The Frank Luke chapter operates close to its namesake, Luke AFB, and has almost 2,000 members spread throughout the Phoenix area. Their Aerospace Education programs include the full range of AFA offerings with annual focus on awards nights at Phoenix area high schools, an ROTC scholarship program with Arizona State University, and work with sister associations on the Arizona Science and Technology Festival. The chapter annually supports a wide variety of programs for the airmen and families at Luke AFB. In June the chapter hosted the 2011 Southwest Region Conference. In addition to traditional AFA training and business meetings, the conference featured four panels: Panel 1, SW Region Installation Commanders; Panel 2, Cyberspace Experts; Panel 3, Industry Experts; and Panel 4, Warrior Patriots (inspiring AF members recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan). Featured speakers included: Lt. General (Ret.) John F. Regni, former Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy; Dr Werner Von Dahm, former AF Chief Scientist; and Sandy Schlitt, AFA Chairman of the Board. The annual conference was “moved to a new level” as it was attended by over 100 people in addition to the state and chapter delegates.

The Prescott-Goldwater Chapter has over 400 members spread over a huge area in Northern Arizona. Their membership stretches from the California border on the west to the New Mexico border on the east. The chapter concentrates its efforts on supporting the Northern Arizona VA Center, the AFROTC units at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott and the Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and local JROTC and Civil Air Patrol units. They currently have a campaign to recruit high schools in Northern Arizona cities, distant from Prescott, to enroll in the CyberPatriot IV program.

The Tucson Chapter has built an especially close and continuing relationship with the active duty personnel at Davis-Monthan AFB. The chapter participates and supports in some way in almost all official functions at the base. These include changes of command, senior retirements, awards at graduations, and other recognitions of superior individual performances. The chapter founded and actively supports the Tucson Community Cares Committee, which provides support to the base’s airmen and their families through the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

NEVADA - Chapter President: Don Sexton - One Chapter - 1229 Members.

The Thunderbird Chapter, near Nellis AFB, is the only chapter in Nevada. The chapter stays busy in the community supporting numerous AFA initiatives. They have a very strong Community Partner program that affords them opportunities to better serve the active duty force at Nellis. The chapter has a close interface with the Las Vegas school district (5th largest in nation). In addition to participating in the traditional AFA aerospace education programs, the chapter teams with the Red Flag Exercise Team to provide tanker rides for the AFJROTC units in the school district. During the past year, they have sponsored or participated in numerous events including: a golf tournament, Honor the Honor Guard, Las Vegas 51’s (AAA baseball team and a Community Partner) Military Appreciation Night, Starbase Startup at Nellis, Creech AFB cook out, Aviation Nation Air show, and many other luncheons and events. The photo below shows an AFJROTC cadet experiencing a Red Flag tanker ride.

NEW MEXICO - State President: Fred Harsany - Three chapters - 1487 Members.

The Albuquerque Chapter is the largest in the state with almost 1,000 members, and supports many of the activities and award programs at Kirtland AFB. The chapter has been a recipient of many AFA Aerospace Education Achievement Awards for sponsoring a wide variety of educational and scholarship projects. They annually sponsor over ten “Visions” classrooms, support AFJROTC activities in Albuquerque schools, and provide cadets in the AFROTC unit at the University of New Mexico with scholarships and glider rides. The chapter actively works with and supports the Civil Air Patrol and Starbase activities at Kirtland. Currently, several of the chapter’s members are engaged in recruiting schools within the Albuquerque and northern New Mexico area for CyberPatriot IV. Chapter members are also active in supporting a wide variety of veteran programs throughout the Albuquerque area.

The Fran Parker Chapter is located on Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico. During the past few years the chapter has been rebuilding and strengthening its relationship with the base. Earlier this year, the chapter elected a new group of chapter officers that are strengthening support to base airmen and activities. The new chapter officers include many “Vanguard” members. The chapter is currently working with base officials to support an October Air Show. They have plans to re-establish their aerospace education projects to include Visions of Exploration, CyberPatriot, and tours for local school to the multiple Holloman research facilities.

The LLano Estacado Chapter is in Clovis, NM near Cannon AFB. The chapter, the smallest in NM, has been very active in supporting local AFJROTC and Civil Air Patrol activities. This past year the Clovis High School AFJROTC cadets were the best scoring CyberPatriot III team in New Mexico. The Clovis Chapter also provides significant support to memorial programs and other veteran projects within the Clovis area. With the recent increase of personnel at the Special Operations Wing at Cannon, the chapter is increasing its support to the airmen and their families at Cannon.

Like AFA throughout the country, membership growth and participation continue to be problems with many of the region’s chapters. However, many of the chapters are starting to make progress in these important areas. The Southwest Region chapter leaders are enthusiastic and proud of the contributions each of their chapters are making to advance the AFA objectives to educate, advocate, and support aerospace power, and the personnel who contribute, or have contributed, to those objectives.

Submitted by: John Toohey, Southwest Region President

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