Montgomery Chapter Applauds Alabama Educators & Community Partners

September 25, 2025

AFA’s Montgomery Chapter in Alabama hosted its annual Community Partners and Teacher of the Year Recognition Luncheon on September 12, 2025. The event brought together educators, community partners, local leaders, veterans, and military personnel from across the River Region.

The luncheon celebrated three outstanding awardees:

Destine’ Ford

Montgomery Chapter 2025 Teacher of the Year

Destine’ Ford, a K–5 STEM teacher at Vaughn Road Elementary in Montgomery made a big impact in her first year leading STEM instruction. She introduced hands-on exploration lessons for every student, hosted a Family STEM Night and Science Fair with community partners, and created the school’s Robotics Team. This year, she plans to expand these programs, driven by her belief that even the youngest learners deserve to be inspired and challenged in STEM.

Kala Grice-Dobbins, with (from left) national AFA Teacher of the Year program co-lead, Susan Mallett; chapter president, Scott Key; Ms Grice-Dobbins; Burt Field; and Kala’s school principal, Michael Counts.

Kala Grice-Dobbins

Alabama State 2025 Teacher of the Year

Grice-Dobbins is a high school cybersecurity teacher at the Madison County Career Tech Center in Huntsville, who was honored for her pioneering work in preparing students for careers in cyber defense. She was also the runner-up winner of the 2025 National Teacher of the Year award.

Grice-DObbins has transformed cybersecurity education in Madison County, securing more than $100,000 in grants, building a full-year cybersecurity curriculum, and leading students to top finishes in AFA’s CyberPatriot program and in the Alabama Lt. Governor’s Cyber Cup Challenge. Last year, 81% of her students earned industry certifications, positioning them for success even before post-secondary education.

L to R: Maj. Desiree Darlington from the Air Command and Staff College’s Gathering of Eagles Foundation; Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.), AFA’s President & CEO; Virginia Whitfield, President of Whitfield Consulting and co-host of Time of Your Life on WSFA-TV; and Scott Key, AFA Montgomery Chapter President.

Virginia Whitfield

2025 Community Partner of the Year

Whitfield is the President of Whitfield Consulting and co-host of “Time of Your Life” on WSFA-TV. She was presented with an autographed lithograph featuring the 2025 Air Command and Staff College Gathering of Eagles honorees, including CSAF #15 Gen. Ron Fogleman, USAF (Ret.); Vietnam War ace Col. Charles DeBellevue, USAF (Ret.); and Capt. John “Lucky” Luckadoo, USAF (Ret.), who recently passed away at 103.

The event’s keynote speaker was Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.), AFA President & CEO, who shared the association’s current priorities and emphasized AFA’s enduring role as an advocate for Airmen, Guardians, their Families, civilians, and veterans, while also recognizing the evolving demands placed on today’s joint force.

Field highlighted that while Airmen and Guardians share common support needs, their missions diverge in significant ways. “The distinctive powers they project—air and space—operate on different vectors,” he said, noting that success in both domains requires tailored approaches to readiness, modernization, and resilience. He further outlined how AFA is working to strengthen its advocacy for quality-of-life initiatives, expand professional development opportunities, and invest in STEM education to prepare the next generation of aerospace leaders. His frank discussion underscored the challenges of sustaining a legacy Air Force while building a nascent U.S. Space Force, and the opportunities both services present in shaping America’s future defense posture.

The chapter was pleased to host a strong mix of community partners who enjoyed the complimentary luncheon, along with local commanders from Maxwell Air Force Base, Civil Air Patrol’s National Commander & CEO Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, and legacy veterans who remain steadfast supporters of the Montgomery Chapter.