FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SERVE AS MODERATOR AT PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL SECURITY FORUM

Contact: Ladd Everitt at (703) 247-5847 or leveritt@afa.org

Arlington, VA, January 23, 2006 – Air Force Association (AFA) Executive Director Donald L. Peterson will moderate a series of Force Structure Presentations to be made by service generals/flag officers at the Pacific Northwest National Security Forum on March 10, 2006. An ad hoc committee of volunteers from Puget Sound-area military alumni and support organizations is sponsoring the two-day symposium. It will take place at the Sheraton Tacoma Hotel's Bicentennial Pavilion in Tacoma, Washington. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and now retired Army General John M. Shalikashvili will serve as the honorary chairman of the event. Major General Ronald J. Bath, Director of Air Force Strategic Planning, will provide the Air Force’s Force Structure Presentation.

Peterson became the Air Force Association's executive director on August 1, 2002. In this position he directs the association's professional staff in all functional areas and is responsible for the management and operations of the association and its educational affiliate, the Aerospace Education Foundation. A retired lieutenant general, he previously served as Director of Plans and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and Space Operations at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC, and later as Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. He is also co-chair of the Air Force Retiree Council.

The Pacific Northwest National Security Forum will look beyond current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to examine the capability of the United States Armed Forces to address future national security requirements. The program will feature speakers from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff (Pentagon), and the Unified Northern, Central, European, Pacific, Joint Forces and Transportation Commands. A senior member of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence will also make a presentation.

Forum sessions will run from 1:00 – 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 10, and continue on Saturday, March 11, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. On Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m., there will also be a "black tie" dress reception followed by a dinner and an address by the honored guest. Military personnel (active duty, Guard/Reserve, veteran/retiree, civilian, etc.) are encouraged to attend. The Forum is open to the public.

To register for the event, or for more information, visit www.harborstone.com/pnwnsf.

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The Air Force Association (AFA) is an independent, nonprofit, civilian organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA has more than 230 chapters nationwide and overseas, and more than 130,000 members. Visit us on the Internet at www.afa.org.