National Awards
Each year the Air & Space Forces Association is proud to honor the outstanding achievements of men and women throughout the United States Air Force, United States Space Force, government, academia, and the aerospace industry. The accomplishments of these incredible Airmen, Guardians, and Civilians exemplify their total commitment to excellence when reaching for the ultimate in performance.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
AFA’s Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made contributions to the advancement of aerospace power throughout their lifetimes. AFA ensures that great accomplishments of the past continue to be recognized and continue to inspire our Airmen and Guardians now and in the future. These awards are presented at national AFA events including the Air, Space & Cyber Conference and the AFA Warfare Symposium.
The 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is:
OUTSTANDING AIRMEN OF THE YEAR
The Air & Space Forces Association recognizes 12 outstanding enlisted Airmen for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievements during our annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference at National Harbor, Md., just outside Washington, D.C. The AFA Outstanding Airmen of the Year (OAY) program was initiated at AFA’s 10th Annual National Conference, held in New Orleans in 1956.
Learn more about the 2024 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.
NATIONAL AIR & SPACE AWARDS
2024 National Aerospace Award Recipients
H. H. Arnold Award
For the most significant contribution by a military member to national defense:
Gen. David “DT” Thompson, USSF (Ret.), first Vice Chief of Space Operations
W. Stuart Symington Award
For the most significant contribution by a civilian to national defense:
Dr. Derek Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency
John R. Alison Award
For the most outstanding contribution by industrial leadership to national defense:
Victus Nox team, led by Space Systems Command, Millennium Aerosapce, Firefly Aerospace
General Jerome F. O’Malley Space Visionary Leadership Award
For the importance of vision, risk taking, and innovation needed to deliver unparalleled Space Force capabilities to meet the expanding U.S. space mission:
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations