At the heart of this project are the Airmen who participate in the high-point trip of their respective state. Among them are leaders who will organize and head each trip. Learn more about the trip leaders and their plan on the 'States' page.
Want to join the team for a high-point? Find your state and use the contact form on the right to let the state leader know you're interested. Has no one started a climb in your state? If you think you have the outdoor experience necessary to organize a trip and lead it, let us know by using the contact link in the upper right of this page.
Want to join the team for a high-point? Find your state and use the contact form on the right to let the state leader know you're interested. Has no one started a climb in your state? If you think you have the outdoor experience necessary to organize a trip and lead it, let us know by using the contact link in the upper right of this page.
Challenge Directors
LtCol Rob "Goat" Marshall
LtCol Marshall is the Director of Adventure and Experiential Based Learning at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Rob led the USAF 7 Summits Challenge climb of Mt. Everest and currently instructs mountaineering and outdoor leadership to over 4,000 cadets in the CO mountains. "Goat" is the Executive Director of the 50 Summits Challenge and the energizer bunny of creativity behind the project. Rob used to fly the CV-22 Osprey and MC-130, but these days he spends his free time skiing/fly fishing/backpacking in Colorado or speaking at leadership programs for military, youth or business organizations.
LtCol Marshall is the Director of Adventure and Experiential Based Learning at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Rob led the USAF 7 Summits Challenge climb of Mt. Everest and currently instructs mountaineering and outdoor leadership to over 4,000 cadets in the CO mountains. "Goat" is the Executive Director of the 50 Summits Challenge and the energizer bunny of creativity behind the project. Rob used to fly the CV-22 Osprey and MC-130, but these days he spends his free time skiing/fly fishing/backpacking in Colorado or speaking at leadership programs for military, youth or business organizations.
LtCol Mark "Basko" Uberuaga
LtCol Uberuaga is an HH-60 pilot and co-founder of the USAF 7 Summits Challenge. Prior to joining the Air Force, Mark led well over 50 commercial climbs on Mt. Rainier as well as several on Mt. McKinley. He led the USAF 7 Summits Challenge climb of McKinley and Mt. Elbrus, as well as the "Climbing for Warriors" climb of Mt. Rainier. "Basko" is the Technical Director for the 50 Summits Challenge. Mark and his family are stationed at Nellis AFB, NV, where they like to spend time rock climbing and exploring the southwest mountains.
LtCol Uberuaga is an HH-60 pilot and co-founder of the USAF 7 Summits Challenge. Prior to joining the Air Force, Mark led well over 50 commercial climbs on Mt. Rainier as well as several on Mt. McKinley. He led the USAF 7 Summits Challenge climb of McKinley and Mt. Elbrus, as well as the "Climbing for Warriors" climb of Mt. Rainier. "Basko" is the Technical Director for the 50 Summits Challenge. Mark and his family are stationed at Nellis AFB, NV, where they like to spend time rock climbing and exploring the southwest mountains.
Col (ret) Rob "Junior" Suminsby
Colonel Suminsby is an avid outdoorsman, especially now that he is retired! He was the Military Outreach Coordinator for the USAF 7 Summits Challenge and a summit climber on the first "Climbing for Warriors" trip up Mt. Rainier in 2013. "Junior" is the USAF 50 Summits Challenge Military Outreach Coordinator. Rob and his family live in Albuquerque, NM, where he especially enjoys skiing powder in Taos.
Colonel Suminsby is an avid outdoorsman, especially now that he is retired! He was the Military Outreach Coordinator for the USAF 7 Summits Challenge and a summit climber on the first "Climbing for Warriors" trip up Mt. Rainier in 2013. "Junior" is the USAF 50 Summits Challenge Military Outreach Coordinator. Rob and his family live in Albuquerque, NM, where he especially enjoys skiing powder in Taos.