Current Projects

USAFA GRADUATE WAR MEMORIAL ONLINE

Since early 2006, The Friends have been involved in a multi-year project that reflects our commitment to being the premier organization dedicated to recording and preserving the heritage of the Air Force Academy. We have assembled available material dealing with the adult lives of the Air Force Academy graduates whose names are currently inscribed on the Academy’s Graduate War Memorial Wall. A link to the database is available on this website. 

Team members, who spent countless volunteer hours on the project are Jock Schwank, ’60 (Friends’ Treasurer); Andi Biancur, ’60 (Friends' Board of Director); Dick Sexton, ’60; and, Dick Coppock, ‘61. Building on original work accomplished by Doug Johnson, Chief, Systems Management Office, McDermott Library, the team collected, scanned, electronically filed and indexed more than 15,000 pages of written and photographic documentation on the honored graduates. There is no other central location for information about these graduates nor is much of the existing information otherwise readily accessible. Therefore, the team relied on exceptional cooperation from the staffs of the Academy’s Association of Graduates and the McDermott Library to make the project a reality.

Since July 1, 2008, all of the collected material has been available electronically where it is readily accessible for study and reflection by members of the Cadet Wing, graduates, family members and researchers interested in the lives of those graduates holding a place of honor on the War Memorial Wall. It is also available in hard copy in the Clark Special Collections Branch of the McDermott Library. The team established procedures for updating the files as more information on these special graduates is acquired from additional sources and as names of other graduates are added to the Wall.

The Friends offer a special opportunity, the Commemorative Honor Book Program, for those who wish to give special, perpetual recognition to individuals, organizations, or groups of individuals. For a specified donation, a handsome honor certificate will be placed in The Friends' Honor Book, which is displayed in a prominent location in the Clark Special Collections of the McDermott Library.

Icarus, the cadet journal of the arts

During the preparation of the DVD Expect Great Things, Jim Gaston, CEO of Word One and member of The Friends' Board of Directors, conducted 20 long video interviews and 17 short video interviews with individuals important in the development of the Air Force Academy.

Conservation of USAFA Library Archives and Collections

The Friends has as an ongoing project ensuring all items and collections received in the archives are properly treated for maximum conservation and long life. This is a continuing Friends-funded project and your cash contribution would be welcome.

The Friends continue to acquire books and collections deemed appropriate by the Director of the USAFA McDermott Library. These include rare books and artwork, maps, diaries, films, electronic media, personal papers, photographs, correspondence, reports, and other documents dealing with aeronautical and airpower themes. The Clark Special Collections Branch contains a significant body of personal papers donated to the Academy by Air Force officers and civilians who were instrumental in the development of American air power. Over 1000 individual collections provide graphic insights from man’s early attempts to master flight through the evolution of military air power and are used in cadet and other scholarly research. If you have such an item you would like to contribute, the Friends would welcome an in-kind donation from you.

Current Projects • Projected Projects • Completed Projects