Alexis Cortez and Will Staring named Captains of Captains
10/1/2026 10:18:00 AM | General
USAF ACADEMY – Seniors Alexis Cortez (women's basketball) and Will Staring (ice hockey) have been selected as the Air Force Academy's Captains of Captains for the 2026-27 season. Cortez is the first member of the women's basketball team to serve as a Captain of Captains. Staring is the fifth straight hockey player to serve in that role.
The Captains of Captains program is in its fifth season and is a key component and enabler of the Team Captain Enhancement Program (TCEP), the athletic department's premier cadet-athlete leadership development program for USAFA's intercollegiate (IC) team captains. Among several key responsibilities, the Captains of Captains will serve on the cadet wing staff as the single voice of advocacy for IC issues at the cadet wing's "Top 47" meeting. Additionally, they will assist the TCEP in working to continuously grow and strengthen a winning culture and warrior ethos among the IC teams.
In partnership with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Chair, the Captains of Captains will champion communication, integration, collaboration, and awareness with the goal of increasing cadet wing spirit and advancing the Academy's mission.
Cortez, a senior guard from Allen, Texas, is the women's basketball team captain this season . She has played in 85 career games and averages 5.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game for her career. A biology major and member of cadet squadron five, she served as the Basic Cadet Training Commander this past summer. She has served as the wing and group standardization/evaluation officer and as the support group director of operations in the cadet wing. A member of the Dean's List, she will go to pilot training after graduation.
"Being selected as a captain is a privilege because it means that my team trusts me to lead," Cortez said. "Being selected for Captain of Captains is a special privilege because it means that the best leaders at USAFA trust me to represent them and I'm super grateful for that!"
Staring, a senior defenseman from Springfield, Va., served as an assistant captain last season and will wear the "C" this season. He has played in 109 career games and has eight goals and 29 assists for 37 career points. A business management major and member of cadet squadron 10, he was the chief of staff for the assault course at Basic Cadet Training this past summer. He is a three-time academic all-conference selection and has been on the Superintendent's, Dean's and Athletic's List at the Academy. After graduation, he will join the Space Force.
"Being named a captain of the hockey team and the Captain of Captains is an incredible honor," Staring said. "The opportunity to be surrounded by so many leaders I respect pushes me to be my best every day and give my all to the hockey team, the athletic community and USAFA as a whole. Go Falcons!"
Past Captains of Captains
2022-23: BrookeLyn Messenger (volleyball) and Luke Rowe (hockey)
2023-24: Grace Sublette (women's soccer) and Luke Robinson (hockey)
2024-25: Emily Cook (cheer) and Clayton Cosentino (hockey)
2025-26: Gabriella Hartley (women's gymnastics) and Mason McCormick (hockey)
2026-27: Alexis Cortez (women's basketball) and Will Staring (hockey)
The Captains of Captains program is in its fifth season and is a key component and enabler of the Team Captain Enhancement Program (TCEP), the athletic department's premier cadet-athlete leadership development program for USAFA's intercollegiate (IC) team captains. Among several key responsibilities, the Captains of Captains will serve on the cadet wing staff as the single voice of advocacy for IC issues at the cadet wing's "Top 47" meeting. Additionally, they will assist the TCEP in working to continuously grow and strengthen a winning culture and warrior ethos among the IC teams.
In partnership with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Chair, the Captains of Captains will champion communication, integration, collaboration, and awareness with the goal of increasing cadet wing spirit and advancing the Academy's mission.
Cortez, a senior guard from Allen, Texas, is the women's basketball team captain this season . She has played in 85 career games and averages 5.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game for her career. A biology major and member of cadet squadron five, she served as the Basic Cadet Training Commander this past summer. She has served as the wing and group standardization/evaluation officer and as the support group director of operations in the cadet wing. A member of the Dean's List, she will go to pilot training after graduation.
"Being selected as a captain is a privilege because it means that my team trusts me to lead," Cortez said. "Being selected for Captain of Captains is a special privilege because it means that the best leaders at USAFA trust me to represent them and I'm super grateful for that!"
Staring, a senior defenseman from Springfield, Va., served as an assistant captain last season and will wear the "C" this season. He has played in 109 career games and has eight goals and 29 assists for 37 career points. A business management major and member of cadet squadron 10, he was the chief of staff for the assault course at Basic Cadet Training this past summer. He is a three-time academic all-conference selection and has been on the Superintendent's, Dean's and Athletic's List at the Academy. After graduation, he will join the Space Force.
"Being named a captain of the hockey team and the Captain of Captains is an incredible honor," Staring said. "The opportunity to be surrounded by so many leaders I respect pushes me to be my best every day and give my all to the hockey team, the athletic community and USAFA as a whole. Go Falcons!"
Past Captains of Captains
2022-23: BrookeLyn Messenger (volleyball) and Luke Rowe (hockey)
2023-24: Grace Sublette (women's soccer) and Luke Robinson (hockey)
2024-25: Emily Cook (cheer) and Clayton Cosentino (hockey)
2025-26: Gabriella Hartley (women's gymnastics) and Mason McCormick (hockey)
2026-27: Alexis Cortez (women's basketball) and Will Staring (hockey)
Tuesday, October 06
Tuesday, October 06
Tuesday, October 06
Tuesday, October 06
