April 2025: Aerospace Education Council Update

Esteemed AFA supporters,

One of my roles as the AFA Vice Chair for Education is to serve on the Board of Trustees for Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings (AAS-SW). I had the distinct privilege of attending this year’s National Conclave (NATCON) that recently took place in Atlanta, Ga. As such, the nickname for this year’s event was ATLANTACON. More than 800 Arnold Air Society cadets and Silver Wings members from AFROTC Detachments and the USAF Academy gathered for a very impressive weekend of socializing and learning. In total, there were nearly 850 in attendance, including retired Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas and Marianne Williams of the Executive Management Center (EMC); National Advisory Consultants (NACs); graduates of the program who return to provide support in many areas; the Board of Trustees; cadre members from the various AFROTC detachments; and several dignitaries.

What’s impressive about NATCON is that it is planned, organized, and executed by cadets and SW members, and with a little guidance from the EMC and NACs. The experience organizers gain from planning and executing this is far from anything a AFROTC cadet would typically encounter in their detachments; it’s truly a professional development experience. The speakers they had lined up gave AAS-SW members great insight into what’s going on in our Air and Space Forces. Speakers included Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman; the Board of Trustees Chairman and first Chief of Space Operations, Gen. Jay Raymond, USSF (Ret.); the Commander of AETC, Lt. Gen. “Smokey” Robinson; and AFA’s very own President & CEO, Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.).

Other speakers included a cyber panel with three senior Cyber professionals; a presentation of POW/MIA and recovery operations by Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA); a presentation on the AF Historical Foundation; and a true highlight, a presentation by Robert Arnold, Hap Arnold’s grandson who shared great insight about his grandfather as an Air Force leader. 

Several AFA leaders attended this year, which was great to see. AFA leadership attendees included the Vice Chair-Field, Region Presidents from Rocky Mountain and Central East, and several state presidents. For those who had never attended, I believe they were “awe-struck”! 

A major highlight of the weekend was watching our own Mary Anne Thompson receive the “Founders Award” from Gen. Raymond at the banquet. Mary Anne was not only engaged with AAS/Angel Flight/SW for more than 60 years—she designed the Angel Flight/SW wings!

Final comments: Get those Teacher of the Year packages in before the deadline! And keep a pulse on upcoming CCAF Graduations and Pitsenbarger Awards!

Regards from the Great State of Texas!

Gary Copsey

AFA Vice Chair for Education