U.S. Air Force Academy Welcomes Lt. Gen. Paul Moga As 23rd Superintendent - 08/07/26

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Lt. Gen. Paul Moga became the 23^rd Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy on Friday, assuming command from Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind during a change of command ceremony on Stillman Field. 

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach presided over the leadership transition for the nation’s premier military service academy and a preeminent commissioning source for the Department of the Air Force. 

“We are gathered today for a time-honored military tradition as we mark the transition of leadership at this premier institution from one outstanding leader, Lieutenant General Tony Bauernfeind, to another, Lieutenant General Paul "Max" Moga,” said Gen. Wilsbach. “Both men are stellar officers: they are smart, mission-focused, and seasoned warfighters. These leaders, both outgoing and incoming, have had deep impacts, and it’s a rare opportunity to celebrate both transitions at the same time.”

The new Superintendent is no stranger to the Academy and Colorado Springs; Lt. Gen. Moga is a 1995 Academy graduate and served as the Commandant of Cadets from 2021 to 2023. 

A command pilot with more than 2,600 flight hours in the F-15C, F-22 and F-35A, including more than 250 combat hours, Lt. Gen. Moga has commanded at the squadron, wing and numbered Air Force levels. His previous leadership assignments include commanding Third Air Force at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, as well as serving as the first F-22 Demonstration Team commander. Additionally, Lt. Gen. Moga has held key joint staff positions at U.S. European Command and U.S. Northern Command.

Lt. Gen. Moga pinned on his third star prior to the change of command ceremony.

"The history and legacy of this Academy is written by the leaders and warfighters it forges," Lt. Gen. Moga said. "We will honor our history and our heritage while ruthlessly preparing our graduates for the future fight. I am incredibly proud to be back here as your Superintendent."

As a former Commandant of Cadets, Lt. Gen. Moga was highly respected for his hands-on, "in-the-trenches" leadership style. He famously ran the Jacks Valley obstacle and assault courses alongside basic cadets to model the warrior mindset.

Now, he will not only model the warrior mindset but will be responsible for shaping and maintaining the crucible of cadet training to forge the officers the Air Force, Space Force and nation need to fight and win on day one.  

Lt. Gen. Moga will not accomplish this alone. A change of responsibility took place during the ceremony. Chief Master Sgt. Tessa Fontaine became the academy's new command chief master sergeant, assuming responsibility from Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig. The command chief master sergeant is the superintendent’s senior enlisted leader and trusted adviser, responsible for the readiness, welfare, morale, quality of life and professional development of the unit's enlisted members.

Lt. Gen. Bauernfeind, a 1991 Academy graduate, relinquished command following a highly focused tenure dedicated to restoring the "Warrior Ethos" and adapting the 47-month cadet experience to meet the operational demands of modern conflict. His structural reforms prioritized standards, merit-based admissions and rigorous field exercises, including the Cadet Wing Culminating Exercise. 

"Our focus over the last two years has been clear: we must prepare our graduates on day one to lead in a dynamic and changing world against adversaries wishing to harm our nation, our allies, and our partners," Lt. Gen. Bauernfeind said. "I am incredibly proud of how our Academy team has worked to restore the warrior ethos, elevate standards, and modernize our training. The future of our nation's air and space power is unquestionably strong."

The mission of the Academy is to forge leaders of character, motivated to a lifetime of service and developed to lead our Air Force and Space Force as we fight and win our Nation’s wars.

For photos from today's ceremony visit Flickr, or for further information, contact U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications at usafa.media@us.af.mil or (719) 333-7731.

The Class Of 2030 Earns Place In Academy’s Cadet Wing - 08/05/26

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Today, the U.S. Air Force Academy welcomed the Class of 2030 into the Cadet Wing as 1,121 fourth-class cadets completed Basic Cadet Training and took the Academy's Honor Code Oath during the Acceptance Day Parade on Stillman Field.

"I couldn't be prouder of the Class of 2030," said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind. "They earned the highest Physical Fitness Test scores of any incoming class in the past decade, reflecting the commitment, discipline and determination they demonstrated throughout Basic Cadet Training. Their performance sets a strong foundation as they begin the next phase of their Academy journey as members of the Cadet Wing."

The Acceptance Day Parade marked the conclusion of Basic Cadet Training and the beginning of the academic year. Families attended the ceremony, which included administration of the Honor Code Oath and the presentation of fourth-class shoulder boards. For many families, it was the first opportunity to see their cadets since In-Processing Day in June.

The Class of 2030 began its 47-month Academy journey June 24, arriving as civilian appointees, beginning the transformation into fourth-class cadets. More than an orientation program, BCT instills discipline, resilience and foundational leadership skills required of future Air Force and Space Force officers.

