August 2003 Vol. 86, No. 8

AFA Nominees for 2003-04

Politi	Condon

Kemp	Rader	Nelson

The Air Force Association Nominating Committee, which consists of the five most recent past National Presidents (not serving as Chairman of the Board) and one representative from each of the 14 US regions, met in Dallas on April 25 and selected a slate of candidates for the four national officer positions and six elective positions on the Board of Directors. This slate will be presented to the delegates at the National Convention in Washington, D.C., in September.

John J. Politi of Sedalia, Mo., was nominated for his second one-year term as Chairman of the Board. He formerly served as AFA National President, National Director, National Vice President for the Midwest Region, Missouri State President, and Chairman of the Audit, Membership, and Ad Hoc Financial Committees. Among his many awards, Politi has received the AFA Presidential Citation, the Exceptional Service Award, and the Medal of Merit.

Politi was commissioned through the AFROTC program and entered the Air Force in March 1966 at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. A veteran of 26 years, Politi spent the majority of his Air Force career in strategic nuclear weapons systems. He commanded an air division and two wings and served on both the Joint Staff and the Air Staff. He retired as a colonel in 1992. A well-decorated officer, Politi has received, among other awards, the Legion of Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Currently, Politi is the President of the Excellence in Missouri Foundation, a nonprofit, private sector education organization. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a bachelor of arts degree in political science and of South Dakota State University with a master of science degree in economics. He is married to the former Terri Hatch and has five children, Pam, Eileen, Jay, Stephanie, and Chip.

Stephen P. “Pat” Condon of Ogden, Utah, was nominated for his second one-year term as National President. He formerly served as an AFA National Director, Northern Utah Chapter President, Chairman of AFA Focus on Defense Symposium, Chairman of the Constitution Committee, and member of both the AFA Executive and Resolutions Committees. Among his many awards, Condon has received the AFA Medal of Merit, the Utah State AFA Presidential Citation, and Program of the Year Award.

Condon joined the Air Force in August 1964 at Wright–Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. A veteran of 33 years, Condon spent the majority of his career in Air Force science and technology, research and development, acquisition, test, and logistics support. He commanded the Air Force Armament Laboratory, Arnold Engineering Development Center, and Ogden Air Logistics Center and served at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center. Additionally, he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Management Policy and Program Integration, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. Condon retired as a major general in 1997. A well-decorated officer, Condon has received many awards, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Currently, Condon is an aerospace consultant and senior associate at Dayton Aerospace, Inc., Dayton, Ohio. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering; the Air Force Institute of Technology with a master of science degree in aerospace-mechanical engineering; and the University of Texas at Austin with a doctorate in aerospace engineering.
He is active in several community and charitable organizations. Condon is married to the former Judy Smothermon, and they have two children, Susan and Michael.

The Nominating Committee is submitting two names for consideration for a one-year term as National Secretary:

Thomas J. Kemp of Fort Worth, Tex., joined AFA in December 1964 and became a Life Member in 1982. He currently serves as an AFA National Director and has been a member of AFA’s Audit, Executive, Finance, Membership, and Resolutions Committees. Kemp has also served as Texoma Region President, Texas State President and Vice President, and Fort Worth Chapter President. He has received personal recognition as AFA’s Member of the Year in 2002 and as Texas State Member of the Year. He received AFA’s Presidential Citation in 2000, Exceptional Service Awards in 1990, 1991, 1994, and a Medal of Merit in 1987. He also has received the Oklahoma State Medal of Merit.

Kemp was commissioned in the Air Force in December 1964 and was trained as both a navigator and a pilot. His 20-year career included service in the C-130, C-141, OV-10, and B-52 and increasingly responsible staff positions in plans, operations, and training. Following retirement he has done work in instructional systems and course-work design and most recently worked on development of bar code sorters for the US Postal Service as Manager of Integrated Logistics Support for Siemens ElectroCom. He is a graduate of Loras College in Iowa with a bachelor of arts in business (accounting) and a master’s degree in systems management from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.

He and his wife Ruth have four children.

