U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Mark Tang, Class of 2026, has been awarded the highly competitive Marshall Scholarship. Upon his graduation this May, Tang will commissioninto the U.S. Space Force, making him the Academy's first Space Force Marshall Scholar.

    A political science and management major, Tang has conducted research on nuclear nonproliferation with the Institute for National Security Studies in the Republic of Korea and Japan. Tang also interned at the Joint Staff Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Planning Division at the Pentagon and the Nevada Test Site. He was a member of the Academy's Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association team and has served in many leadership positions where he oversaw policy reform and implementation for the 4,000-person cadet wing.

    “Being named a Marshall Scholar is an incredible honor and opportunity to represent the Air Force Academy and the U.S. Space Force internationally. It is an incredible honor to be the Academy's first Space Force officer-candidate to be named a Marshall Scholar,” said Tang, a native of Moraga and graduate of Miramonte High School. “The Air Force Academy prepared me for this scholarship and beyond by combining academic rigor with real military leadership experience and athletic training. The demands of balancing academics, research, military training and service forced me to develop discipline and resilience.”