CSO hosts patch presentation ceremony

Published June 4, 2024
By Katherine Spessa
U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) -- Ninety-two U.S. Air Force Academy cadets were presented their U.S. Space Force patches during a ceremony held at Clune Arena May 29.

The ceremony, a significant U.S. Space Force tradition, was presided over by Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. During these events, a current Guardian presents the newest members of the service with a patch previously worn by another Guardian, symbolizing their transition into the U.S. Space Force.

“This is a two-service academy producing some of the finest officers I’ve ever had the chance to work with, and I know the class of ’24 will be no different,” Saltzman said.

Attended by senior leaders, proud loved ones and Academy faculty, the ceremony was one of several events happening during the week preceding graduation honoring the cadets’ years of hard work before entering the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force as second lieutenants.

The Academy graduated its first class of Space Force cadets in May 2020 and has since graduated approximately 400 new Guardians. They now serve as space operations, cyberspace operations, intelligence, developmental engineering and acquisition management officers.

“2024 is an exceptional class and so are the people who got them here and got them through,” said Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent. “You are the foundation that will make the mission happen and make our Space Force all that it can be.”