Commandant of Cadets of the United States Air Force Academy

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The Commandant of Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy is the officer in charge of the Cadet Wing. Under the Superintendent, the Commandant oversees all of the cadets' military training at the academy. The position of Commandant has traditionally been filled by an active duty Air Force brigadier general, although occasionally, the office holder has been a major general. Since reorganization from October 1994 through August 2006, the Commandant was "dual-hatted" as the commander of the 34th Training Wing. In August 2006, the 34th Wing was redesignated Commandant of Cadets, a named organization. [1]

Contents

List of commandants of cadets

No.Commandant of CadetsTermClass YearNotes and
Reference
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1
Robert Stillman.JPG
Major General
Robert M. Stillman
19541958~4 years U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
USMA 1935
[a] [2]
2
Maj Gen Henry R. Sullivan.jpg
Major General
Henry R. Sullivan Jr.
19581961~3 years U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
USMA 1939
[b] [3]
3
Seawell wt.jpg
Major General
William Seawell
19611963~4 years U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
USMA 1941
[4]
4
Brig Gen Robert William Strong Jr.jpg
Major General
Robert William Strong Jr.
19631965~2 years U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
USMA 1940
[5]
5
GEN Seith, Louis Theodore (BGEN Commandant of USAFA).jpg
Brigadier General
Louis T. Seith
19651967~2 years U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
USMA 1943
[6]
6
BGEN Olds, Robin.jpg
Brigadier General
Robin Olds
19671971~4 years U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
USMA 1943
[c] [7]
7
LGEN Galligan, Walter Turbrush (BGEN - USAFA Commandant).jpg
Brigadier General
Walter T. Galligan
19711973~2 years U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
USMA 1945
[8]
8
MGEN Vandenberg, Hoyt Jr (BGEN - Commandant of USAFA).jpg
Brigadier General
Hoyt S. Vandenberg Jr.
19731975~2 years U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
USMA 1951
[9]
9
Maj Gen Stanley C. Beck.jpg
Brigadier General
Stanley C. Beck
19751978~3 years U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms.svg
USMA 1954
[10]
10
Thomas C Richards, GEN USAF.jpg
Brigadier General
Thomas C. Richards
19781981~3 years
Virginia Tech 1956
[11]
11
Lt Gen Robert D. Beckel.jpg
Brigadier General
Robert D. Beckel
19811982~1 year US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1959
[d] [13]
12
Lt Gen Anthony J. Burshnick.jpg
Brigadier General
Anthony J. Burshnick
19821984~2 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1960
[14]
13
Lt. Gen. Marcus A Anderson USAF.jpg
Brigadier General
Marcus A. Anderson
19841986~2 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1961
[e] [15]
14
Westbrook-DF-SN-91-03209.jpeg
Brigadier General
Sam W. Westbrook III
19861989~3 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1963
[16]
15
Lt Gen Joseph J. Redden.jpg
Brigadier General
Joseph J. Redden
19891992~3 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1964
[17]
16
Maj Gen Richard C. Bethurem.jpg
Major General
Richard C. Bethurem
19921993~1 year US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1966
[18]
17
Patrick Gamble.jpg
Brigadier General
Patrick K. Gamble
19931994~1 year
Texas A&M 1967
[19]
18
United States Air Force Lieutenant General John D. Hopper JR.jpg
Brigadier General
John D. Hopper Jr.
19941996~2 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1969
[f] [20]
19
Brig Gen Stephen R. Lorenz.jpg
Brigadier General
Stephen R. Lorenz
19961999~3 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1973
[g] [21]
20
Brig Gen Mark A. Welsh III.jpg
Brigadier General
Mark A. Welsh III
19992001~3 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1976
[h] [22]
21
Brig Gen S. Taco Gilbert III.jpg
Brigadier General
S. Taco Gilbert III
20012003~2 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1978
[23]
22
Maj Gen Johnny A. Weida.jpg
Brigadier General
Johnny A. Weida
20022005~2 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1978
[24]
23
Desjardins sy.jpg
Brigadier General
Susan Y. Desjardins
20052008~3 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1980
[i] [25]
24
Samuel D. Cox (1).jpg
Brigadier General
Samuel D. Cox
20082010~2 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1984
[26]
25
Brig Gen Richard M. Clark.jpg
Brigadier General
Richard M. Clark
20102012~2 years US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1986
[j] [27]
26
Gregory J. Lengyel (3).jpg
Major General
Gregory J. Lengyel
2012July 2, 2014~2 years
Texas A&M 1985
[k] [28] [29]
27
Stephen C. Williams (2).jpg
Brigadier General
Stephen C. Williams
July 2, 2014~May 15, 2017~2 years, 317 days US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1989
[l]
28
Kristin E. Goodwin (3).jpg
Brigadier General
Kristin E. Goodwin
May 15, 2017April 29, 20191 year, 349 days US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1993
[m]
29
Maj Gen Michele C. Edmondson (1).jpg
Major General
Michele C. Edmondson
May 31, 2019May 27, 20211 year, 361 days
University of Florida 1992
[n]
30
Brig Gen Paul D. Moga (2).jpg
Brigadier General
Paul D. Moga
May 27, 2021June 21, 20233 years, 237 days US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1995
[30]
31
Brig Gen Gavin P. Marks (2).jpg
Brigadier General
Gavin P. Marks
June 21, 2023Incumbent1 year, 212 days US-AirForceAcademy-Shield.svg
USAFA 1996
[31]

