Celebrating Excellence: Steele Chapter Honors the 12 OAY 

A highlight of the annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference in September is the formal ceremony and reception recognizing the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (OAY), celebrating the Air Force’s finest enlisted men and women. 

Following the 2024 ceremony on September 16, AFA’s D.W. Steele Sr. Chapter hosted a special “Salute to Service” reception at the Gaylord National Hotel. The event provided an opportunity for the honorees and their guests to socialize and network with senior Air Force and AFA leaders. 

Nearly two dozen Community Partners supported the celebration, helping the Steel Chapter raise funds for STEM programs in middle schools, high schools, Civil Air Patrol squadrons, and JROTC units in Northern Virginia. 

“This salute was our way of recognizing the accomplishments of these outstanding Airmen, who embody the professionalism of our entire enlisted force,” said Steele Chapter President Lloyd Swede. “It also helps us promote our education mission, supporting STEM initiatives and developing the American workforce of the 21st century.”