March 2, 2004

By Steve Trivett
Rocky Mountain News

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - The Air Force Academy has reached from its own sports history all the way to outer space to find its new athletic director.

Col. Mike Bloomfield, a 1981 AFA graduate who served as the captain of the Falcons football team in 1980 and later made three space shuttle flights, will replace Col. Randy Spetman, who retired from active duty in January.

The announcement of Bloomfield's hiring was made Monday by AFA superintendent Lt. Gen. John Rosa. Bloomfield, who will not arrive at the academy until late March or early April, is the ninth athletic director in academy history.

"Mike has been a Division I-recruited athlete and he knows what it's like to compete at the highest level," Rosa said. "He'll be a great role model for all of our cadets."

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