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References

Notes

  1. Major general; bomber and reconnaissance pilot; World War II veteran and prisoner of war; first commandant at the Academy; later commanded the Lackland Military Training Center (1958–1961); named to the Sports Illustrated magazine Silver Anniversary All-American football team (1959)
  2. Major general; bomber pilot; World War II veteran; later served as deputy chief of staff, operations, Headquarters Allied Air Forces Central Europe, and commander of all U.S. Air Force personnel assigned to the NATO headquarters and its supporting units
  3. Renowned fighter pilot; World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veteran; triple ace with 16 confirmed air-to-air kills
  4. First USAFA graduate Commandant. His son, Colonel Robert D. Beckel, Jr. [12] was a cadet during his tenure.
  5. Lieutenant General, fighter pilot, later became commander of Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), Inspector General US Air Force
  6. First African American Commandant
  7. Retired Commander, Air Education and Training Command. Promoted to General Jul 2, 2008.
  8. Retired Chief of Staff, USAF. Promoted to General Dec 13, 2010.
  9. First female Commandant
  10. B-1 bomber pilot. Promoted to Lt Gen Oct 21, 2016. Currently twenty-first superintendent of US Air Force Academy.
  11. BMajor General; helicopter pilot
  12. F-16C/D Pilot. Promoted to Major General Aug 3, 2018
  13. B-2A, B-52 Pilot
  14. First Commandant with a Space Warfare background

References

  1. Haulman, Daniel L. (April 25, 2018). "Factsheet Commandant of Cadets (USAFA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  2. "Major General Robert M. Stillman". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  3. "Major General Henry R. Sullivan". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  4. "Brigadier General William T. Seawell". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  5. "Major General Robert William Strong Jr". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  6. "General Louis Theodore Seith". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  7. "Brigadier General Robin Olds". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  8. "Lieutenant General Walter T. Galligan". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  9. "Major General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  10. "Major General Stanley C. Beck". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  11. "General Thomas C. Richards". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  12. "Biographies : COLONEL ROBERT D. BECKEL JR". 505ccw.acc.af.mil. Archived from the original on 2015-05-24. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  13. "Lieutenant General Robert D. Beckel". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  14. "Lieutenant General Anthony J. Burshnick". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  15. "Lieutenant General Marcus A. Anderson". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  16. "Major General Sam W. Westbrook III". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  17. "Lieutenant General Joseph J. Redden". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  18. "Lieutenant General Richard C. Bethurem". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  19. "General Patrick K. Gamble". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  20. "Lieutenant General John D. Hopper". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  21. "General Stephen R. Lorenz". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  22. "Lieutenant General Mark A. Welsh III". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  23. "Brigadier General S. Taco Gilbert III". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  24. "Major General Johnny A. Weida". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  25. "Brigadier General Susan Y. Desjardins". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  26. "Brigadier General Samuel D. Cox". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  27. "Brig. Gen. Richard M. Clark". USAFA. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  28. "Brig. Gen. Gregory J. Lengyel". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  29. "New commandant of cadets heading to AFA". Colorado Springs Gazette. Archived from the original on 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  30. Bowden, Ray (2021-05-27). "Academy's new commandant reports for duty". United States Air Force Academy. U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  31. "Brig. Gen. Marks takes command of Cadet Wing". 21 June 2023.