Nominations
The laws governing appointments require that you have a nomination to
attend the Air Force Academy. Since the nomination process is lengthy,
you should seek a nomination at the same time you apply to the Academy.
Congressional nominations are the primary source for most candidates. To increase your chances of being selected, you should apply in every category for which you are eligible, including your U.S. Representative, two U.S. Senators and the Vice President.
Each member of Congress and the Vice President may have five nominated cadets at the Air Force Academy at any one time. They may nominate up to ten candidates for each vacancy. Vacancies occur when cadets graduate or leave prior to graduation. The Academy also reserves a select number of spots for international applicants and applicants from U.S. territories and military-affiliated categories.
The nomination sources and estimated deadlines for Western Washington are listed below. Visit each member's web site for specific application procedures and exact deadlines.
Vice President
The Vice President of the United States nominates from the U.S. at large. You must personally write to the Vice President during the application period of March 1 to October 31 preceding the year of entrance to the Academy. Additional information and a sample letter are available on the Vice President web site (lower-right corner).
Senators
| Senator | Staff Contact | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Patty Murray | Kim Brown (206) 553-5545 kim_brown@murray.senate.gov |
15 Nov 2010 |
| Maria Cantwell | Samuel Mack (253) 572-2281 samuel_mack@cantwell.senate.gov |
30 Nov 2010 |
Representatives
First, determine your district by entering your home ZIP code at Write Your Representative. In some cases, such as military families, your parent's legal residence may be different from where you live. Ask your parents where they are registered to vote. Then choose the representative below.
| Representative | Staff Contact | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Jay Inslee 1st District |
Kiersten Hutchins (206) 361-0233 kiersten.hutchins@mail.house.gov |
05 Nov 2010 |
| Rick Larsen 2nd District |
Rochelle LeMieux (425) 252-3188 rochelle.lemieux@mail.house.gov |
05 Nov 2010 |
| Brian Baird 3rd District |
Cindy Gipson (360) 695-6292 cindy.gipson@mail.house.gov |
08 Oct 2010 |
| Norman Dicks 6th District |
latasha Wortham (202) 225-5916 latasha.wortham@mail.house.gov |
29 Oct 2010 |
| Jim McDermott 7th District |
Tera Beach (206) 553-7170 tera.beach@mail.house.gov |
12 Nov 2010 |
| Dave Reichert 8th District |
Jaques Imperial (206) 275-3438 jaques.imperial@mail.house.gov |
19 Nov 2010 |
| Adam Smith 9th District |
Rebecca Snyder (253) 593-6600 rebecca.snyder@mail.house.gov |
22 Nov 2010 |
Presidential and Military Affiliated
The Presidential category may have up to 100 appointments. This category is reserved for children of career military personnel. In addition, there are other military-affiliated categories including:
- Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans
- Children of Military or Civilian Personnel in Missing Status
- Children of Medal of Honor Recipients
- Air Force Regular and Reserve Components
- Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC)
- Honor Military and Naval Schools
- International Students
To learn how to request a nomination in these categories and view a sample military-affiliated letter, visit the Academy web site.
