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

Naviere has a ton of energy and a wonderful attitude. She grew up an Air Force brat in a family where the dad is a '79 grad and her younger siblings are also grads. While a cadet she created her own PE program (aerobics) to get credits and help keep the AFA football team in shape in the off-season. On active duty she was logistics Transporter of the Year. She also successfully led Howard Universit...

Drew shares his story of academic challenges and academy struggles with his indomitable spirit that let him become CAPTAIN AIR FORCE at home football games as an upper class cadet. He shares his active duty lessons learned and current activities as well. This dry description doesn't do justice to the energy and fun he expressed during the episode. If you need a "pick-me-up" check out Drew's story.

Pete grew up in Connecticut and thought about either Yale or Cornell till he got the yearning to fly. Was CT state champ gymnast and liked the price of USAFA so headed off to the Base of the Ramp in 72. Great cadet with accolades as Distinguished Grad, Honor Committee Chairman, and Situational Leadership trainer. On active Duty flew F-4's and F-16's at Columbus, Clark, Torrejón, & MacDill. Lef...

Bryce is the son of a 79 Grad and as a cadet was noteworthy as a KAFA DJ, Recondo instructor, and Poly Sci major. IN USAF he became a C-130 and RPV pilot spending much time in the desert, Nevada and SW Asia. At the time of this interview Bryce is living with his family in Omaha an still in the USAF Reserves. He has quite the update on doolie year for us older coots.

This is the Bernie Goldbach episode - Spirit of 76 classmate and quite the character. I hope we make it through the censors with this one. Bernie received long distance running fame (sort of) as cadet, possesses a creative he mind he applied to special USAF missions while on active duty, and is a leading edge media professional today in Ireland. Bernie wrote an autobiography I will share once I de...

Expanding from Spirit of 76 Pink Panthers to other squadrons and other classes of graduates (for the most part) from the US Air Force Academy.

This episode you meet Major General (RET) Dave Clary.  Raised as an Army brat, cadet Chorale singer, Boy's State supporter, UPT IP Pilot, A-10 pilot in UK, A-7 Pilot aboard USS Carl Vinson, AFSC faculty Maxwell, more A-10's in UK leading to several command assignments from AZ to HI to NM to Osan to Offut.  Later career took him to Pentagon and commands with impressive leaders in our overseas comba...

COL (ret) Rich King was one of the guys who excelled as a cadet, F-4 WSO, and career AF officer. After active duty he spent 20 years working for WBB in the DC area supporting efforts to improve the Air Force. Rich and I met one summer as upperclassmen and ran into each other once in Korea in 1981. He has a great attitude and solid message for all.

This episode you meet Major General Mike Worden, one of the most illustrious members of the Class of 76. Mike was NEVER a Pink Panther but has experiences with our wild group from his cadet days, while on active duty, and now as a retired MG. Mike had quite the cadet football career followed by an outstanding military career where he served in four conflicts. He has quite interesting stories and w...

Here is my first Pink Panther roomie, Steve Jorgensen. Steve was a CS-36 Squadron Commander our Firstie year, lead the mass procurement event of Trans AM's our 2nd Class year, became an F-15 pilot in PACAF and left Active Duty for American Airlines where he flew for over 30 years. Now Steve occupies his time working with all types of railroads. He has great stories about skiing, flight physicals,...

This episode is with Steve Odiorne. Steve and I were doolies together in the harsh CS-15 and enjoyed two years as Pink Panthers before he was transferred to CS-38 for Fristie year. Steve was also a cadet in the Drum and Bugle Corps, flew T-33 and F-106's in Air Defense Command and spent over 30 years with Lockheed in their Space Systems group as an operator for several NASA missions to Venus, Mars...

This special episode you meet Jennifer Frye. Nope, she wasn't a grad, but did marry one of our classmates, Steve, who was her sweetheart from 6th Grade. This triggered Jennifer to move to C Springs and become the unofficial "den Mother" for us Pinks. She had a car, an apartment, and girlfriends downtown. I hope you enjoy another side of the Pink Panthers and an AF career.