During BCT, members of the Class of 2030 learned military customs and courtesies, the Honor Code, Air Force and Space Force heritage, and physical fitness standards before deploying to Jacks Valley for field training. There they qualified on M-4 carbine, practiced tactical combat casualty care, negotiated obstacle and assault courses, and culminated the program with a comprehensive field training exercise.

Brig Gen. Brandon J. Tellez, commandant of cadets, pinned on his first star during the Acceptance Day Parade.

“The young men and women of Class of 2030 came to the Academy as one of the most competitive classes in Academy history, they arrived prepared to be challenged, and they met that challenge every day,” said Brig. Gen. Tellez. “Our Military Training Instructors and Cadet Cadre did an extraordinary job transforming the Class of 2030 from civilians to fourth-class cadets ready for the challenges of Academy life.”

Basic Cadet Training is led by the Cadet Cadre; upper-class cadets specially selected and trained to mentor and lead incoming cadets under the supervision of Military Trainer Instructors and Academy leadership. The experience develops the newest cadets while providing Cadet Cadre members with one of the Academy’s most significant leadership opportunities.

The arrival of the Class of 2030 coincides with the nation’s 250th anniversary and reflects the Academy's continued emphasis on developing warfighters and leaders prepared to meet the demands of an evolving global security environment.

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For more information, please contact U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications at (719) 333- 7731 or email USAFA.media@us.af.mil

USAFA Realigns Academic Enterprise To Forge "Day One" Warfighters - 07/30/26

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The U.S. Air Force Academy is evolving its academic structure to maintain its academic programs’ relentless focus on mission through three operational priorities: Forging Warfighters to Win, Inspiring Leaders of Character and Quality, and Motivating Critical Thinkers to Adapt, and align the Academy’s structure, governance, and resources directly with the future needs of the Air Force and Space Force.

To achieve this, the Academy is executing several key changes. Beginning Aug. 5, the Dean of Faculty organization will be designated also as the Academic Wing. While the statutory “Dean of the Faculty” title will be retained in recognition of the position’s leadership of the Academy’s academic community, the position will also adopt the “Academic Wing Commander” title in recognition of its responsibility for the academic mission. In alignment with broader higher education standards, the senior academic leader will be authorized to concurrently use the title of “Provost.”

Additionally, the realignment, aimed at ensuring new officers are ready to lead in a complex, contested environment from Day One, structurally aligns the Academy’s academic enterprise with its military mission, establishing four interdisciplinary schools, including a School of Integrated General Studies to serve as the institutional home for the core curriculum. Under this framework, these schools will be led by Deans who will serve concurrently as Group Commanders with command authority.

The move is designed to intentionally and structurally connect the liberal arts, STEM, and warfighting instruction. This will be achieved through the four-school model: the School of Integrated General Studies, the School of Integrated Engineering Sciences, the School of Integrated Basic Sciences, and the School of Integrated Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

“This evolution builds on a long-standing record of academic excellence,” said U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind. “To ensure the Academy remains the nation’s premier military service academy and preeminent commissioning source for the Department of the Air Force, academic programs must have a relentless focus on the mission. USAFA is not moving away from the liberal arts or STEM; rather, the Academy is integrating them more deliberately to develop citizens, warfighters, leaders, and critical thinkers who understand what they are fighting for, who are technically literate in the tools of modern warfare, and who carry the moral seriousness the profession of arms demands.”

The new structure strengthens governance across 20 separate departments and empowers school-level leadership to better align resources, faculty development and curriculum with the Academy’s core priorities. This organizational realignment sets the table for potential future changes and forthcoming academic policies, establishing a structured path to achieve increased academic excellence across the enterprise.

“The demands of modern warfare are inherently multidisciplinary,” said Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. James Valpiani, who will serve as the institution’s future Academic Wing Commander. “Our graduates must be able to connect what they know across fields, to judge well under pressure, and to understand what they are fighting for. An education delivered in disconnected pieces will not form the judgment they need to deter conflict or, if necessary, to prevail in combat.”

“Coherence must be built on purpose; that is the objective of our realignment,” he continued. “It structures the academic enterprise so that what we teach is integrated by design, ordered toward the profession of arms and reflective citizenship, and held to an academic standard worthy of the Airmen and Guardians our graduates will lead.”

 Academy officials emphasized that the statutory role of the Dean of the Faculty remains and that the core of what makes a U.S. Air Force Academy education unique—its blend of military training, academic rigor, and highly competitive athletics—is only being strengthened by this evolution to ensure the Academy remains the preeminent commissioning source for the Department of the Air Force.