USAFA - Spirit of 76 - Legacy Project - REPORT! Interviews with the Long Blue Line.

Feb 15 2025 71 ep. 58 mins

USAFA - Spirit of 76 - Legacy Project - REPORT! Interviews with the Long Blue Line. Podcast artwork

Season 1 USAFA - Spirit of 76 podcast, CS- 36 Pink Panther focused interviews with personalities from a tight, quirky group of cadets/grads and friends. Season 2 Expands to other classes and cadet squadrons covering the long blue line’s history via personalities and tales across the decades. Enjoy and learn! Season 3 More classes and squadrons and interesting stories from the Long Blue Line. Season 4 Focusing on Spirit of 76 Classmates in an attempt to broaden the Legacy of the 76ers and impact current cadets at their 1/2 way decision point. Hang in there!

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Greg Whaley - Spirit of 76 - AF brat, Dean’s List, B-52 & B-1 pilot, Wharton MBA, entrepreneur, Inc 500 list 3 years in a row

Feb 15 2025 45 mins

Greg Whaley grew up an AF brat and came to USAFA from Eielsen AFB, Fairbanks, AK. Greg got a summer stint in the NCO program at Wright Pat and 3rd Lt in Germany. Many semesters on the Dean’s List earned him UPT at Williams. His USAF career took him into SAC and bomber pilot at Loring (Maine), Fairchild ( Spokane), a Master’s in OPs Research at AFIT, HQ SAC (Offut), aircraft com

Scott Gough - Spirit of 76 - AF brat, Sup’s List w CDB, pilot (T-33, F-106, OV-10 to fighters) to UAL, Air Gardens rebirth

Feb 08 2025 78 mins

Here is the story of Scott Gough. AF brat who maintained a waiver throughout his cadet and flying days to successfully fly in the USAF & UAL. There are two stories he wanted me to edit out that I thought were ok to leave in so enjoy. Scott was on the Dean and Sup list often but also enjoyed a CDB with tours, another humbling cadet story. His initial flying was in T-33’s where

Larry Weaver - Spirit of 76 - prep school, pilot, historian

Jan 25 2025 64 mins

This episode you meet Larry Weaver. AF brat from Ft Walton Beach who turned down ROTC scholarship to got to the AFA prep school. Figured out how to beat the Dean and Commandant enough to land on the Sup’s list but also got a CDB Firstie year. Upon graduation became a B-52 pilot, USAFA prof of history, and Assoc Dean at Maxwell. His PHD in history from Indiana U led him away from

Steve Heinz - Spirit of 76 - top cadet in civil engineering, CEO & Founder

Dec 07 2024 74 mins

This episode you meet Steve Heinz. Steve was a top cadet in our class in civil engineering. He actually turned down pilot training to become a civil engineer. He spent eight years on active duty started his company from his home and turned it into a major player in energy software headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania.

Dave May - Spirit of 76 - Lt Col, pilot, Philmont Ranger

Nov 02 2024 60 mins

Dave grew up in Kentucky and did his best to keep his head down while at the zoo, mostly successfully as you will hear. Was a pilot for 21 years on active duty with interesting stops in the Philippines and Panama. After active duty career became a Delta pilot till retirement.

Backstory and where the podcast is heading

Jul 04 2024 9 mins

The Anchor app I use to record and edit these chats is going away. So I am working with the AOG on new tools and how to keep the show going. Yep, old dog needs to learn new tricks. Anyone else expect a train wreck? This episode I want to provide the series' backstory and update on what our new grad (Class of 24) is off to do. I shared the backstory with a Rwandan Grad, Class of 14.

Randy McPeak - Spirit of 76 - USAF & Commercial Pilot, Academy L.O.

Jun 08 2024 45 mins

This episode you meet Randy McPeak. He shares his interesting story of how he grew up in S. Illinois, survived USAFA, became a USAF T-38 and B-52 pilot, and transitioned to US Air and commercial flying while in the USAFR. After "flunking" retirement from American Airlines he now repositions aircraft all over the world leading to very interesting photos in his FB feed.

”Wild Bill” Stealey - 1970 - Pilot, LAX defender, Wharton MBA, Mgt Consultant, President/CEO

Jun 01 2024 80 mins

This episode you meet "Wild Bill" Stealey, Class of 1970, AFA lacrosse defender, IP & C-5 pilot, Wharton MBA, Management Consultant, President & CEO of successful video game companies... and grandpa. You will figure out on your own why John Wilbur Stealey got the call sign "Wild Bill." Also he shares his USAFA days which shows how the zoo experience was in the early days as

Kevin Chilton - Spirit of 76 - GEN, Astronaut HOF, Pilot, Guggenheim, Distinguished Grad

May 25 2024 114 mins

Kevin Chilton grew up in So Cal near LAX and loved watching the planes come and go in his neighborhood. Some interesting events and people got him to USAFA where he excelled in academics but also got to know the tour pad. Upon graduation Kevin headed off to Columbia for his Master's in Mech Eng followed by UPT, RF-4 flying in Kadena which evolved to F-15's which led to Test Pilot s

Rich Luhrs - Spirit of 76 - EE/Math Double Major, Guggenheim Scholar

Mar 03 2024 104 mins

Rich Luhrs grew up in Kinderhook, NY and was told from day one he would not be flight rated upon graduation so he focused on academics and double majored in EE and Math. After AFA he attended Princeton on a Guggenheim Scholarship followed by engineering roles at Wright Pat and Edwards. Oh, and a very short time as a EE instructor at AFA from where he entered civilian life as a SR E