Washington (Agencies): Former U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed five new members to the U.S. Air Force Academy’s (USAFA) Board of Visitors, replacing those selected by President Joe Biden. The move, announced on March 17, follows Trump’s immediate dismissal of all Biden-appointed members from the military academy’s oversight boards last month.
The new appointees are:
- Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) – Represents Alabama’s Maxwell Air Force Base and has been vocal on Space Force issues.
- Doug Nikolai – A retired Air Force colonel and F-16 pilot with experience as an aviation instructor.
- Dan Clark – A motivational speaker with past involvement in Air Force leadership programs.
- Charlie Kirk – Founder of the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA, which focuses on student issues.
- Dina Powell – Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy under Trump.
The USAFA Board of Visitors is a Congressionally mandated advisory panel that oversees key aspects of the academy, including morale, discipline, curriculum, and financial matters. The board consists of 17 members, with six appointed by the president and 11 selected by Congress.
Congressional appointments to the board also include Reps. Don Davis (D-N.C.), Jeff Crank (R-Colo.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-Texas). Meanwhile, Senate Armed Services Committee leaders Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) have yet to announce their designated appointees.
Trump’s latest appointments replace Biden’s six appointees, including retired Maj. Gen. James Johnson, former Air Force Undersecretary Eric Fanning, and Col. Wesley Spurlock.
Trump’s decision to reshape the USAFA Board comes after Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin dismissed hundreds of civilian defense advisors in 2021, including those on military academy oversight panels. The USAFA Board did not meet for nearly two and a half years, from November 2020 to April 2022, before being reconstituted.
While the Board of Visitors does not have direct decision-making power, it provides nonbinding recommendations on the academy’s operations. Trump has criticized the board’s direction under Biden, claiming it was “infiltrated by woke leftist ideologues.” His new appointees are expected to emphasize cultural and social issues, including the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
The board’s next meeting will be its first with a significantly restructured membership, signaling a potential shift in oversight priorities for the Air Force Academy.