Region Review: Northwest Region

The Northwest Region includes the states of Alaska (State President – Harry Cook), Idaho (no state organization), Oregon (Mary Mayer) and Washington (Fran McGregor). Within this area are eight chapters ranging in size from just over 100 members to almost 1200. Total membership in the Region exceeds 4700. In this region are located five major USAF installations and numerous smaller facilities, USAF Reserve locations and ANG installations.

Alaska is the home of two AFA chapters which cover a large and isolated geographical area (over 20% of the area of the CONUS!) but with a relatively small population of less than 700,000 inhabitants. The Edward J Monaghan Chapter (Greg Miller) is located in Anchorage and is involved with activities on and around Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. The Midnight Sun chapter (Jim Malingowski) is in Fairbanks and is focused on the activities at Eielson AFB.

Idaho has only one chapter, Snake River (Roger Fogelman), which is located near Mt. Home AFB. The chapter’s focus is on two important programs, Teacher of the Year and a Military Appreciation Picnic. The chapter supports a Military Appreciation Picnic held in July and serves a BBQ lunch to several hundred military personnel and their family and friends each year.

There are two chapters in Oregon. The Columbia Gorge chapter (Jerry Moore) near Portland is significantly involved with the OR ANG at Portland IAP and the Bill Harris chapter in Klamath Falls (Curtis Waite) is associated with the OR ANG at Kingsley Field.

Washington State has three chapters. The Greater Seattle chapter (Mitch Mitchell), while not near an active USAF installation has focused its efforts on supporting the AF ROTC program at the University of Washington. In addition it works with the local navy League Council and the Association of the US Army chapter to conduct an annual Armed Forces Day ceremony at the Museum of Flight in which flags for each of the services are presented for display at the Museum. The largest chapter in the NW Region is the McChord Field chapter (Tommy Carson), located near Joint Base Lewis McChord. In addition to providing strong support to the USAF and ANG units at the Base, they have developed an outstanding Pilot for a Day program. This activity provides seriously ill children in the local area the opportunity to experience the life of a USAF pilot for a day. The Inland Empire Chapter (Bill Moore) in Spokane is near Fairchild AFB. They are active in many local civic programs, most notably the annual Military Persons of the Year awards program.

A significant focus for the NW Region is Aerospace Education. Under the guidance of the NW Region VP for Aerospace Education, Dave Reinholz the region supports and interacts with 7AF ROTC programs, 18 Jr AFROTC units and 72 Civil Air Patrol Squadrons. Participation in Cyber patriot III was especially strong from this area and CP IV is expected to see even more teams from the NW Region area as participants.

Submitted by: Rick Sine, Region President

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