AFA, USAF Leaders Honor Missileers from Malmstrom

October 17, 2025

AFA’s Gen. Charles A. Gabriel Chapter hosted the Ninth Annual Missileer Gathering at the 2025 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., on September 23, 2025. The Gabriel Chapter started the Missileer Gathering in 2017 to provide a way for Missileers (those who earned an Air Force Missile Badge, Missile Operations Badge, or Missile Maintenance Badge) to get together on the second night of AFA’ annual September conference, to recognize the General Thomas Power Missile Crew of the Year and our hard-working Missileers operating and maintaining the ICBM leg of the TRIAD providing Strategic Deterrence every day, all year.  

Representing this year’s Air Force Missile Crew of the Year were Capt. Sarah Lopez and 1st Lt. Travis Evans from the 10th Missile Squadron, 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. They were presented with the Air Force General Thomas Power Missile Crew of the Year Award Trophies. Gabriel Chapter Executive Vice President Kevin Eastland presented the crew with challenge coins.

Capt. Sarah Lopez (right) from the 10th Missile Squadron, 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., and Maj. Gen. Stacy Jo Huser, Commander of the 20th Air Force. Photo by Jud McCrehin.
1st Lt. Travis Evans (right) from the 10th Missile Squadron, 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., and Maj. Gen. Stacy Jo Huser, Commander of the 20th Air Force. Photo by Jud McCrehin.

Many distinguished leaders attended the gathering to congratulate these fine Airmen, including Lt. Gen. Mike Lutton, Deputy Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command; Maj. Gen. Stacy Jo Huser, Commander of the 20th Air Force; and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs the Honorable Rich Anderson; and AFA’s then-Chair of the Board Bernie Skoch.

AFA’s Gabriel Chapter is named in honor of Gen. Charles A. “Charlie” Gabriel, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff from 1982-1986, making it one of only four AFA Chapters named after former CSAFs.  Organized in 1988 and chartered in 1989, the Gabriel Chapter serves AFA members of the National Capital Region of Northern Virginia beyond the beltway along the I-66 aerospace corridor out to the Northern Shenandoah Valley. In addition to hosting the annual Missileer Gathering, the Gabriel Chapter puts special emphasis on supporting the Guardians and Airmen at the National Reconnaissance Office.