CAROLYN BENYSHEK
Vice Chairperson
Class of ’87
Colonel (ret) Carolyn A.M. Benyshek is a Sr. Space Systems Engineer with the Tech7 Consulting, LLC, providing program management, systems engineering, Operations integration and acquisition support services supporting the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission. She is trustee on the Falcon Foundation Governing Board of Trustees and leads the Scholarship Committee as the Chairperson. Additionally, she serves as the Vice Chairman on the on the Way of Life Alumni Board of Directors and as the Executive Committee secretary for USAFA Women.
Colonel (ret) Benyshek entered the Air Force in 1987 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. During her 31 years in the Air Force, she has served in a variety of Space ops, engineering, acquisition, and staff assignments associated with early warning, global positioning, and intelligence programs. She was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (Space) Office of Special Projects in Washington, D.C., as the Deputy Chief, Relay and Communications Services where she served as the launch readiness lead during launch, transfer, and initialization of new satellite assets. She was handpicked to the position of Chief, Vehicle Operation and Engineering, leading a 200+ government/ contractor team managing a $4B satellite constellation. In 2005, she took command of the National Reconnaissance Office Operations Squadron, Schriever AFB, Colorado. Additionally, she served as the Director of Space Control and then the Acting Director of Space Programs and Policy for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Networks and Information Integration, Pentagon, D.C.
In 2009, She served as the Special Assistant to the Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado prior to her Presidential nomination, and Senate Confirmation to be the Director of Admissions of the United States Air Force Academy. She was inducted into the USAFA Prep School Hall of Fame in 2014 and was the USAFA Prep School Exemplar for the class of 2022.