USAFA Class Exemplars
Since the Class of 2000, each class has chosen someone who "exemplifies" the type of person the class wishes to emulate.
2000 |
General James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle |
2001 |
Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell |
2002 |
Captain Lance P. Sijan |
2003 |
Major Richard I. Bong |
2004 |
Captain Eddie Rickenbacker |
2005 |
General George S. Patton Jr. |
2006 |
General Carl A. "Tooey" Spaatz |
2007 |
Lieutenant Colonel Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom |
2008 |
1LT Karl W. Ritcher |
2009 |
Colonel Hubert "Hub" Zemke |
2010 |
2Lt Frank Luke Jr. |
2011 |
Brigadier General Robin Olds |
2012 |
General of the AF Henry H. "Hap" Arnold |
2013 |
General Curtis E. Lemay |
2014 |
Lieutenant Colonel Jay Zeamer Jr. |
2015 |
Wilbur and Orville Wright |
2016 |
Major David Brodeur |
2017 |
Col. George Everett "Bud" Day |
2018 |
Capt. Louis Zamperini |
2019 |
Neil Armstrong |
2020 |
1st Lt. Robert "Bob" Hoover |
2021 |
Brigadier General James Robinson "Robbie" Risner |
2022 |
General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. |
2023 |
Col. Leo Thorsness |
2024 |
Maj. LeRoy W. Homer Jr. |
2025 |
Col. William Francis "Psycho" Andrews |
2026 |
MSgt. John "Sarge" Chapman |
Read more about the Exemplar Dinner and other legacy events.
Learn more about Air Force Academy heritage.