Delegates from around the US and the world came to the Air Force Association’s national convention, held in September at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event was punctuated by ceremonies and awards that recognized the outstanding leadership and prowess shown by Air Force personnel and the defense industry.
This year’s convention preceded AFA’s first-ever Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition (see p. 66).
Many delegates traveled by chartered bus to Arlington National Cemetery for a memorial service held on Sept. 12. Donald J. Harlin, AFA National Chaplain, gave the invocation and closing prayer. The 2004 Memorial Tribute List was read by AFA then-Chairman of the Board John J. Politi and then-National President Stephen P. “Pat” Condon. After the service, Politi and Condon laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns on behalf of AFA.
Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force Chief of Staff, welcomed delegates, Air Force attendees, and members of industry on Sept. 13, marking the official opening of the conference.
A highlight of that ceremony was the award of Silver Stars to two Cold War airmen, Col. John R. McKone, USAF (Ret.), and Col. Freeman B. Olmstead, USAF (Ret.). Assigned to the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, their RB-47 was shot down by Soviet fighter aircraft over international waters. They were imprisoned at Lubyanka Prison, Moscow, from July 1, 1960, to Jan. 24, 1961, before being returned to the United States. James G. Roche, Secretary of the Air Force, and Jumper presented the Silver Stars to McKone and Olmstead for their gallantry and courage under constant interrogation, harassment, and extreme hardship in a Soviet prison.
AFA later that day recognized the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year at a dinner in the airmen’s honor. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, USAF vice chief of staff, was the dinner speaker. CMSAF Gerald R. Murray was toastmaster.
The Air Force Anniversary Dinner, held on Sept. 14 was interrupted for almost an hour when a fire broke out in one of the hotel’s mechanical systems. Dinner guests repaired to the parking lot, after which they returned to the ballroom. Dinner and the program resumed.
The H.H. Arnold Award, for the year’s most significant military contribution to national security, was presented to Jumper.
That same evening, AFA named Peter B. Teets, undersecretary of the Air Force, as the 2004 recipient of the W. Stuart Symington Award for outstanding civilian contributions to national security.
Thomas J. Cassidy Jr., president and CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., was honored with the John R. Alison Award for industrial contributions to the nation’s security.
The association also presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Gen. Russell E. Dougherty, USAF (Ret.), a former commander of the Air Force’s Strategic Air Command, and Florene Miller Watson, an original member of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (later the Women Airforce Service Pilots).
Another highlight of the evening festivities was the appearance of actor Richard Dean Anderson, star of the television show “Stargate SG-1.” Anderson said the show sought to create a positive portrayal of the service and sacrifice of USAF personnel.
Jumper, who made a guest appearance in last season’s final episode of the program, “promoted” Anderson from colonel to honorary brigadier general and gave him a pair of stars.
The evening included a musical presentation, “Why an Air Force Memorial,” narrated by Tim White and featuring singer Daniel Rodriguez, a former New York City policeman.
Events concluded Sept. 15, with the groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication for the new Air Force Memorial to be built on the Navy Annex grounds near the Pentagon. Edward F. Grillo, Jr., president of the Air Force Memorial Foundation, served as master of ceremonies. A narrative paying tribute to airmen past and present was written by historian Walter J. Boyne. The United States Air Force Band performed for the ceremony. The proceedings concluded with the unveiling of the site dedication plaque.
At the convention, there were 278 registered delegates, representing 45 states and the District of Columbia. The Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition drew some 6,000 attendees and 116 news media representatives.
Holding meetings concurrently were trustees of AFA’s affiliate, the Aerospace Education Foundation, and trustees of the Air Force Memorial Foundation. Also meeting were the Air Force’s Air National Guard Council, Civilian Advisory Council, Enlisted Council, Company Grade Officer Council, and Reserve Advisory Council.
Election of Officers
At a meeting of AFA delegates on Sept. 12, Stephen P. “Pat” Condon, Ogden, Utah, was elected AFA Chairman of the Board for a first term. Robert E. Largent, Perry, Ga., was elected National President for a first term. Thomas J. Kemp, Fort Worth, Tex., was re-elected National Secretary for a second term, and Charles A. Nelson, Sioux Falls, S.D., was re-elected National Treasurer for a fifth term.
Other Elections
Elected to the Board of Directors as National Directors for three-year terms were David T. “Buck” Buckwalter, Portsmouth, R.I.; Robert Patterson, Shalimar, Fla.; Joseph E. Sutter, Knoxville, Tenn.; and Keith N. Sawyer, O’Fallon, Ill. Two National Directors at Large were elected: Craig E. Allen, Hooper, Utah, and Bruce E. Marshall, Shalimar, Fla.
Three new Leadership Development Directors joined the AFA Board. They are Kevin
J. Campbell, Laurel, Md; Timothy Kern, Athens, Ohio; and Carol J. Wolosz, Duluth,
Minn.
Five new Region Presidents were elected, and nine Region Presidents were re-elected.
Newly elected are Judy K. Church (Midwest Region), Coleman Rader (North Central
Region), William G. Stratemeier Jr. (Northeast Region), Jack H. Steed (Southeast
Region), and Clarence N. “Buster” Horlen (Texoma Region).
For a complete list of AFA National Directors and Region Presidents, including those re-elected, see “This Is AFA” on p. 55.
AFA’s Aerospace Education Foundation re-elected Mary Anne Thompson, Oakton, Va., as President.
