United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy is situated in El Paso County, Colorado, occupying an 18,500-acre campus north of Colorado Springs. The institution was established on April 1, 1954, following legislation signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Training for the inaugural class commenced at a temporary site at Lowry Air Force Base in 1955, with the wing relocating to the current permanent site in August 1958. The academy began admitting women in 1976 and commissioned its first class of U.S. Space Force officers in 2020.

The academy operates as a Direct Reporting Unit within the U.S. Air Force. Its primary mission is the education and commissioning of officers for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. The 10th Air Base Wing serves as the host unit, providing administrative, medical, and security support. Aviation and airmanship programs are conducted by the 306th Flying Training Group, which is a geographically separate unit of the 12th Flying Training Wing. Stationed flying units include the 94th Flying Training Squadron, the 98th Flying Training Squadron, and the 557th Flying Training Squadron. The U.S. Space Force maintains an operational presence via Detachment 1 of Space Delta 13.

Aeronautical assets include a fleet of TG-16A sailplanes, UV-18B Twin Otter aircraft, and T-53A, T-41D, and T-51A powered aircraft. The academy airfield supports parachute training, soaring, and powered flight instruction. Infrastructure is centered on the Cadet Area, which features the Terrazzo pavilion. Facilities include Fairchild Hall for academic instruction, Vandenberg and Sijan Halls for cadet housing, and the Cadet Chapel. The Aeronautics Research Center houses subsonic, transonic, and low-speed wind tunnels, along with engine test cells and flight simulators. Additional infrastructure includes the Academy Preparatory School, Falcon Stadium, and the Cadet Fieldhouse. The campus also maintains static airframe displays, including the F-4C, F-15A, YF-16A, and B-52.