United States Air Force World Class Athlete Program

Last updated
Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program
Active1996 – present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
AllegianceUnited States
Branch US Air Force Logo - Black and White Version.svg United States Air Force
United States Space Force logo.svg United States Space Force
Part of Department of Defense

Department of the Air Force
Installation and Mission Support Center
Air Force Services Center

Department of the Air Force Fitness and Sports Division

Contents

Nickname(s)WCAP
Commanders
World Class Athlete Program ManagerMr. Dale Filsell
Chief, Department of the Air Force Fitness and SportsMaj Tiffany Lewis
Notable
commanders
Lt Col (Sel) Aaron Tissot 2021-2023
Old Logo United States Air Force World Class Athlete Program Logo.png
Old Logo

The Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) is a military program designed to support nationally and internationally ranked athlete Airmen and Guardians and prepare them to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team and compete at the highest level of international competition. Additionally, it provides current Olympians an avenue to serve the United States in a uniformed service capacity between training seasons. The program is falls under the DAF Fitness and Sports Division, Air Force Service Center, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Program management of WCAP and the Department of the Air Force Shooting Program moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in the spring of 2022 to better assist athletes and to be closer to the Olympic Training Center and its sister service WCAP Program Managers and Fort Carson, Colorado. [1]

This program enables selected Department of the Air Force military athletes to focus on training and competing in a full-time status in preparation for Olympic competition. The selection process ensures participants are viable Olympic contenders who will serve as Department of the Air Force ambassadors as they compete nationally and internationally.

The name United States Air Force World Class Athlete Program was changed in 2021 to Department of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program when it onboarded its first Space Force service member, fencer, Capt. Leanne “Malibu” Brenner.

Program management operating location, updated recruitment strategy, refined entry standards and branding refresh reflect significant milestones in 2021–2022.

The DAF WCAP is currently governed by Department of the Air Force Instruction 34-114, Fitness, Sports and World Class Athlete Program [ dead link ]. Several Department of the Air Force Athlete of the Year award winners were WCAP alumni or program hopefuls.

Air Force WCAP founding

The World Class Athlete Program was first established by the Army as to centrally manage and support athletes under the provisions set in Public Law 84-11 which passed into law in March 1955. PL 84-11 afforded any Armed Forces service members an opportunity to perform at the international level while maintaining a military career.

At a Washington Touchdown Club Awards Banquet, General Ronald Fogleman inquired about the establishment of the WCAP program and asked if the Air Force might have a similar program for Airmen. Less than a year later, in Feb of 1996 the Air Force World Class Athlete Program was established and added to the Department of the Air Force Fitness and Sports portfolio.

Historic highlights

Logo for Space Force WCAP Athletes Space Force WCAP.jpg
Logo for Space Force WCAP Athletes
Logo for Air Force Athletes Air Force WCAP.jpg
Logo for Air Force Athletes

The first official WCAP class was 1996. During its inaugural year, the program supported 19 full-time athletes.

Highest Olympic Finish: Second Lieutenant Weston "Seth" Kelsey (Men's Epee, 4th place) 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, UK.

Recent WCAP Finish: Airman First Class Kelly Curtis (Women's Skeleton, 21st Place) 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

2019: Introduction of the United States Space Force WCAP. This program is currently managed by the Air Force WCAP Program Manager.

2022: New branding introduced. This included service specific for Air Force and Space Force Athletes and Olympian WCAP logos.

2023: Length of participation in WACP expanded to 3 years. This allowed more time for athletes to train for trials and Olympic qualifications increasing likelihood of selection to TEAM USA.

Current roster

RankNameSportClass
US-O4 insignia.svg Major Daniel Rich Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting 2024
US-O4 insignia.svg Major Phaelen French Olympic pictogram Modern pentathlon.png Modern Pentathlon 2024
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain Jaci Smith Athletics pictogram.svg Track and Field: 10K and Marathon 2024
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain Leanne “Malibu” Brenner Fencing pictogram.svg Fencing: Saber 2024
US-O1 insignia.svg Second Lieutenant Sam Fuller Olympic pictogram Water polo.png Water Polo 2024
USAirF.insignia.e4.afmil.png Senior Airman Michael Mannozzi Athletics pictogram.svg Track and Field: Racewalking 2024
USAirF.insignia.e4.afmil.png Senior Airman Mariah Anderson Wrestling pictogram.svg Greco-Roman Wrestling 2024
USAirF.insignia.e4.afmil.png Senior Airman Tyler Evans Olympic pictogram Modern pentathlon.png Modern Pentathlon 2024
USAirF.insignia.e4.afmil.png Senior Airman Kelly Curtis Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton 2022, 2026
E3 USAF AM1.svg Airman First Class Daniel Michalski Athletics (hurdles running) pictogram.svg Steeplechase 2024
E3 USAF AM1.svg Airman First Class Jasmine Jones Bobsleigh pictogram.svg Bobsled 2026
E3 USAF AM1.svg Airman First Class Mitch Brown Wrestling pictogram.svg Greco-Roman Wrestling 2024
Airman Basic Delbert Taylor Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing 2024

Roster

WCAP Olympians

14 WCAP athletes have represented the United States at the Olympics.

1996 Summer Olympics

Eighteen of the 19 athletes in the program qualified for the Olympic Trials.

