AFA Grant Supports Air Force Missileer Hall of Fame

The Air & Space Forces’s (AFA) History and Heritage Committee awarded a grant to the Association of Air Force Missileers (AAFM) for new digital displays of the Air Force Missileer Hall of Fame at selected museums.

The Association of Air Force Missileers has celebrated its heritage and advocated for Air Force missileers since 1993. In 2018, the board of directors voted to establish the Air Force Missileers Hall of Fame (AFMHOF) to identify individuals who have significantly contributed to Air Force missile heritage, with the first class announced in 2024. The hall recognizes contributions to the development, acquisition, operations, maintenance, security and support of the nation’s missile fleet, from the early Matador and Mace missiles to today’s ICBM force.

Jim Simons, former AFA vice chair of the board for field operations, has played a central role in bringing the AAFM to Minot Air Force Base for its biennial gathering and the announcement of the second class of honorees, scheduled for August 2026.

Simons identified the need for funding to display honoree profiles on electronic screens at locations including the Strategic Air Command Museum in Nebraska and the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio, citing the project’s alignment with the Air & Space Forces Association’s educate, advocate, and support mission pillars.

Each display will feature a honoree’s photo and a summary of the accomplishments that led to their selection, with users able to search for specific individuals or browse the full list.

Simons and Linda Aldrich, who leads the AFMHOF program for the association, coordinated on the submission with assistance from Linda McMahon, AFA Central East Region president, compiling the information necessary for AFA review.

The History and Heritage Committee’s contribution will be announced at the August AAFM gathering and all displays will acknowledge AFA as the donor. The collaboration between AFA marks the beginning of a partnership both organizations hope will benefit members and preserve history.