AEF trustees newly elected to two-year terms are: William D. Croom Jr., San Antonio; Robert G. Stein, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Andrew Veronis, Annapolis, Md.
Other AFA Business
Delegates approved the AFA Statement of Policy and Top Issues for 2005. Three changes to the AFA National Constitution were approved: One was to change the name of the Long-Range Planning Committee to the Strategic Planning Committee. The second was to allow the Chairman of the Board to serve as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the Nominating Committee during his second term in office. The third was to approve a change to the definition of AFA membership to include lineal ancestors or descendants of those serving or who have served honorably in the armed forces of the United States, including the Guard and Reserve. Four resolutions were approved. One directed AFA to increase its Congressional efforts on behalf of the Guard and Reserve. Three others called upon AFA to support legislation that would require the VA to provide credentialed physicians for veterans’ eye surgery, to increase the VA’s burial plot allowance, and to pay the full cost of nursing home care for veterans with 70 percent or higher disability.
Congressional Activity
AFA state delegations sponsored 18 Congressional breakfasts on Sept. 14, with 57 members of Congress participating. Among them were Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), John Cornyn (R-Tex.), and James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), all members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee attending a breakfast included Sens. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.).
Also participating in an AFA breakfast meeting were Reps. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Jo Ann S. Davis (R-Va.), Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), Joel Hefley (R-Colo.), John Kline (R-Minn.), Jim Marshall (D-Ga.), Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), and John M. Spratt Jr. (D-S.C.), all members of the House Armed Services Committee.
Members of the House Appropriations Committee attending a breakfast included Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.), Norman D. Dicks (D-Wash.), Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.), James P. Moran (D-Va.), and David E. Price (D-N.C.).
Other Senators attending a breakfast included: Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.), Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Mark Dayton (D-Minn.), Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.), who is also co-chairman of the Air Force Caucus, Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Don Nickles (R-Okla.), John E. Sununu (R-N.H.), and Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.).
Other Congressmen attending a breakfast were Reps. J. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.), Michael C. Burgess (R-Tex.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Howard Coble (R-N.C.), Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.), Virgil H. Goode Jr. (R-Va.), Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Gene Green (D-Tex.), Ralph M. Hall (D-Tex.), J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), David Hobson (R-Ohio), Sam Johnson (R-Tex.), Mark R. Kennedy (R-Minn.), Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.), Jim Matheson (D-Utah), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), John Mica (R-Fla.), Sue Wilkins Myrick (R-N.C.), Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex.), Tom Osborne (R-Neb.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), Pete Sessions (R-Tex.), John Sullivan (R-Okla.), Lee Terry (R-Neb.), and Mark Udall (D-Colo.).
Roche visited breakfasts hosted by Arizona, Colorado, North and South Dakota, and Oklahoma. Jumper attended breakfasts hosted by Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Virginia. Moseley visited breakfasts hosted by North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. Murray attended the North and South Carolina and Georgia breakfasts.
Gen. Donald G. Cook, commander, Air Education and Training Command, attended breakfasts hosted by Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, and Texas. Gen. Gregory S. Martin, commander, Air Force Materiel Command, attended the breakfast hosted by Ohio. Gen. Robert H. Foglesong, commander, US Air Forces in Europe, attended breakfasts hosted by Montana and Wyoming. Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander, Air Force Space Command, visited the Wyoming breakfast as well.
Meeting separately with their Congressional representatives were the Alabama and Nevada delegations.
Florida presented an award to Rep. John Mica, and the Southeast Region gave a citation to Rep. Jack Kingston and certificates of appreciation to Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Howard Coble. Minnesota gave engraved bronze plates to legislators in appreciation of their service, while Virginia presented AFA coasters to lawmakers and staffers at their breakfast.
Aerospace Education Foundation
A video on the theme of “Who is your most influential Air Force historical
figure and why?” won AEF’s annual Jimmy Stewart Aerospace Education
Award. The winning entry was from AFJROTC Unit NJ-821 at Scotch Plains High
School, Scotch Plains, N.J. The video succinctly summarized the contributions
to the Air Force of aviation legends from Jimmy Doolittle through Benjamin O.
Davis, but emphasized the work of Henry H. “Hap” Arnold. The video
narration said that Arnold “believed that success came from anticipation
and research.”
Daniel W. Caron, from Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro, N.H., won
the Christa McAuliffe Memorial Award as the year’s outstanding aerospace
science, mathematics, and computer science teacher.
USAF Team Awards
On Tuesday afternoon, Jumper presented the Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards for 2004 to: the B-1 Next Enhancement Implementation Team, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; the B-52 Formal Training Advanced Communications Team, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.; C-5 CANN (Cannibalization) Jet Rebuild Team, 60th and 349th Aircraft Maintainance Squadrons, Travis AFB, Calif.; Life in the Fast Lane Test Team, 18th Flight Test Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.; and Women’s Health Specialty Care Optimization Pilot Program Team, 99th Medical Operations Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
Acknowledgments
Parliamentarian for the AFA national convention was Joan L. Blankenship. Inspectors of Elections were Robert Rutledge (Chairman), William D. Duncan Jr., and Rodgers K. Greenawalt. Judy K. Church chaired the Credentials Committee, serving with James T. Hannam and Raymond Turczynski Jr.
The association is particularly grateful to a corps of volunteers who assisted the staff: Cecil Brendle, Jimmy Canlas, Francisco Flores, Alec Littler, Billie Richey, Debbie and Greg Snyder, Charlie Tippett, Mark Tuturea, and Leola Wall.
Copyright Air Force Association. All rights reserved.