USAFA - Spirit of 76 - Legacy Project - REPORT! Interviews with the Long Blue Line.

Gary is originally from Texas and was an upper classman in CS-29, the Black Panthers (at that time). Upon graduation was assigned to Vance for UPT and kept there as a IP till he got an assignment to Eglin and F-15's. Luke, Osan, Langley, and Tyndall followed his flying career. once the desks loomed he transitioned to United Airlines. While at ACSC he hosted Hub Zemke at a Gathering of Eagles weeke...

Randy is from Hawaii originally which helped greatly in his USAFA experience. Upon graduation he was initially a MAC pilot flying C-130's in Little Rock and Yokota. After his first assignments he got a very interesting job flying as a test pilot at Hickam recovering falling satellite packages with an unusual method he describes. His success with the GAMBIT project led him to Andrews where he flew...

Bill grew up in Lynchburg, VA and became fascinated with aviation when his mom, a single parent, purchased a ride for him at a local airshow. This started him on the trajectory of Jr AFROTC in High School, USAFA, USAF B-52 and B-1 pilot career to United Air Lines 727, 757, 767, 777, and A320 pilot career, to aviation instructor and professor at Hampton Univ, and now United Fleet Technical Instruct...

Marc Felman grew up an AF brat and shares his wisdom about how such a childhood carries into adulthood. At USAFA Marc was on Ac Pro 7/8 semesters, survived 4 academic boards, was on the Comm's list 8/8 times, and that combo meant he graduated far from the bottom of the barrel. After R flight he got to become an honorary non-com as well as SERE instructor. On active duty received both the MacKay an...

Emma is the daughter of a classmate from the Pink Panthers and is full of enthusiasm and experience. From AF brat to the zoo, after 4 high schools, to eventual CS-19 Squadron Commander to foreign travels during cadet summers she shares her pre-active duty life. Upon graduation the path continued -- USAF intel in Honduras (counter crime) to Eglin & Hurlburt in FL (AFSOC) to joint ops in Iraq (c...

Rachelle grew up a hotel managers "brat" and lived in the Philippines, Korea, Japan, and Bahamas before graduating HS in Boise. At USAFA she landed on both Honor and Academic probations doolie year and wanted to quit, but only daily, so her dad made her gut it out. He gave her a great gift upon graduation. She became an Air Battle Manager in AWACS while on active duty, overcome airsickness, and ev...

Chris grew up an AF brat mostly in the No Va area and was recruited for AFA lacrosse (among other schools). He lettered all four years at AFA but also found himself with an interesting story of 80-80-6 (that's tours, demerits, and months restriction) with an additional 20 tours earned during his 3 degree year. Whew! After his 2 degree year started he lost his pilot qual, which has happened to many...

Bob Gold grew up in So Cal and got the flying bug at a young age. So he went off to USAFA to become a pilot not knowing what was awaiting him (I had a similar initiation so totally know whereof he speaks!). Bob shares a doolie year story about another cadet my Pink Panther classmates will recognize. From Ac Pro to Dean's list and upon graduation from UPT to F-4's to A-10's to staff assignments Bob...

"Paveway" shares the origin of his call sign, how he grew up in Amish country in PA, his time as a VERY successful cadet (8/8 Dean's and Commandant's Lists and 2/8 Sup's, Top grad in Biology, Class of 11 President, Marshall Scholar Finalist, etc.), grad school at Univ of Maryland, UPT top stick, Seymour Johnson F-15's with deployment to the Middle East with combat time, and now his activities flyi...

This episode you meet Jannell MacAulay, Class of 98, and hear about her upbringing, academy life (2 year as a Pink Panther!), academic and flying career on active duty with additional roles as special operations consultant and international diplomat. Upon retirement from the USAF she successfully transitioned into her successful career as speaker and professional instructor in "Ancient Warrior" mi...

Dave grew up in Sacramento and was HS class President, debate, and band member who was the 1st ever Calif State HS intern. At USAFA Dave got on conduct and aptitude probation AND was on the Commandant' s List, Yell Leader of the cheer squad, and member of the AFA Color Guard. Upon graduation he stayed at AFA as a minority affairs advisor/recruiter. After a short stint in pilot training Dave became...

