The Gazette (Colorado Springs): The Air Force Academy plowed $2.6 million into an unprecedented public relations effort to polish its image after a series of scandals involving athletes at the school.
In addition to the donor money sent to outside public relations contractors, the school also hired five more workers to enlarge its “strategic communications” team after Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson ordered a restructuring of how the academy communicates with the public.
The new communications strategy, which wasn’t publicly announced, was revealed in more than 200 pages of emails that it took the Gazette three years to obtain under the Freedom of Information Act. The newspaper sought the records while investigating athlete misconduct that put 32 players under scrutiny for acts including drug use and sexual assault.
Academy spokesman Lt. Col. Allen Herritage said the focus on communications and public affairs spending was part of a wider effort by the academy to show the public that it takes discipline seriously.
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