Chairman’s Report

Following is a shortened version of the report to the National Convention by Robert E. “Bob” Largent, Chairman of the Board:

It’s been my distinct pleasure to serve as your elected National President and Chairman of the Board the past four years. Four years of transition and transformation internally…while facing significant challenges in meeting our mission of educating about…advocating for…and supporting the Air Force. You’ve heard me say before…but I believe it even more today: the Air Force needs the Air Force Association now -- more than ever -- in its 61-year history.

That means we have a significant responsibility as the Air Force Association…the entire organization…including individual AFA members.

We have, for the past four years, mainly focused internally on the Air Force Association…and not by happenstance…rather by necessity. Many of you can recall discussions within the Association that began in the late ‘90s…the fact that AFA was essentially the same type, kind, style of an organization as it was in 1946. This is both good and not so good.

The Air Force…the institution that our Association was formed to support…the venues…our constituents…everything else had changed. It became readily apparent that AFA had to re-look at its structure and operations internally if it was going to be relevant and continue its mission into the 21st Century.

While several changes had occurred inside AFA during the decade of the ‘90s…we needed a comprehensive look and we undertook a process called afa21. We looked at the tax structure, how we were organized legally…looked at governance…and looked at field operations. That process is ending its fifth year. My assessment…I’m convinced that our Association has made substantial, positive change.

Did we get it 100% right? No. Many of you will recall General John Jumper’s comment to us some three years ago at a Board meeting that…we’re 100% certain that we’ll not get it 100% right the first time. He was absolutely correct.

But…I believe we’re a lot further along and a lot better off than we were when we started the transformation. In my real world consulting practice, I’ve learned and personally seen organizations die…those that didn’t change. Change is an inherent part of business operations today. Even though it’s the most difficult thing to manage and lead…change is an absolute must.

In my estimation, we basically put our mission ‘on hold’ for about four to five-years while we focused internally and got our act together. Now we have to press on. It’s vital that we now focus on and aggressively undertake AFA’s mission.

It’s my very firm belief…having watched AFA closely the last year and a half…that we’ve begun to re-focus on AFA’s mission of educate… advocate…and support…what we do well…and what we can improve.

You’ve heard me say this…just a couple of minutes ago…in today’s world, our United States Air Force has never needed the Air Force Association as much as it does today. It’s never faced the challenges in its 61 years that it faces today…never. And within the last two to three months…we’ve all come to understand the significance of those challenges. They won’t just go away. Even with the Air Force’s new leadership team in-place and relentlessly pursuing them… the challenges won’t go away for a long, long time. And you need to understand, the Air Force’s most senior leadership is personally committed to work with AFA as a ‘collaborative, full partner.’

The Air Force needs AFA…it needs AFA as an entity…and it needs you as individuals. They need us to be on the front lines, telling the Air Force story, accomplishing our educate, advocate and support mission.

There are, however, natural tendencies to want to draw ourselves back and keep looking at what we’re doing inside…it’s easy because it involves ‘us.’ I believe the Association’s governance… especially its Board…and through you, every member…must take a ‘big picture look’ and focus on our mission. If we chose to not take this external, mission-focused look, our value as an organization to the Air Force…and our eventual existence…will be substantially diminished.

The work you have ahead of you today…and in the days ahead…is geared to look outward and forward. Yes, we still have to deal with routine business… that’s an everyday requirement. But I challenge you to concentrate…think about everything that’s said…every action you undertake… every vote you make… think about the impact they have on the future and AFA’s mission.

You have a responsibility…we all do…as individuals…to collectively lead the Air Force Association into the future.

In closing…while I’m not enough of a novice to believe everything I’ve said and done the past four years is perfect…I can truthfully say…every action I took, every decision I made, every word I spoke… was done with the purest of intent for the organization I’m honored and humbled to lead…and the institution we support.

I must thank some very important people. Joe Sutter, Sandy Schlitt, Steve Lundgren, Judy Church, Boyd Anderson, Pat Condon, John Politi, Julie Curlin, Gerald Murray, Mike Bolton, Craig Allen most recently…and former senior leaders who’ve mentored me along the way…Jim McCoy, John Shaud, Jim Finch, Tom Kemp, George Douglas, Chuck Nelson, Tom McKee, Ollie Crawford, Marty Harris, Ross Perot Jr …and Bill Spruance…and those that we’ll miss permanently…Russ Dougherty, Doyle Larson and John Gray. And the support from our Air Force has been tremendous. Generals Schwartz…Moseley… Jumper…Meyers…McNabb…Lichte…Corley…Hester…Hobbins…Keys…Looney…Carlson…Martin… McKinley…Bradley…Klotz and the A-Staff …CMSAF Rod McKinley and his team of Command Chiefs…and also Secretary Wynne and now Donley…and Bill Davidson…thanks to you and your staffs for your many courtesies over the years. While I take personal responsibility for any gaffs or failures made by the Air Force Association the past four years, it’s absolutely clear that none of AFA’s successes could have been done without the tremendous professional staff led today by Mike and Buck. To each of you…every staff member and AFA member…my sincerest thanks for giving me this opportunity.

Becky and I’ve enjoyed…immensely…representing the Air Force Association these past four years… and we look forward to being involved in the years ahead. Ladies and gentlemen…thank you for your support. God speed…and God bless the Air Force Association…the United States Air Force…and the United States of America.