(Ret) MAJ Tom Lange grew up in Arizona in an active family of four boys. After achieving his college goal of playing D-1 football (as the USAFA punter for all four years, three as the primary) Tom

This episode you meet Chad Hennings, 88 grad who never lost to Navy. Chad grew up in Iowa and shares his interesting story of being "recruited" by AFA for football. He discusses it all from Doolie summer and pugel sticks in Jack's Valley to Wing staff and SAMI's to graduation.  Chad offers several wise life lessons along the way.  While he was an active duty A-10 pilot overseas during Provide Comf...

This episode you get to meet Jack Catton, USAF Major General, Cadet Wing Commander, fighter pilot, and son of a 4-star.  We discuss it all, including Jack's departure form active duty, in depth.  I hope everyone who listens to this can gain a better understanding of how our USAFA Class used spirit and positive attitudes to change the world for the better in no small part through leaders like Jack.

Mike Eyolfson grew up an AF brat and came to USAFA from Wiesbaden. Initially headed to missiles at FE Warren upon graduation Mike got accepted into U Colorado Med school soon after USAFA graduation. From there he spent 20 years on active duty as a Flight Surgeon and Chief of Urology at Kirtland and Travis AFB's with time the desert too. Mike is now referring soccer on the weekends and a "dog treat...

Roger is a humble guy with a solid attitude about teamwork and his flying experiences. He overcame much in his career, from initially not being pilot or nav qualified as a cadet to piloting F-4's in Iceland and Germany during the Cold War where he intercepted Soviet Bears and other aircraft. From those assignments he served as a Liaison with the US Army which led to his being transitioned to F-16'...

Craig grew up an Army brat and spent most of his childhood in Albuquerque, NM. As a Doolie Craig has one great spirit prank story as well as an infamous meeting with an upperclass football player of note.  As a 3 degree Craig landed on Ac Pro but survived. He also saw both sides of SERE as student and member of the cadre in later summers.  While a cadet Craig was on the debate team till Firstie ye...

Steve Simon is what I am calling the in-house AFA historian at the AOG. He writes many of the historical articles in Checkpoints as well as stars in the Heritage Minute videos produced by the AOG.  He grew up an AF brat on the enlisted side, was a football team manager all four years as a cadet, and chose missiles upon graduation.  While stationed at FE Warren Steve ran several marathons and was s...

Andy Kaufman, Robin Williams, and Lt Col (RET) Steve Hall. Three of the funnies people ever. This episode will cover all kinds of events and stories with humor and accents. Please do not be offended, it's just what comes out when Steve and I start talking. You will learn about science (Coke Can Cannon), history (marching tours in goose-step), language (nursery rhymes with a "clean" twist), leaders...

"Cliff" leads off this season 3 with his stories of getting up in the rafters of Mitches to hang spirit banners to flying F-15's in Germany to MedSchool in So Cal to Ophthalmology in Utah (Intern) and Oklahoma (Fellow) to practice in Saudi Arabia to eventually President of Fryeye in Garden City, KS. And of course now he is an acting representative for his district in the State of Kansas and actual...

Welcome to Season 3 of the podcast.

Fred Gregory - 1964 - Astronaut Hall of Fame - 3 Shuttle Missions - 550 Combat SAR missions in Vietnam - Fixed wing and rotary test pilot: AF & USN - AFA Distinguished Grad 04 - and has a Fairchild Hall annex named for him!  DC native with incredible tales of childhood and how he got to AFA.  Car enthusiast who still drives a Vette. I thououghly enjoyed our chat and  hope to have many more dow...

This episode you meet Charlie Williams, an F-4 and F-16 pilot on active duty, a Delta pilot for over 18 years, a high school forensics (debate) and drama coach/teacher, and currently published author. Charlie was in 5 squadrons, 5 groups, has 5 Polaris yearbooks, and is working in his 4th career. He is quite the character and has a bunch of wisdom to share.

Andre' lives in Prague on this episode. He gives a very interesting update on current events (spring 2022) and flying activities he is tracking on public sites. his background is as a pilot prior to attending USAFA, and getting deeply involved in several high adrenaline activities as a cadet -- Scuba, Mountaineering, Parachute, and Flying. Was a Pink Panther all four years and double majored in EE...

Lt Col Don Hall grew up an AF brat and served a full career as an Instructor pilot and Safety and Training officer. But his true calling has been writing the Waldo F. Dumbsquat series in Checkpoints for over 40 years. He is still conducting flight safety instruction in Texas for various university and private organizations.