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