Olympians

RankNameSportResult
US-O4 insignia.svg Major William Burton Roy Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting 9th in Men's Skeet
US-O2 insignia.svg First Lieutenant David DeGraaf Handball pictogram.svg Handball 9th of 12; he scored a record 13 goals against Kuwait and a record of 7 blocked shots

Alternate

RankNameSport
E5 USAF SSGT.svg Staff sergeant Ronald Simms Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing

Coaching staff

RankNameSport
E7a USAF MSGT.svg Master sergeant Richard Estrella Wrestling pictogram.svg As a coach for Greco-Roman wrestling

1998 Winter Olympics

Deborah Nordyke was the only WCAP athlete to make Team USA. She joined the Air Force Alaska Air National Guard in 1987.

RankNameSportResult
E3 USAF AM1.svg Airman first class Deborah Nordyke Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon 48th

2000 Summer Olympics

Thirty-six of 38 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials. One alternate for Olympic skeet.

2002 Winter Olympics

All three athletes qualified for the trials.

2004 Summer Olympics

Twenty-three of 28 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials.

Three athletes were selected for the United States national baseball team. They lost in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Americas Olympic Baseball Qualifying Tournament and did not qualify for the Olympics.

Three alternates.

Olympians

RankNameSport
US-O2 insignia.svg First Lieutenant James Parker Athletics (hammer throw) pictogram.svg Track and Field: Hammer throw
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain Kevin Eastler Athletics pictogram.svg Track and Field: Racewalking
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain Weston Kelsey Fencing pictogram.svg Fencing: Epee

2006 Winter Olympics

All four athletes qualified for the trials.

2008 Summer Olympics

Twenty-three of 24 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials.

Three alternates.

Olympians

RankNameSport
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain Eli Bremer Olympic pictogram Modern pentathlon.png Modern pentathalon
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain Kevin Eastler Athletics pictogram.svg Track and Field: Racewalking
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain Weston Kelsey Fencing pictogram.svg Fencing
US-O4 insignia.svg Major Dominic Grazioli Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting
Eli Bremer, Class 2008 Eli Bremmer Beijing 2008.jpg
Eli Bremer, Class 2008
Kevin Eastler, Class 2008 Kevin Eastler.webp
Kevin Eastler, Class 2008

2010 Winter Olympics

Two athletes qualified for the trials. One was first alternate in Bobsled.

2012 Summer Olympics

Twelve of 14 athletes qualified for Olympic Trials. Zero made the Olympic team.

Olympians

RankNameSport
US-O3 insignia.svg Captain Weston Kelsey Fencing pictogram.svg Fencing: Epee

2014 Winter Olympics

One athlete qualified for the trials. He was first alternate in Bobsled.

2016 Summer Olympics

There were 20 WCAP athletes, five competed in the trials and one went to the Olympics.

RankNameSport
US-O2 insignia.svg First Lieutenant Cale Simmons Athletics (pole vault) pictogram.svg Track and Field: Pole vault
Cale Simmons, Class of 2016 Lt. Cale Simmons (160719-F-WJ663-071).jpg
Cale Simmons, Class of 2016

2018 Winter Olympics

No WCAP athletes qualified for the trials.

2020 Summer Olympics

Due to COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 Tokyo games to be delayed.. The Air Force WCAP retained athletes in the program however, no Air Force athletes were able to qualify for the Olympics.

2022 Winter Olympics

There were 6 WCAP athletes, six competed in the trials and one went to the Olympics.

Kelly Curtis was the only WCAP athlete to compete in the Olympics.

RankNameSport
E3 USAF AM1.svg Airman First Class Kelly Curtis Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton
Kelly Curtis, Class of 2022 Kelly Curtis Headshot.jpg
Kelly Curtis, Class of 2022

2024 Summer Olympics

TBD

2026 Winter Olympics

TBD

Summary

OlympicsRosterTrialsAlternateOlympians
1996 Summer Olympics 191813
1998 Winter Olympics 1101
2000 Summer Olympics 383610
2002 Winter Olympics 3300
2004 Summer Olympics 282333
2006 Winter Olympics 4400
2008 Summer Olympics 242304
2010 Winter Olympics 2210
2012 Summer Olympics 141201
2014 Winter Olympics 1110
2016 Summer Olympics 20501
2018 Winter Olympics 0000
2020 Summer Olympics 28000
2022 Winter Olympics 6101
2024 Summer Olympics 13---
2026 Winter Olympics 2---

References

  1. Powers, Rod (12 April 2019). "Military and the Olympics". the balancecareers. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

Sources