-hour 'CULEX' combat simulation, involving 4,000 cadets in a mock war scenario set in Hokkaido, Japan. The exercise, led by upperclassmen, includes defending airfields, high-value assets, and managing real-world challenges like enemy 'Red Force' invasions and injured officers.