Bruce Kilgore

Bruce Kilgore has worked at Nike since the early 1980s, and his most notable work is of course the Nike Air Force 1 from 1982. Initially designed and released as a basketball shoe, the Air Force 1 was the very first shoe to bring Air to the court. It soon surpassed its sporting roots and took over the streets, especially in New York, to become a cultural phenomenon and staple model for sneakerheads. Kilgore's innovative use of air cushioning technology in the sole of the Air Force 1 set a new standard for performance and style in athletic footwear, but the clean and classic design also made it a timeless silhouette. Kilgore has been the Director of Footwear Innovation at Nike since 2001, and he also works in manufacturing innovation for Beaverton.

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