United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a United States service academy in El Paso County, Colorado, immediately north of Colorado Springs. It educates cadets for service in the officer corps of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. It is the youngest of the five service academies, having graduated its first class 65 years ago in 1959, but is the third in seniority. Graduates of the academy's four-year program receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force or U.S. Space Force. The academy is also one of the largest tourist attractions in Colorado, attracting approximately a million visitors each year.
| Motto | Integrity First, Service before self, Excellence in all we do |
|---|---|
| Type | U.S. Service Academy |
| Established | 1 April 1954 |
| Endowment | $98.937 million (2019) |
| Superintendent | Lieutenant general Richard M. Clark, USAF |
| Dean | Brigadier general Linell Letendre, USAF |
| Commandant of Cadets | Brigadier general Gavin Marks, USAF |
Academic staff | 570 (71% military; 29% civilian in 2013) |
| Students | 4,304 cadets (2021) |
| Location | , , U.S. 39.01°N 104.89°W |
| Campus | Suburban, 18,500 acres (7,500 ha) |
| Colors | Blue Gray |
| Nickname | Falcons |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division I – MW MPSF, Big 12, ASUN, PRC, WWPA, Atlantic Hockey |
| Mascot | Falcon |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Air Force Organizational Excellence Award |
| Athletics | 27 varsity teams 17 men's and 10 women's |
| Website | usafa.af.mil (Military) usafa.edu (Educational) |
Admission is competitive, with nominations divided equally among Congressional districts. Recent incoming classes have had about 1,200 cadets; since 2012, around 20% of each incoming class does not graduate. During their tenure at the academy, cadets receive tuition, room and board, and a monthly stipend all paid for by the Air Force. On the first day of a cadet's second class year, cadets commit to serving a number of years as a commissioned officer in the Air Force or Space Force. Non-graduates after that point are expected to fulfill their obligations in enlisted service or pay back full tuition. The commitment is normally five years of active duty and three years in the reserves, although it has varied depending on the graduate's Air Force Specialty Code.