W. Stuart Symington Award

AFA’s highest honor to a civilian in the field of national security, the award is named for the first Secretary of the Air Force.

← ALL NATIONAL AWARDS

Past Winners

2025U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee
2024Dr. Derek Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency
2022Sen. Jim Inhofe, Ranking Member, SASC
2021Barbara Barrett, former SECAF
2020Will Roper, Asst. SECAF (AT&L)
2019Heather Wilson, former SECAF
2018Deborah Lee James, former SECAF
2017Lisa S. Disbrow, Undersecretary of the Air Force
2016Jamie M. Morin, Director, Cost Assessment & Program Evaluation
2015William A. LaPlante, Asst. SECAF (Acquisition)
2014Ashton B. Carter, former Deputy SECDEF
2013Michael B. Donley, SECAF
2012Gen. James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.)
2011Rep. C. W. “Bill” Young (R-Fla.)
2010John J. Hamre, Center for Strategic & International Studies
2009Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah)
2008Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, USA (Ret.)
2007Michael W. Wynne, SECAF
2006No Award Given
2005Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.)
2004Peter B. Teets, Undersecretary of the Air Force
2003James G. Roche, SECAF
2002Rep. James V. Hansen (R-Utah)
2001Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.)
2000Rep. Floyd Spence (R-S.C.)
1999F. Whitten Peters, SECAF
1998Rep. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Rep. Norman D. Dicks (D-Wash.)
1997William Perry, former SECDEF
1996Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
1995Sheila E. Widnall, SECAF
1994Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.)
1993Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
1992Donald B. Rice, SECAF
1991George Bush, President of the United States
1990John J. Welch, Asst. SECAF (Acquisition)
1989Ronald W. Reagan, former President of the United States
1988George P. Schultz, Secretary of State
1987Edward C. Aldridge Jr., Secretary of the Air Force
1986Caspar W. Weinberger, Secretary of Defense