Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk became a leading voice in youth political activism and a key ally to former President Donald Trump immediately following his co-founding of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in May 2012 with businessman Bill Montgomery. As executive director and chief fundraiser, Kirk rapidly expanded TPUSA’s reach, establishing chapters at over 2,000 college and high school campuses by 2025. His foundational work also included the publication of his debut book, Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations, in 2016, and he was recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for Law & Policy in 2018. Kirk further solidified his influence with the release of his second book, Campus Battlefield: How Conservatives Can WIN the Battle on Campus and Why It Matters, in 2018.

Air Force Academy Board of Visitors in 2025. In recognition of his profound impact and unwavering dedication to conservative principles, Kirk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.