History

General H.T. Johnson didn’t just follow a path; he defined the standard. Explore the memoir of the first 4-star graduate, a man who served as the vanguard for the Class of '59.

The Class of 1959’s pioneering legacy will be honored in May 2026 with the opening of the General Bradley and Zita Hosmer Welcome Center—the new “front door” to USAFA. This landmark facility celebrates the First Class, their enduring impact, and the extraordinary leadership of Brad Hosmer.

"Two weeks to the day after I spent four days in that same car, Colonel Rowe was killed in a rain of bullets..." General Dick Carr recounts the incredible and tragic intersection of his life with that of a legendary Special Forces hero.

On May 31, 1967, Capt. Richard “Dusty” Trail and his KC‑135 crew performed history’s first tri‑level aerial refueling over the Gulf of Tonkin. Their daring mission saved Navy and Air Force aircraft from fuel starvation and earned the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year. Today, Dusty’s legacy is honored at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and within the Class of 1959 family.

Lt. Gen. Robert D. “Bob” Beckel embodied the warrior spirit of the Class of ’59—from soloing with the Thunderbirds to flying 313 combat missions in Vietnam. In 1981, he returned to the Academy as the first graduate to serve as Commandant of Cadets, a full-circle moment that affirmed the Academy’s promise. His legacy lives on in courage, integrity, and devotion to the Long Blue Line.

On July 11, 1955, Col. Max Miller stepped into history as one of USAFA’s first cadets. Seventy years later, he’s still serving, mentoring, and inspiring.

Major General Hank Canterbury shares his Air Force Aviation career and how he qualified as the overall top aviator graduate of the USAFA.