Maj. Andrew Shea '14 and Maj. Allyson Shea '15 have started thinking about how they can positively impact the U.S. Air Force Academy, which has been foundational in their careers and young adult lives. During their research for charitable options, they discovered and joined the Sabre Society at the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation. During further discussions, they saw the future impact they could have by also planning early for a future estate gift.

"We're big believers that small actions now can have outsized impact later on. Going the investment account route, we can consistently be contributing within our means knowing that later on we'll be able to have an impact," Andrew Shea says.

Both of the Sheas are stationed at Hurlburt Field in Florida. Andrew Shea is an MC-130 instructor pilot and an assistant operations officer leading the MC-130 weapons instructor course with U.S. Air Force Weapons School. Allyson is an MQ-9 evaluator pilot, serving as the Wing Engine Room director, leading programs addressing administrative and operational support across the installation.

They have two young children, which has helped them look at their futures differently.

"It changes how we look at the world," Andrew Shea says. "We count the sacrifices that we get to make for our kids as blessings. Becoming parents has made us look for opportunities to help outside our own little world, and we want to make sure we are showing our kids what it means to continue to serve and be charitable to the organizations that you trust."

The Sheas also have started to translate the expectations they have for their work teams into their own expectations for their personal lives. That includes participating in surveys and taking action to create desired changes.

"We're at the point where we've advanced in our careers and matured enough to realize in our professional lives how to institute change and how important it is to take action for change that you want to see," Allyson Shea says. "There are things that we would like to see improve from our Academy experience to shape the future Academy experience. We want to play a part in making that happen."

To that end, the Sheas joined the Sabre Society at the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation in 2025. They also have set up an investment account naming the Association & Foundation as a beneficiary. That designation qualified them to be recognized in the Polaris Society.

"We're big believers that small actions now can make big differences later on," Andrew Shea says. "And since we're looking at hopefully not having the Academy be a beneficiary for another 50 or 60 years, that was just the right vehicle for our family at this time."

The Sheas' desire to help the Academy stems from the positive experiences they had as cadets and the knowledge that their cadet journey set them up for career success.

"The challenge of the Academy really sticks with us. It's a great place to be from, for sure," Allyson Shea says. "We're glad to see so much growth on the alumni side and the great strides the Foundation is making - they are both working hard to meet the needs of the graduates and create opportunities for impact."

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Published March 2026