MISSION
The Air Force Association educates the public about the critical role of aerospace
power in the defense of our nation; advocates aerospace power and a strong
national defense; and supports the United States Air Force and the Air Force Family.
ORGANIZATION
AFA is led by volunteer leaders at the national, state and local levels. AFA's
state organizations and more than 230 chapters hold elections and conduct programs
to increase public understanding of key national security issues in their communities.
Programs range from luncheon and dinner activities to symposia and legislative
roundtables with Congressional leaders.
National officers and directors are elected by convention delegates attending the
annual national convention in September. Delegates are chosen at the state and chapter
levels to represent AFA's varied membership and vote on AFA policies. When finally
adopted at the convention, AFA policy takes the form of an overall
"Statement of Policy" and
"Top Issues."
LEADERSHIP
AFA's leadership team for 2005-2006: Stephen P. (Pat) Condon, Chairman of the Board;
Robert E. "Bob" Largent, National President; Thomas J. Kemp, National Secretary;
and Steven R. Lundgren, National Treasurer. Further, AFA is divided into 14 geographic
regions, each led by a Region President: Skip Williams, Central
East Region (Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, Virginia,
West Virginia); Dennis Davoren, Far West Region (California,
Hawaii, Guam); Emil Friedauer, Florida Region (Florida, Puerto
Rico); William Howard, Jr., Great Lakes Region (Indiana, Kentucky,
Michigan, Ohio); Judy Church, Midwest Region
(Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska); Joseph P.
Bisognano, Jr., New England Region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont); James W. Simons, North Central Region (Minnesota,
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin); Amos Chalif,
Northeast Region (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania); Gary A. Hoff,
Northwest Region (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington); Ted Helsten,
Rocky Mountain Region (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming); Peyton Cole,
South Central Region
(Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee);
Bush Hanson, Southeast Region (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina);
Bob Herculson, Southwest Region (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico); and Buster Horlen,
Texoma Region (Oklahoma, Texas). AFA is also represented overseas
by Special Assistants Denny Mauldin (Europe) and Gary L. McClain (Pacific).
Day-to-day business is carried out by a headquarters
staff in Arlington, Virginia, under the leadership of
Donald L. Peterson, a retired Air Force lieutenant general.
PROGRAMS
In addition to state and chapter programs, AFA sponsors comprehensive briefings by
key Air Force and DoD leaders at national symposia across the country. These symposia
are keyed to topical aerospace and defense issues. The schedule for 2005-2006 includes
a national symposium in Los Angeles, CA, November 18, 2005; and a national symposium
on tactical air warfare in Orlando, FL, February 2-3, 2006.
The Association sponsors the annual Air Force Ball in Los Angeles and several other
events to raise money for AFA's Aerospace Education Foundation and Air Force charities.
AFA also sponsors the Outstanding Squadron Dinner that honors the Air Force Academy's
top cadet squadron. At its national convention each year, AFA honors the Air Force's
twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year at a dinner event. Each year AFA conducts an
extensive awards program to honor top Air Force professionals in key career fields.
PUBLISHING
Each month, AFA publishes
Air Force Magazine,
a highly regarded aerospace journal that reaches the desks of those in the highest levels
of government, industry, defense, business, academia, and the media. It is read for its
authenticity, accuracy and investigative spirit in reporting aerospace and defense
matters. Monthly circulation is 138,494. AFA also publishes several widely
distributed newsletters:
NEWSLINE, which consolidates the administrative and
operational news from AFA Headquarters to AFA field leaders; and the Aerospace Education
Foundation
VISIONS NEWSLETTER,
which highlights subjects, topics and events that are current and of interest to aerospace
oriented classrooms.
Periodically, as significant issues surface, AFA publishes issue briefs and special
reports that are widely distributed on Capitol Hill, to the media, and throughout AFA's
grassroots network.
EDUCATION
AFA's educational affiliate, the Aerospace Education Foundation (AEF), is dedicated to
ensuring America's aerospace excellence through education, scholarships, grants, awards and
public awareness programs. The Foundation also publishes a series of studies and forums on
aerospace and national security. The Eaker Institute is the public policy and research arm
of AEF.
AEF works through a network of thousands of AFA members and chapters to distribute
educational materials to schools and concerned citizens. An example of this includes
"Visions of Exploration," an AEF/USA Today multi-disciplinary science, math and social
studies program. To find out how you can support aerospace excellence visit AEF on the
web at www.aef.org.
The Eaker Institute is the public policy and research arm of the AEF. It was established
in 1996 to focus and expand upon AEF's existing educational and publishing efforts in
aerospace and national security policy.
Individuals and corporations may affiliate with the Foundation through its Gens. Hap Arnold, Jimmy
Doolittle, Ira Eaker and Bernard Schriever Fellowship programs, which support the Foundation's projects.
Each year, the Foundation helps Air
Force members and their spouses achieve their educational goals by awarding scholarships and
assisting educators with grants to promote aerospace projects in classrooms. AEF's Pitsenbarger
awards offer unconditional grants to top enlisted graduates of the Community College
of the Air Force who intend to enroll in an accredited program toward a career-related degree.
Foundation officers for 2005-2006 are: L. Boyd Anderson, Chairman of the Board; Mary Anne Thompson,
President; David R. Cummock, Secretary/Treasurer.
HISTORY
AFA's heritage is rooted in the legacy of Billy Mitchell. Mitchell had seen the United States
enter World War I as the eighth-ranked nation in airpower - exceeded by Bulgaria, Greece, and Japan
as well as by the major powers. Despite the bitter lessons of the war in the air and the high
priority other nations were giving to airpower, the U.S. Air Service in 1919 was reduced from
10,000 pilots to 149; 6,000 were discharged in nine days. Mitchell fought hard and long in support
of the importance of airpower and the need for a strong national defense. His work was carried on
by the men who believed and served with him. One was the man who commanded the World War II Army
Air Forces - Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold. In April 1945, General Arnold first mentioned the need for
an independent civilian organization to argue the case for military preparedness and the importance
of air power. AFA was incorporated in the District of Columbia on February 4, 1946. The Association's
first national president was the late Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, a noted aviation pioneer and Medal of
Honor recipient. A vice president at Shell Oil Co. at the time, Doolittle took a year off to set up
AFA chapters across the country. Since then, AFA has spanned the air age, the missile era, the
conquest of space, the nuclear age and the post-Cold War period. Although Association policies have
evolved to meet changing technological and human demands, AFA has been constant in working to support
Air Force people and strengthen American aerospace power to help maintain national security and
preserve world peace.
1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198 |
