AFA’s Board of Directors

---

OFFICERS — ELECTED (VOTING BOARD)

Kathleen Ferguson

Chair of the Board

I served nearly 35 years as a civilian in the Air Force, retiring as the Principal Assistant Secretary for Installations, Energy, and Environment, overseeing infrastructure critical to mission success and quality of life. Now with The Roosevelt Group, I advocate for defense communities nationwide. My experience in policy, mission support, and family advocacy uniquely positions me to advance AFA’s mission of supporting Airmen, Guardians, and their families.

The Air Force became my career by chance, not by choice. As I look back on the tremendous opportunities I was given in my Air Force career, the experiences I was provided, and the love I have for the institution, I think being the Chairman of AFA would be a fitting way to give back. I could not imagine another career that would have been as rewarding.

I understand the mission of the Air Force and AFA, I have managed large organizations throughout my Air Force career, and worked Air Force budget for nearly 20 years. My “superpower” is being able to work well under pressure and I was always the Senior Exec the SECAF sent to the Hill to answer the tough questions. I always treat people with kindness, work to fully understand the issues, and I’m not afraid to make a decision.

Chris Canada

Vice Chair of the Board, Field Operations

Chris “Thrasher” Canada served 28 years on Active duty, during which he flew worldwide Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance collection missions; was a Staff Officer at the Numbered Air Force, Major Command, and Joint Combatant Command levels; and served as Commanding Officer at multiple levels. His other tours of duty ranged from Air Component Coordination Element Director for a counter-narcotics task force to Senior Military Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense’s Training and Armor Directorates… Read More

Gary Copsey

Vice Chair of the Board, Education

A retired Air Force colonel, Gary Copsey commanded a flying squadron and served as acting operations group commander. He received the 1994 MacKay Trophy for Most Meritorious Flight of the Year and 8th Air Force Historical Society Ira C. Eaker Outstanding Airmanship Award. At HQ MAC, he managed more than $1 billion in programs for Special Operations Forces and Rescue, and managed a multi-million dollar budget as squadron commander. Read More

Paul Hendricks

National Secretary

Paul Hendricks is a retired Air Force officer. His military career included assignments flying B-52Ds in Vietnam (Linebacker II) as well as assignments as an Acquisition and Program Manager in the Air Force Security Service and as a member of the Development and Operational Test Teams for the B-1B aircraft. His career concluded as the Deputy Test Director for the B-1B aircraft. Hendricks retired from the Air Force in 1990 after 20 years in uniform. Read More

Chuck Martin

Treasurer

Chuck Martin is the volunteer leader overseeing the financial affairs of the Association, exercising and performing the duties assigned by the Constitution and the Operations and Procedures Manual. The Treasurer chairs the Finance Committee and serves as a member of the Executive Committee. He works closely with the Chairman and confers regularly with the President, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, and other key staff, as appropriate. He makes the annual Financial Report to the National Convention and provides operating budget and financial reports to the Board of Directors. Chuck joined the AFA in 1971 and has served in multiple capacities in various chapters as he was reassigned within the USAF… Read More

NATIONAL DIRECTORS — ELECTED (VOTING BOARD)

• Bobi Oates – West Area
• Janelle Stafford – Central Area
• Todd Freece – East Area
• Dwyer Dennis – At Large
• Wes Hallman – At Large
• Bill Harding – At Large
• Dan “Ohno” Ohnesorge – At Large
• Robin Rand – At Large
• Doug “Odie” Slocum – At Large

NATIONAL DIRECTORS — APPOINTED (VOTING BOARD)

• Robert “Bob” Corsi, USAF civilian SES, ret.
• Tom Deale, Major General, USAF, ret. – Northrop Grumman
• Frank Kendall, SECAF #26
• Greg Touhill, Brigadier General, USAF, ret.

ARMED FORCES DIRECTORS — (VOTING BOARD)

• JoAnne Bass, CMSAF #19
• David Goldfein, General, CSAF #21
• Roger “Toby” Towberman, CMSSF #1

NON-VOTING BOARD

• James De Rugeriis – Ex-Officio Director, President SWS, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona
• Burt Field – Ex-Officio Director, AFA President & CEO
• Randy Kitchens – Chaplain, Advisory Director
• Naomi Lisko – Ex-Officio Director, Commander AAS, University of Alabama
• Mike Maxwell – Deputy Treasurer
• Gerald Murray – Immediate Past Chair of the Board
• Whit Peters – Past Chair of the Board, Advisory Director
• Larry Stutzriem – AFA EVP

EMERITUS (NON-VOTING)

---

REGION PRESIDENTS

---

AFA’s Field Operations are organized into geographic areas led by Region Presidents. The Region organization is not an operational unit but each President has coordination, administrative, and leadership responsibility for state organizations and is the senior representative for AFA within its geographical boundaries.

• Linda McMahon, Central East Region (Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia)
• Wayne Kauffman, Far West Region (California, Hawaii, Guam)
• Mike Liquori, Florida Region (Florida, Puerto Rico)
• Dave Babcock, Great Lakes Region (Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio)
• Fred Niblock, Midwest Region (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)
• Dave “Pilgrim” DeNofrio, New England Region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)
• Larry Sagstetter, North Central Region (Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
• Patrick Kon, Northeast Region (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania)
• Bill Striegel, Northwest Region (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)
• Linda Aldrich, Rocky Mountain Region (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming)
• Susan “Gillette” Mallett, South Central Region (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee)
• Mike Trotter, Southeast Region (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina)
• Alan “Ice” Berg, Southwest Region (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico)
• Norm King, Texoma Region (Oklahoma, Texas)

AFA is also represented overseas by Erin LeFever (Europe) Jeremy Nickel (Pacific)

---

MORE