Joseph E. Sutter

Chairman of the Board,
Air Force Association

Joseph E. Sutter of Knoxville, Tenn.,is the Chairman of the Board. He is a Life Member and has been active in AFA since 1987. He has served as a member of the Aerospace Education Foundation Board of Trustees and in AFA at the chapter, state, and national levels. He has served as President of the Gen. Bruce K. Holloway Chapter, as both Chapter and State Vice President for Aerospace Education, and as Tennessee State President. At the national level, he has served as both a member and the Chairman of the AFA Strategic Planning Committee and currently serves as a National Director and Chairman of the afa21 Governance Team. He has received the AFA Presidential Citation, Exceptional Service Award, and Medal of Merit and was named AFA Tennessee Volunteer Member of the Year in 1996 and 2004. Sutter has been active in the civilian community. He is a past President of the Rotary Club of Knoxville and the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council, past Chair of his parish council, and served on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Knoxville. While maintaining active involvement in those organizations, he also currently serves as member of the Board of Directors of Covenant Health.

Mr. Sutter served on active duty for 28 years at various USAF locations: Minot AFB, N.D.; Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; the Pentagon; Offutt AFB, Neb.; Whiteman AFB, Mo.; and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His primary military duties were in ICBM operations; he commanded an ICBM squadron, operations group, and missile wing. Other military duties included Staff Officer assignments at the Pentagon, including two years in Air Force Legislative Liaison; Hq. Strategic Air Command, Chief of the Advanced ICBM Requirements Division; and Senior Controller, SAC Command Center. He graduated from the Naval War College, College of Command and Staff, with Highest Distinction, and from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces as a Distinguished Graduate.

His decorations include the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Meritorious Service Medal with four OLCs; Air Force Commendation Medal with one OLC; and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

Sutter graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and from the University of Southern California with a master of science degree in systems management. He works as a consultant on national security matters, serving USAF and other clients in the Washington, D.C., area.

He and his wife, Geri (who is currently serving as the Tennessee State Secretary), have three grown children and three grandchildren.

Click here for a high resolution photo of Mr. Sutter.

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