HERITAGE MINUTE
With Steve Simon ’77 - Bringing Academy History to Life
Episodes
In this edition of Heritage Minute Podcast, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Garrett “Sack” Harencak ’83 reflects on a career that spanned the Cold War, life on nuclear alert and the enduring importance of deterrence. He also shares how the U.S. Air Force adapted after the Cold War, transforming bombers from nuclear penetrators into highly effective conventional combat aircraft and reshaping training, operations and mindset along...
The process of sharing information has quickly evolved, and Air Force Public Affairs has not been immune to change. Fax machines and weekly base newspapers have been replaced with 24-hour news cycles and the digital age. Col. (Ret.) Johnny Whitaker ’73 witnessed the evolution of Air Force communications firsthand. Hear his stories, lessons and leadership insights on the latest Heritage Minute Podcast.
How did military space evolve from behind-the-scenes to its own military service?
In this edition of the Heritage Minute Podcast, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Nina Armagno ’88 shares her firsthand perspective on the rise of military space, the creation of the U.S. Space Force and why space remains critical to national security.
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 an...
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.
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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 ene...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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 pre...
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 presen...
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. T...
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!
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The Academy and the saber have a long and rich history, dating back to the very beginning of USAFA’s existence. Most of the early Air Force Academy planners were in fact West Point graduates. They brought many of their programs, artifacts, and traditions to the new school in Colorado. Included in that category is the saber, which has been carried by wing, group, and squadron leaders while marching or partici...
In Part 2 of this 3-part series, Heritage Minute Special host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steve Simon ’77, gets his conversation started with Mr. Duane Boyle, recently retired USAFA architect, a position he held for many years. The two discuss Duane's role as the Academy’s Architect, his work and impact, specific projects, and their shared experiences having worked together over the years going back to the 1980's.
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