Coleman Rader Jr. of Maple Grove, Minn., joined AFA in March 1992 and currently serves as an AFA National Director and Aerospace Education Foundation Trustee and is a member of the Nominating, Finance, and Ad Hoc Committees. He has served as Minnesota State President (four terms) and Vice President and as President and Vice President of the Gen. E.W. Rawlings Chapter. He received AFA’s Exceptional Service Award in 2002 and a Medal of Merit in 1993 and was named an Ira Eaker Fellow of AEF.

Rader began his 20-year Air Force career in the enlisted ranks. He was later commissioned and received his pilot wings, serving in Southeast Asia. He also served as Command and Control Officer for the Strategic Air Command underground command post. He earned numerous medals, awards, and unit citations during his career. After retirement, he became active in civilian aviation, directing the flight group for AT&T operations in the Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minn., area. Rader has flown 17 Air Force and 10 corporate aircraft, logging more than 23,000 flying hours.

His volunteer activities include serving as President of the Minnesota Golden Eagles (mentoring youth in aviation) and as a Co-Chair of the Red Tail Project (restoration of a P-51C Mustang in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen). He is also involved in Civil Air Patrol, Youth Motivation Task Force, and NAACP. He has been inducted into the Black Aviation Hall of Fame.

He is married to the former Emily M. Mitchell. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Charles A. “Chuck” Nelson of Sioux Falls, S.D., was nominated for a fourth one-year term as National Treasurer. A Life Member of AFA, Nelson has served as North Central Region President, South Dakota State President, and Dacotah Chapter President. Nationally, he has been active since 1989, serving on the Junior Officer Advisory Council, Air National Guard Council, Membership Committee, Finance Committee, and as an Under-40 National Director. Most recently he has served as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Nelson was awarded AFA’s Medal of Merit in both 1991 and 1998.

In 1980, Nelson enlisted in the South Dakota Air National Guard. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in July 1984 and promoted to the rank of major in 1993. He retired from the South Dakota ANG in April 1995. Nelson’s military awards include Outstanding Lieutenant for the South Dakota ANG (1987), Junior Officer of the Year (1987), Air Force Commendation Medal (1992), and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (1995).

Nelson is a certified public accountant and is employed as a managing partner for Nelson & Nelson CPAs L.L.P., in Sioux Falls. He is past President of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and has previously served as their Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of Administration. He also serves as Secretary and Treasurer of the South Dakota Air Show, Inc., and is a past President of the Sioux Falls Downtown Lions Club.

He is married to the former Kristine Christensen, and they have three daughters, Rebecca, Jillian, and Sarah.

The AFA Constitution directs that one-third of the 18 elected Directors be elected at the National Convention each year. For the 2003 election, the Central East, Far West, North Central, Rocky Mountain, and Texoma Regions have Director positions open, and there is one Director position open to be elected at large.

The nominees for Director to be chosen by their regions are:

Central East: Thomas G. Shepherd, Virginia. Central East Region President. Former Virginia State President and Vice President, Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter President, and member of the AFA Veterans/Retiree Council.

Far West: Richard C. Taubinger, California. Former Far West Region President, California AFA Chairman of the Board, California State President and Vice President, Sacramento Chapter President, and member of the AFA Veterans/Retiree Council.

North Central: Victor Seavers, Minnesota. Former National Director, North Central Region Vice President, Minnesota State President, Gen. E.W. Rawlings Chapter President and Vice President, member of the AFA Executive Committee, and Chairman of the AFA 2010 Committee.

Rocky Mountain: Brad Sutton, Utah. Former Utah State President and Vice President and Ute–Rocky Mountain Chapter President. Member of the AFA Membership Committee.

Texoma: M.N. “Dan” Heth, Texas. Former Texoma Region President, Texas State President and Vice President, Fort Worth Chapter President, and member of the AFA Veterans/Retiree Council, the Long-Range Planning, Audit, and Membership Committees.

The Nominating Committee is submitting two names for consideration for the office of National Director At Large:

Craig E. Allen, Utah. Rocky Mountain Region President. Former Utah State President, Vice President, and Treasurer and Northern Utah Chapter President. Member of the AFA Long-Range Planning Committee and former member of Credential and Membership Committees.

Michael J. Peters, California. Far West Region President. Former California State Vice President and Brig. Gen. Robert F. Travis Chapter President and Vice President. Member (and former Chairman) of the Reserve Council and former member of the Long-Range Planning Committee.