This episode is with with Steve Frye, Retired USAF Colonel but, most importantly, husband of Jennifer. Steve fills in the mystery of why Rich Polemy left the squadron after only a couple of months (they were doolies together). After UPT and initial IP assignment he selected the life of a C-141 pilot. Across his long career on active duty Steve covered roles as Air University Prof, Vice Commander o...

This episode you meet Jim Fisher, retired AF Major, RF-4 and F-16 Pilot, and long-time national security professional. While a cadet he hosted and, after graduation, visited Francois Pierre, a French foreign exchange cadet. Jim stays away from social media so he is a tough one to track down. I think you will agree, it was worth the effort.

This episode you meet the incomparable Dr/Col (Col/DR?) Pete Mapes. As a cadet Pete created a famous fife and drum and flag trio that got to travel and was photographed often during the bicentennial of 1976. On active duty Pete won many awards and was the only person to accomplish both a prestigious flying and medical award in the same year. He is now a leader of aviation Scouts in Michigan and st...

This episode you meet Dr. John Dedic, USAF flight surgeon and radiologist. As a cadet John sang in the Cadet Chorale and boxed in the Wing Open Championship heavyweight bout. John grew up in a small town in Iowa and met the challenges of the academy with great success. Upon graduation he went directly to medical school at Tulane and since it was only a short drive from Pensacola we traded some fun...

This special length episode is with USAF (Ret) Major General Tony Przybyslawski. Tony and I initially share tales of academic woe at USAFA which he successfully turned into a fabulous AF career that spanned his time as an enlisted airman, prep school student, cadet on the hill, pilot of various bombers (B-52, B-1B, and B-2) and his spectacular climb to Major General. He is also the only Pink of 76...

This episode is with Lee Cuevas. Lee grew up in the midwest and after high school entered an AFROTC program at the University of Illinois. From there he got a high draft number, enlisted in the USAF, attended the Prep School and eventually USAFA. On active duty Lee was a C-130 pilot stationed in Europe and Asia as well as Arizona. He piloted 757 and 767 aircraft for a full career with UPS and now...

Jim Fagan: wry, dry, funny, and extremely independent. Famous to me for his wisecracks that have 50 year staying power as well as our mutual struggles at the academy. Retired USAF Major, pilot, teacher, father, and grandfather. Flew T-33's to tankers to B-52's (in formation, through mountainous terrain, AT NIGHT!) and lived to share these stories.

"Trot" is one of the smoothest, calmest, most determined people you will ever meet. Originally from Canada, then Oregon, he became an AF test pilot and followed up with a long, successful career at a Delta Airline pilot.

This is the Pat Murray episode, our non-grad, pink-for-life classmate. He flew all kinds of aircraft from seaplanes, to commercial passenger aircraft to medivac flights. Pat achieved many goals, just not via traditional routes. He is one of my favorite classmates and we had some fun adventures together.

Greg Lewis, son of an Air Force General Officer, Prep School grad, National Champion Parachutist, A-10 pilot with one silk landing, F-16 combat pilot with another silk landing and civilian career as a Southwest Airlines pilot (no silk landings!). Greg was another of the eager classmates when it came to antics and stories.

This episode features LT Col (Ret) Jimmy Deaux - National Champion Parachutist, Cadet Squadron Commander, USAF Fighter Pilot, Fed Ex Pilot and all around funny and inspirational character.  Jimmy shares some of his more famous tales with wit and wisdom.  Enjoy!

This episode you hear from LT Col (RET) Nat Millican, world traveler as Air Force cargo and tanker pilot followed by a career as a UPS cargo pilot, & world traveler, who is now training leaders in the field of missionary work worldwide. Nat was an eager participant in many of our antics as a cadet and great classmate and life long friend.

Today you meet Tom Wyman, my final roommate at the academy who, while in the USAFA Choir, lost his pilot qual our final semester and served initially in missiles. But as the sly, tough, determined person he is he eventually became a pilot and completed a successful AF career retiring as a LT Col. He then served another full career in the Strategic Command HQ as a research analyst which is all we c...