Gary Copsey

Vice Chair of the Board for Aerospace Education

A retired Air Force colonel, Gary Copsey commanded a flying squadron and served as acting operations group commander. He received the 1994 MacKay Trophy for Most Meritorious Flight of the Year and 8th Air Force Historical Society Ira C. Eaker Outstanding Airmanship Award. At HQ MAC, he managed more than $1 billion in programs for Special Operations Forces and Rescue, and managed a multi-million dollar budget as squadron commander. As an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment Commander, Copsey selected the brightest candidates to lead the future force. Several of those cadets are now colonels leading our Air Force today. He served as the Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings Squadron Advisor for Marquette University, and was selected as North Central Region Squadron Advisor of the Year in 2003. Copsey’s AAS squadron was selected as the 2004 “Student Organization of the Year” at Marquette.  

As AFA’s Alamo Chapter President, Copsey established solid relationships with Air Education and Training Command commanders. As AFA Texas State President he worked to recruit and retain new chapter members/leaders. Copsey also served as the Texoma Region President, Chairman of the AFA Texas Aerospace Education Foundation, and on numerous committees. He’s been awarded the AFA Texas Medal of Freedom, AFA Texas Member of the Year, AFA Medal of Merit, AFA Exceptional Service Award, and the AFA Chairman’s Citation.