Air Force Academy revamps curriculum for modern warfare
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U.S. Air Force Academy cadets celebrate graduation on May 28. Photo: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
The U.S. Air Force Academy is overhauling its curriculum and renaming its academic leadership as it pushes to educate "Day One" warfighters.
Why it matters: Academy leaders say the change will better prepare cadets for modern warfare — including cyber threats — by integrating liberal arts, STEM, AI and military readiness instead of teaching in silos.
Driving the news: Starting Wednesday, the Dean of Faculty will also be known as the Academic Wing, and the dean will take on the additional title of "Academic Wing commander."
- The academy's top academic leader will also carry the title of provost, aligning USAFA more closely with civilian universities.
What's changing: As part of the realignment, the academy will establish four interdisciplinary academic schools:
- School for Integrated General Studies
- School of Integrated Engineering Sciences
- School of Integrated Basic Sciences
- School of Integrated Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
What they're saying: "The demands of modern warfare are inherently multidisciplinary," Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. James Valpiani, who will become the academy's Academic Wing commander, said.
- "Our graduates must be able to connect what they know across fields, to judge well under pressure, and to understand what they are fighting for. An education delivered in disconnected pieces will not form the judgment they need to deter conflict or, if necessary, to prevail in combat."
The intrigue: USAFA's accreditor says the changes don't require its approval.
- The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) confirmed it's aware of the overhaul.
- The commission reportedly investigated USAFA last year after an alumnus alleged a voluntary resignation program was "hastily instituted," and prompted many of the academy's top Ph.D. faculty — including STEM professors — to leave.
- An HLC spokesperson tells Axios the commission doesn't comment on complaints, but it has not taken accreditation actions against the USAFA.
What we're watching: The curriculum announcement came one day before CBS reported the Defense Department ordered a "line-by-line" review of every course taught at the military academies and senior service colleges to see if they align with "tactical, operational, and strategic combat leadership" and "warfighting readiness."
- Courses deemed "ideologically driven" would be eliminated, CBS reported.
- That directive aligns with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's push to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion-related coursework.
Axios asked the Department of Defense, Air Force and USAFA whether the reported memo exists, and whether it affected the academy's overhaul.
- A DOD spokesperson said, "We have nothing to provide on this."
- The Air Force and USAFA did not respond to that specific question.
By the numbers: USAFA currently has more than 4,000 cadets, offers 31 programs of study and has a 14% acceptance rate.
- It ranked No. 5 for national liberal arts colleges and No. 2 for top public universities in the 2026 U.S. News and World Report list.
What's next: Pilot courses could begin next spring, with the fully integrated curriculum possibly starting next year.