Virginia AFA Welcomes Arnold Air Society, Silver Wings Pentagon Interns

The Virginia Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), together with the AFA Gabriel and Steele Chapters, sponsored a kickoff event on June 11 for 19 Arnold Air Society (AAS) and Silver Wings (SW) cadets and members participating in the 2026 AAS/SW Pentagon Intern Program.

The event, held at AFA National Headquarters, marked the beginning of the summer intern session and celebrated the service and professional development of the young leaders chosen.

The Pentagon Intern Program provides Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings members with a unique opportunity to work alongside Air Force, Space Force, and Department of the Air Force professionals in Staff and Secretariat offices. Throughout the summer, the interns gain firsthand experience with policy development, strategic planning, and the day-to-day operations that support the services. The program also offers participants an invaluable opportunity to observe senior leaders in action while expanding their understanding of national security and defense decision-making.

Virginia AFA State President Mike Maxwell welcomed the interns on behalf of the Virginia State AFA and national association. Maxwell thanked them for their commitment to service, leadership, and professional excellence. He also recognized the strong partnership between AFA and the AAS/SW in supporting the next generation of Air Force and Space Force leaders.

Recognizing that many of the interns incur significant expenses while living in Washington, D.C., during their internship, AFA provides each participant with a stipend to help offset housing and other living costs. Building on that commitment, the national stipend was supplemented with an additional financial contribution, made possible through the generosity of the Virginia AFA and its Gabriel and Steele chapters.

During the kickoff event, Virginia State Vice President for AAS/SW Michael Thompson presented a check to each intern to help ease financial burdens.

A highlight of the afternoon was an engaging presentation by Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), then a Senior Fellow at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Cantwell delivered a briefing for the interns entitled “The State of the Air Force,” giving them an overview of the current strategic environment and the challenges facing today’s Air Force and Space Force. Major issues Cantwell covered included evolving global security threats, modernization priorities, force readiness, force structure, and the importance of maintaining America’s technological and operational advantage in an increasingly contested environment.

Following the briefing, Cantwell engaged the interns in a lively discussion, encouraging thoughtful questions about the future of airpower and spacepower and the role these young leaders may someday play in shaping national defense.

The briefing and discussion provided a foundation for the interns as they prepared to begin their assignments throughout the Pentagon, and helped the cadets better understand the broader context surrounding the projects and staff work they will perform.

“One of the things I admire most about AFA is its steadfast investment in developing the next generation of Air and Space leaders,” said Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas, USAF (Ret.), the national director of the Arnold Air Society, who attended the event. “The Association does not just provide opportunities, but it creates transformational experiences like this event, which leave a lasting impact and help prepare our students to lead with confidence, character, and purpose.”

Following the program, the Steele Chapter hosted the interns for a pizza reception at Nighthawk Pizza, a community partner of the chapter. The reception gave the interns an opportunity to engage with senior military leaders, AFA members, and experienced professionals in conversations that provided valuable career advice, insights into a wide range of military and civilian career fields, and a better understanding of the inner workings of the Pentagon.

For many of the interns, the opportunity to ask candid questions and hear firsthand experiences from seasoned leaders proved to be one of the most memorable aspects of the kickoff event.

Programs such as the Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings Pentagon Internship exemplify the Air & Space Forces Association’s commitment to developing America’s future aerospace leaders and will help prepare them for future leadership roles across the Department of the Air Force and the broader national security community.