Athletics Support Bolsters Long Partnership between L3Harris, U.S. Air Force

The first class of the U.S. Air Force Academy gathered to begin its studies in 1955, but not on the sprawling Colorado Springs campus known for breathtaking views from athletic fields. The cadets swore in at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver as the service was still purchasing land and beginning construction of the new facility.

From those early days athletics were a foundation of the academy experience, with the football team playing its first season in 1955. Today all cadets must participate in an intercollegiate or an intramural sport.

One thing was true even then – L3Harris already had a lengthy association with the Air Force, not only from the first days of the nascent service in 1947, but back to supporting the predecessor U.S. Army Air Corps in 1934.

U.S. Air Force Academy Athletics Sponsorship

Given that history, it’s fitting that in the 21st century, the partnership with the Air Force and the academy would be even closer. L3Harris has signed a multiyear sponsorship agreement to support academy athletic programs, extending the relationship that began so many decades ago.

“L3Haris is proud to support our future Air Force and Space Force leaders through these sports programs,” L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems President Ed Zoiss said. “There is no better way to support future Air Force and Space Force leaders than backing activities that are a cornerstone of the academy experience, especially during the Air Force’s 75th anniversary year.”

The deal covers multiple men’s and women’s sports programs over the next three seasons, extending the sponsorship that began in 2021. During the 2021 football season L3Harris sponsored a specific football game that saw 750 employees, family and friends attend to show support for the Falcons.

Air Force Athletic Director Nathan Pine said the sponsorship underscores strong ties that have come full circle from the airfield to the battlefield to the playing field.

“We are happy to extend our partnership with L3Harris for another three years in support of Air Force Athletics,” Air Force Academy Director of Athletics Nathan Pine said. “L3Harris has a strong history of supporting military members and that alignment is outstanding as we execute our mission of developing leaders of character for our Air Force and Space Force.”

L3Harris has partnered with the Air Force since its conception in 1947, providing communications, mission avionics, electronic warfare, training, sustainment, robotics and many other capabilities. The relationship goes back even further to 1934, when the company provided pilot training systems to the U.S. Army Air Corps. Since then, L3Harris has supported iconic Air Force bomber, fighter and electronic attack aircraft like B-52, B-1, F-16, EA-6, EA-18 and Air Force 1. L3Harris is a partner on next-generation Air Force F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

The company also has a long history of supporting military space programs and was already working with the Space Force when it was established as a separate service in 2019. Current L3Harris Space Force capabilities include space command and control, space domain awareness, GPS and future positioning, navigation and timing technology.