President Donald Trump has appointed Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Board of Visitors, NBC affiliate KOAA reported. The board monitors the academy’s morale, curriculum, and overall academic programs.

Erika Kirk’s appointment comes nearly a year after Trump named her late husband to the same position. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, who chairs the board, said he encouraged the selection and called Erika Kirk “the right person to fill Charlie’s place” in continuing his work inspiring future service members.

Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, attended his first Board of Visitors meeting in August 2025 but was assassinated on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. Following his death, Erika Kirk assumed leadership of Turning Point USA.

The board may soon weigh whether to grant posthumous honors to Charlie Kirk, including an honorary degree, after the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates withdrew similar recommendations amid criticism that he was politically divisive and lacked a military background. Erika Kirk’s position on the board gives her a role in those discussions.

The Board of Visitors is a congressionally mandated advisory panel reporting to the secretaries of War and the Air Force. While it cannot implement changes at the academy, it provides recommendations on policy, curriculum, and overall conditions.

Charlie Kirk was a prominent conservative figure aligned with Trump and the MAGA movement. He built a nationwide campus network through Turning Point USA and frequently served as a political ally and media advocate for Trump. Erika Kirk’s appointment reflects the family’s continued influence on the institution and potential input regarding posthumous recognition for her late husband.