Former Civil Air Patrol Cadet Earns 2026 Rhodes Scholarship

(Guest written by Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Emmeline Peltzer and Maj. Margot Myers, Arizona Wing. Edited by CAP.News staff)

MESA, Ariz. – Imagine being chosen for one of the most competitive academic honors in the world. It is a scholarship so selective that fewer than one percent of applicants are accepted each year, and its recipients have included Nobel Prize winners, senators, astronauts, and heads of state. That distinction is known as becoming a Rhodes Scholar, and this year, Cadet 1st Class Anirvin Puttur of Mesa, Arizona, has earned a place among its ranks.

Puttur is one of only two U.S. Air Force Academy cadets selected as Rhodes Scholars for the 2026 academic year. The award will fully fund his postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, where he plans to pursue a master’s degree in engineering science.

Now in his final year at the Air Force Academy, Puttur is completing dual majors in aeronautical engineering and applied mathematics. He also serves as president of the Academy’s Martinson Honors Program, a community focused on academic excellence, interdisciplinary learning, and leadership.

Before stepping onto a national stage, Puttur’s journey began close to home through the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary. At age 15, after hearing about CAP from family and friends, he joined the Williams Composite Squadron in Mesa. Already interested in a military career, he immersed himself in opportunities ranging from color guard presentations to leadership positions and ultimately rose to the rank of cadet captain.

"CAP gave me a solid foundation, not just in military customs and courtesies, but in real life leadership," Puttur said. "I stuck around even when activities went virtual during the pandemic."

That early experience propelled him toward the nation’s service academies. He applied to the Air Force Academy, West Point, and the Naval Academy, earning a vice presidential nomination and two congressional nominations. Accepted to all three, he ultimately chose the Air Force Academy after meeting a graduate whose career deeply inspired him.

"I realized I wanted to do something that was not just for someone else’s bottom line," he said. "I wanted to serve with purpose."

At the Academy, Puttur has embraced a demanding schedule that blends academic rigor, military training, and aviation excellence. One defining aspect of his cadet experience has been the Soaring program, which trains cadets in glider operations. After completing the basic soaring course, he became an instructor pilot and later earned a place on the elite Aerobatic Demonstration Team, performing at airshows across the country.

"Flying gliders is both fun and a big challenge," he said. "I have flown more than 100 aerobatic sorties, logged over 100 hours, and competed in five competitions." His training has included maneuvers such as barrel rolls and hammerheads, often pushing him to withstand extreme G forces.

In addition to soaring, Puttur completed the Academy’s parachuting program and appeared at a variety of airshows, gaining a deeper appreciation for the technical expertise and training offered by the Air Force.

Looking ahead, Puttur hopes to become a test pilot or pursue advanced research in aeronautics. His year at Oxford, he said, may open additional pathways for service or innovation.

For young people in Civil Air Patrol, and for students everywhere, Puttur’s story demonstrates how early opportunities in leadership and aviation can spark a journey that leads all the way to Oxford and beyond.