AUGUST 5, 2024 – U.S. Air Force Academy cadets, faculty and staff welcomed their 22nd superintendent, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, during an assumption of command ceremony held here Aug. 2.
“[Bauernfeind’s career] is checkered with all the things you would expect of a senior leader, but something else as well,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. “He has intellectual curiosity, vision, and an adherence to principles. Those are things we need as we navigate this transformation of the United States Air Force Academy to develop young leaders.”
Bauernfeind, a 1991 Academy graduate, took the helm from Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, who retired June 1 following the Class of ’24 graduation. Bauernfeind will continue Clark’s goal of developing leaders of character, with an additional focus on creating warfighters in an era of Great Power Competition.
“It is an honor to lead the Air Force Academy with its rich history and legacy of developing leaders. I can tell you that my time as a cadet played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for me as a leader for the past 33 years,” Bauernfeind said upon assuming command. “I am excited to return to this extraordinary team that is dedicated to developing our next generation of combat-ready leaders.”
Having served his entire career in U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, most recently as its top general, Bauernfeind has a unique perspective and decades of expertise in developing lethal warfighters.
“I could not be more positive, more optimistic, more confident in the future of our U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force than I am now looking at these leaders, looking at the plan and looking at the great Americans that continue to come up that ramp and say ‘yes, I am going to join this winning team,’” Allvin said.
The priorities of his tenure will reflect the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force’s directives in the 2022 National Defense Strategy to ensure the next generation of officers has the foundation and skills to lead the Department of the Air Force in this new direction.
“As we look to the future, it is clear we are in a time of consequence, with geopolitical instability ever evident in our headlines,” Bauernfeind said. “Our officers must be prepared on day one to lead in a dynamic and changing world against adversaries wishing to harm our nation, our allies, and our partners.”
As the Academy’s superintendent, Bauernfeind will direct the undergraduate academic program, military and athletic training, and character development. The cadets Bauernfeind leads will earn a Bachelor of Science degree and commission as second lieutenants into the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
“As a military academy, our priorities are the foundation of everything we will do,” Bauernfeind said. “Every activity, every action, and every program we have must support and reflect our priorities. And we will focus on our priorities, which are: we will develop war fighters to win. We will develop leaders of character and quality. And we will develop critical thinkers to adapt.”
By Katherine Spessa
U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications