Nineteen-year-old U.S. Air Force Academy cadet Avery Koonce was found unresponsive in her dorm room in early September 2024. First responders attempted lifesaving measures but were unable to revive her, according to the academy.

Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind shared that Koonce had already left a strong impact on her squadron, her track and field team, and her classmates. He emphasized the academy’s focus on supporting her family and the community during the loss.

An autopsy from the El Paso County Coroner’s Office reported that Koonce died from Paeniclostridium sordellii sepsis complicating a respiratory infection. A forensic pathologist told reporters that the infection had progressed severely, leading to fatal complications.

The bacteria, found in her lungs and bloodstream, can cause rapid and dangerous illness. Reports noted that it worsened a preexisting respiratory condition, and her left lung showed signs of acute inflammation. Koonce had reportedly experienced a severe cough in the days before her death.

Though typically rare, this type of infection can lead to pneumonia and other serious medical conditions, with a high mortality rate. In Koonce’s case, the combination of respiratory illness and bacterial infection proved overwhelming.

Koonce was a graduate of Thrall High School and a member of the Air Force Academy’s Class of 2028. She also competed on the women’s track and field team and was known for her dedication, leadership, and athletic talent.

Her dream was to become a pilot, and she had planned to study biology with a minor in kinesiology. Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, who nominated her to the academy, described her as a remarkable young woman with a promising future.

Koonce is remembered by family, friends, and the academy community as an exceptional cadet whose enthusiasm and spirit made a lasting impression, despite her short time at the academy.