A three-star general has used $387,000 of taxpayer funds to renovate the foyer outside her office.

Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson spruced up her office at the Air Force Academy in Pikes Peak, Colorado, by spending $130,000 more than the average price of a home in the area, The Colorado Springs Gazette reported.

Department of Defense officials refused to give details on exactly how the money was spent, but insist the bill was approved by the Pentagon

A foyer (above) leading to Johnson's office has been renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $387,000

Academy spokesman Lt. Col. Allen Heritage said that the superintendent's foyer was beset with aging carpets and scratches on the wall which necessitated the renovation.

'Every year, we follow an Air Force process to evaluate facility and infrastructure requirements, establish priorities and forward those to the Air Force for funding support,' Heritage said.

Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson (above), the superintendent of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, became the first woman ever appointed to head a military academy

'Our approach, "worst first", has allowed us to repair significant levels of infrastructure and repair key facilities such as two major bridges, one cadet dorm, cadet dining facility, cadet gymnasium, miles of roads, and roofs, and mechanical and electrical systems in many different facilities.'

About $16,000 went toward resolving concerns over fire codes.

Other changes include new carpet, wall coverings, efficient lighting, and new ceilings with mahogany panels.

'The wall coverings and ceiling had exceeded their useful life,' he said.

Heritage said Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson attracts many guests.

In 2013, Johnson became the first woman to ever be appointed to command a military academy.

A two-time Academic All-American as a basketball player for the academy, Johnson also became the first woman to ever be named Cadet Wing commander.

The pricey facelift included new carpet, wall coverings, efficient lighting, and new ceilings with mahogany panels

Air Force Academy officials declined to give out a detailed list of how the money was spent

An Air Force academy spokesperson defended the renovation by saying that Johnson receives about 800 visitors in her office annually. She is seen above in her office on August 13, 2014

Heritage said that Johnson receives about 800 visitors annually who pass through the foyer.

When asked to provide a detailed listing of how the money was spent, the academy said it could not because that would reveal trade secrets of the contractor that was hired to renovate the foyer.

Since the foyer measures 1,480 square feet, the total cost of the renovation averages out to just over $261 per square foot.

When the Air Force Academy opened its new cyberspace training center, CyberWorx, it spent $257 per square foot.

The money spent on the foyer is more than two times the average of what it costs to renovate a commercial space in Colorado Springs - $110 per square foot, according to The Gazette.

A local Colorado Springs city council member said that while he thought the price tag was excessive, he believed that it was commensurate with Johnson's stature, which is akin to that of a corporate executive.

A spending watchdog says that the renovation should not have cost as much as it did.

'This is an outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars,' said David Williams, president of Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

'Every dollar wasted on fancy furnishings is a dollar that won’t be used to help America’s fighting men and women.'

'It shows a total lack of leadership that a Lieutenant General would knowingly waste money on lavish decorations,' he said.

'Expensive foyers don’t win wars, leadership does.'