List of Commandants of the United States Air Force Academy

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 in 1994, the Commandant has been dual-hatted as the commander of the 34th Training Wing.

List of Commandants

# Start End Name Class year Notability References
1 1954 1958 Stillman, Robert M.Robert M. Stillman USMA 1935 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) [1]
2 1958 1961 Sullivan Jr., Henry R.Henry R. Sullivan Jr. USMA 1939 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 [2]
3 1961 1963 Seawell, WilliamWilliam Seawell USMA 1941 [3]
4 1963 1965 Strong, Jr., Robert WilliamRobert William Strong, Jr. USMA 1940 [4]
5 1965 1967 Seith, Louis T.Louis T. Seith USMA 1943 [5]
6 1967 1971 Olds, RobinRobin Olds USMA 1943 Renowned fighter pilot; World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veteran; triple ace with 16 confirmed air-to-air kills [6]
7 1971 1973 Galligan, Walter T.Walter T. Galligan USMA 1945 [7]
8 1973 1975 Vandenberg, Jr., Hoyt S.Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr. USMA 1951 [8]
9 1975 1978 Beck, Stanley C.Stanley C. Beck USMA 1954 [9]
10 1978 1981 Richards, Thomas C.Thomas C. Richards Virginia Tech 1956 [10]
11 1981 1982 Beckel, Robert D.Robert D. Beckel USAFA 1959 First USAFA graduate Commandant. His son, Colonel Robert D. Beckel, Jr.[11] was a cadet during his tenure. [12]
12 1982 1984 Burshnick, Anthony J.Anthony J. Burshnick USAFA 1960 [13]
13 1984 1986 Anderson, Marcus A.Marcus A. Anderson USAFA 1961 Lieutenant General, fighter pilot, later became commander of Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), Inspector General US Air Force [14]
14 1986 1989 Westbrook III, Sam W.Sam W. Westbrook III USAFA 1963 Major General; fighter pilot [15]
15 1989 1992 Redden, Joseph J.Joseph J. Redden USAFA 1964 [16]
16 1992 1993 Bethurem, Richard C.Richard C. Bethurem USAFA 1966 [17]
17 1993 1994 Gamble, Patrick K.Patrick K. Gamble Texas A&M 1967 [18]
18 1994 1996 Hopper Jr., John D.John D. Hopper Jr. USAFA 1969 First African American Commandant [19]
19 1996 1999 Lorenz, Stephen R.Stephen R. Lorenz USAFA 1973 [20]
20 1999 2001 Welsh III, Mark A.Mark A. Welsh III USAFA 1976 [21]
21 2001 2003 Gilbert III, S. TacoS. Taco Gilbert III USAFA 1978 [22]
22 2003 2005 Weida, Johnny A.Johnny A. Weida USAFA 1978 [23]
23 2005 2008 Desjardins, Susan Y.Susan Y. Desjardins USAFA 1980 First female Commandant; installed partly as a reaction to the Academy's 2003-5 sexual assault scandal [24]
24 2008 2010 Cox, Samuel D.Samuel D. Cox USAFA 1984 [25]
25 2010 2012 Clark, Richard M.Richard M. Clark USAFA 1986 B-1 bomber pilot [26]
26 2012 2014 Lengyel, Gregory J.Gregory J. Lengyel Texas A&M 1985 Major General; helicopter pilot [27][28]
27 2014 present Williams, Stephen C.Stephen C. Williams USAFA 1989 F-16C/D Pilot
Louis T. Seith
Robin Olds
Stephen R. Lorenz
Susan Y. Desjardins

References

  1. "Major General Robert M. Stillman". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  2. "Major General Henry R. Sullivan". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  3. "Brigadier General William T. Seawell". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  4. "Major General Robert William Strong Jr.". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  5. "General Louis Theodore Seith". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  6. "Brigadier General Robin Olds". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  7. "Lieutenant General Walter T. Galligan". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  8. "Major General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr.". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  9. "Major General Stanley C. Beck". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  10. "General Thomas C. Richards". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  11. "Biographies : COLONEL ROBERT D. BECKEL JR.". 505ccw.acc.af.mil. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  12. "Lieutenant General Robert D. Beckel". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  13. "Lieutenant General Anthony J. Burshnick". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  14. "Lieutenant General Marcus A. Anderson". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  15. "Major General Sam W. Westbrook III". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  16. "Lieutenant General Joseph J. Redden". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  17. "Lieutenant General Richard C. Bethurem". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  18. "General Patrick K. Gamble". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  19. "Lieutenant General John D. Hopper". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  20. "General Stephen R. Lorenz". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  21. "Lieutenant General Mark A. Welsh III". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  22. "Brigadier General S. Taco Gilbert III". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  23. "Major General Johnny A. Weida". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  24. "Brigadier General Susan Y. Desjardins". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  25. "Brigadier General Samuel D. Cox". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  26. "Brig. Gen. Richard M. Clark". USAFA. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  27. "Brig. Gen. Gregory J. Lengyel". Air Force Link. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  28. "New commandant of cadets heading to AFA". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
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