AFA Congratulates 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners  

National Harbor, Md. — The Air & Space Forces Association presented four Lifetime Achievement Awards, one of the association’s highest honors, during its 2025 Air, Space & Cyber Conference in September. The award recognizes individuals and groups whose careers have made lasting contributions to aerospace power and national defense. 

The 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, include: 

Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, USAF (Ret.)
Former commander, U.S. European Command; Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Breedlove, the first college graduate in his family, rose from humble roots to become NATO’s highest military commander. His career exemplifies the Air Force ideal of service before self. He distinguished himself early as a top ROTC graduate and F-16 replacement training graduate. Across more than three decades in uniform, Breedlove helped shape airpower, joint operations and international security programs and policies. His service spanned eight assignments in Europe, three in Korea, and included command of eight Air Force organizations. His career culminated as the 17th Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and commander of U.S. European Command. Since retiring in 2016, Breedlove has continued to lead in academia, industry and policy. He serves on the Atlantic Council’s board of directors and as a distinguished professor at Georgia Tech, among other roles. 

Gen. Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.)
Former commander, U.S. Strategic Command; Former NASA Astronaut 

Chilton’s contributions span nearly 35 years of military and government service, from advancing airpower to space exploration and strategic defense leadership. He led at the wing, numbered air force, major command and unified combatant command levels, culminating as commander of U.S. Strategic Command from 2007 to 2011. He flew the F-4 Phantom and F-15 Eagle and served as a NASA astronaut for 11 years. At NASA, he commanded the 76th mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and worked as a deputy program manager for the International Space Station program. He continues as the explorer chair at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence, as a senior fellow at the National Defense University, and as a board member for organizations including the Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation. 

Gen. John P. Jumper, USAF (Ret.)
Former Air Force Chief of Staff; Former Commander, Air Combat Command

Jumper’s military career spanned nearly four decades, shaping the modern Air Force through leadership, innovation and valor. A 1966 distinguished graduate of Virginia Military Institute’s ROTC program, he rose as a decorated fighter pilot and commander, flying more than 5,000 hours in the F-4 Phantom, F-15 Eagle, and F-16 Falcon. He held key commands across the Air Force and NATO before serving as the 17th Air Force Chief of Staff from 2001 to 2005. During this critical post-9/11 period, he integrated unmanned aerial systems and precision-strike capabilities, advancing interoperability across air, space, and cyber domains. In civilian life, Jumper served as CEO of Leidos and on several advisory boards. He continues to champion programs supporting veterans, wounded warriors, STEM education, and youth leadership.

Gen. Gregory S. Martin, USAF (Ret.)
Former Commander, Air Force Materiel Command; Former Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe

Martin began his Air Force journey in 1966 with an appointment to the Air Force Academy, graduating in 1970. A distinguished UPT graduate, he flew 161 combat missions in Southeast Asia, including missions in Operations Linebacker I and II. He went on to command three wings and hold senior staff positions before being promoted to general in 2000. He later commanded U.S. Air Forces in Europe and NATO Allied Air Forces North. After retiring in 2005, Martin continued to serve as a senior fellow at the National Defense University, a senior mentor to the Joint Staff, a university professor, and chairman of both the National Academies’ Air Force Studies Board and the Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation. 

About AFA 

The Air & Space Forces Association is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 association dedicated to advocating for investment and support for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, and for supporting Airmen, Guardians, and their Families. Founded in 1946, AFA is the single largest entity of its kind focused on air and space power. With more than 130,000 members and 200 chapters spread around the world, our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect the enduring heritage of the Air and Space Forces.