Steele Chapter Hosts Annual Salute to Arnold Air and Silver Wings 

AFA’s D.W. Steele Chapter held its annual “Salute to Arnold Air and Silver Wings” event on November 20. More than 30 cadets and Silver Wings members from Howard University, George Washington University, and the University of Maryland participated in the event, which featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Patrick Donley, Director of AFA’s Doolittle Leadership Center. 

Donley’s talk, titled “Leading in the Age of Great Power Competition,” offered valuable insights on navigating leadership challenges in today’s complex global environment. He emphasized to the cadets that they must be prepared for situations the Air Force hasn’t encountered since World War II.  

“All Americans will be counting on you to defend the nation,” Donley said. 

The Steele Chapter takes great pride in its ongoing collaboration with these exceptional student organizations. Earlier this year, the chapter sponsored several Silver Wings members to help offset costs for their trip to the National Conclave in San Diego. In October, the Chapter hosted nine cadets and Silver Wings members at the Virginia Commonwealth Executive Committee dinner, where Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute, delivered a keynote address. Several Chapter members also supported the cadets by attending the Arnold Air Regional Conclave at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., earlier this month. 

The event was held at Blackhawk Pizza in Arlington, one of the Steele Chapter’s most loyal Community Partners. Nighthawk generously donated refreshments to the event for more than 50 attendees.   

In addition to these events, the Steele Chapter continues to support cadets through community service, including volunteer opportunities at the Veterans Hospital in Washington, D.C., where cadets offer companionship and assistance to patients. 

Christian Williams, President of Silver Wings at George Washington University, is an active member of the Steele Chapter’s Executive Committee, and Col. Nate Rabe, Professor of Aerospace Studies at the University of Maryland, has been an invaluable participant in chapter activities. 

“AFA has a long-standing and invaluable partnership with both Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings, working together to support our mission and develop future leaders,” said Steele Chapter President Lloyd Swede. “Here in the National Capital Region, we are especially proud of the growing collaboration between our chapter and these outstanding student organizations.”