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The Cold War ends. Desert Storm begins. Stealth technology changes the battlefield.
In this episode of the Heritage Minute Podcast, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tony Monetti ’87 reflects on a decade that reshaped the U.S. Air Force and transformed the way America projects airpower around the world.
 

What sticks around after nearly three decades at the U.S. Air Force  Academy? For Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tom Mabry ’80, it’s the cadets. His greatest reward wasn’t the roles or recognition — it was calling names and watching cadets cross the stage at graduation. Col. Mabry shares some of his story with Heritage Minute host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77.
 

In this edition of Heritage Minute Podcast, a behind-the-scenes look at how the U.S. Air Force Academy tells its story. Host Lt Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 is joined by Senior Master Sgt. (Ret.) Dean Miller, a former USAFA public affairs specialist and strategic communications leader, who explains why relationships and trust matter most. Miller reflects on what he carried forward from the Academy — integrity, service and excellence — and how those values matter in every role.
 
 
 

This April in Colorado Springs, more than 600 members of the Long Blue Line will come together to mark 50 years of women at the U.S. Air Force Academy
For five decades, thousands of women have helped define the mission and legacy of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Today, leaders like Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tanya Hurwitz ’95 are bringing those stories full circle — connecting past impact with future generations.

The U.S. Air Force Academy’s history didn’t begin in the 1950s.
In this edition of Heritage Minute Special, Col. (Ret.) Jack Anthony ’78 discusses the pioneers who lived on the land before the founding of the U.S. Air Force Academy — including the McAlroy family.
Col. David McAlroy ’03 joins the conversation to reflect on discovering his family’s connection.
 
 
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
 
 

Groundbreaking began in October 2023. By September 2024, employees signed the final beam at the topping out ceremony. Staff moved in May 2025 — bringing the Association & Foundation and the Falcon Foundation together under one roof.
Designed in the Academy’s modernist style, Wecker Hall features collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms and a dedicated podcast studio. Its geothermal field, rooftop solar panels and energy-efficient design support a net-zero vision — maximizing stewardship.
Named in honor of Dr. Bill Wecker ’63 and his late wife, Mary Linn, the facility reflects a commitment to growth, sustainability and the future of the Long Blue Line.

In this edition of the Heritage Minute Special, Maj. Julian "Cosmo" Gluck ’12 returns to the U.S. Air Force Academy to reflect on the enduring legacy of the late Gen. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, the U.S. Air Force’s first chief of staff and a foundational figure in American airpower.
This episode examines Civil Air Patrol’s origins and the significance of the Spaatz Award. Julian shares how early exposure to military traditions shaped his own path to USAFA and why preserving heritage remains essential to developing future leaders.
 
 
 
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
 
 

The bronze statue of Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold standing in front of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Arnold Hall was dedicated on Nov. 5, 1993, following a multi-year effort led by the Falcon Foundation. After receiving superintendent support in 1991, the foundation selected sculptor Glenna Goodacre and raised approximately $150,000 to bring the project to life.
The statue depicts Gen. Arnold in uniform, standing beside a globe and pointing toward Europe — a reflection of his global vision and leadership. Members of the Arnold family attended the dedication, including daughter-in-law Barbara Arnold and her son, Robert.
Today, the statue remains a lasting symbol of the leadership legacy that continues to inspire USAFA cadets and graduates alike.
 

In this Heritage Minute Special, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77 interviews Col. (Ret.) Carolyn Benyshek ’87, who shares her journey from growing up in Colorado Springs to becoming the U.S. Air Force Academy’s director of admissions. She reflects on her cadet experience, her Air Force career in space operations, and her continued commitment to mentoring and service after retirement.
 
 

Above Arnold Hall’s main entrance stands a statue of Col. James Jabara — America’s first jet ace and the second-leading ace of the Korean War. Dedicated in 2004, this monument is closely tied to the Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship, an annual honor established in 1967 and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Association of Graduates and the Jabara family. The award goes to a USAFA graduate, living or deceased, whose actions directly associated with an aerospace vehicle set him or her apart from contemporaries. The first recipient was Capt. Donald Stevens ’60 in 1968, and past honorees include Karol Bobko ’59, Steve Ritchie ’64, and Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger ’73.
 
 

With the unpredictable weather here at the Academy, having an indoor athletic training facility is a near necessity.  The Holaday Athletic Center has capably served that purpose for more than a decade.  The 92,000 square-foot multi-purpose building cost $15.5 million, all of which came from private donations.  The center was the first major project for the USAFA Endowment, the fund-raising organization established in 2007 and now known as the Air Force Academy Foundation.  Lynn and Bart Holaday, Class of ’65, made the lead gift of five million dollars.  Ground was broken for the structure on 1 October 2010.  The ceremony made for a somber event, however, as Lynn Holaday had passed away earlier that morning after a long struggle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.  The building that bears her name was ready to go exactly nine months and twenty-one days later, with the dedication ceremony taking place on 22 July 2011.  The Holaday Athletic Center can accommodate football, lacrosse, and soccer, in addition to other athletic activities.  In fact, its value to the Academy far exceeds athletics.  For example, in the past few years, it has served as the arrival point for the new classes as they report to the Academy for in-processing and Basic Cadet Training.  The facility is bare bones, as it does not include heating or cooling.  Air flow is provided by those Big Ass fans up there.  Yep, the name of the company that made them is Big Ass Fans.
 
 

The second part of the This Heritage Minute Special dives into partnership, preservation and a unique perspective of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Erwin Roemer, former U.S. Air Force Academy cultural resources manager, reflects with host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ‘77 on Roemer’s decades of experience working with tribal nations and federal agencies. Hear how the Academy's landscapes connect with generations past and present.
 
 
 
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
 
 
 

Native Americans have a long and proud history of military service. In fact, they are among the most represented ethnic groups in the U.S. armed forces.
In this special episode of the Heritage Minute podcast, Erwin Roemer shares how that tradition continues at USAFA today.
 
LISTEN to the Cathedral Rock episode referenced here.
 
 
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation
 
 

In between Vandenberg and Fairchild Halls, in the shadow of the Core Values Ramp, is the green oasis known as the Mall of Heroes.  This mini-park is the gift of the Class of 1964.  It features statues of three Academy legends.  The first statue to be dedicated was that of First Lieutenant Karl Richter, Class of ’64, who was shot down and killed on 28 July 1967 during his 198th combat mission in Vietnam.  The Richter statue was dedicated on 27 May 2008, just before the Class of ’08 graduated, as Richter was the class’s exemplar.  It would be eighteen months until more statues were added, causing some cadet comedians of the time to call the area “The Mall of Hero.”  Before long, however, Lieutenant Richter had company.  On 6 November 2009, during its 45-year reunion, the Class of ’64 dedicated and ceremonially donated to the Academy the Mall of Heroes.  The ceremony included the unveiling of two new statues, honoring Captain Valmore Bourque, Class of ’60, the first Academy graduate killed in combat, and Captain Lance Sijan, Class of ’65, the first Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor.  Since then, as cadets march down the ramp and past this area en route to the Stillman Parade Field, they execute an Eyes Right and salute these icons.
 

This Heritage Minute Special features Col. (Ret.) Leonard "Lucky" Ekman, Class of 1963, who shares the remarkable story of Maj. Robert Lodge ’64 — a fighter pilot, warfighter and patriot who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting America's interests during the Vietnam War. Col. Ekman shares his personal mission to see the Medal of Honor posthumously awarded to Lodge. Listen today!
 
 
 
 
The Heritage Minute Channel is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation