Bruce Kilgore designed the Nike Air Force 1, the first basketball shoe with Nike Air cushioning.
Nike released the Air Force 1 in 1982, naming it after the aircraft used by the president of the United States. Kilgore’s design combined a high-top basketball shape with a pivot point in the outsole, helping players change direction on court. It was also the first basketball shoe to use Nike Air technology.
The shoe later became especially important in streetwear and hip-hop culture. Although Nike initially discontinued it after its basketball run, retailers in Baltimore helped convince the company to bring it back in the mid-1980s. The “Color of the Month” program then encouraged collectors to seek different colorways.
Bruce Kilgore is sometimes confused with Tinker Hatfield, another influential Nike designer. Hatfield designed several later Air Jordan and Air Max models, while Kilgore was responsible for the original Air Force 1. The shoe’s name refers to the presidential aircraft, not to a military footwear line.