Purpose

The 150,000-member Air Force Association (AFA), formed after World War II, is an independent, nonprofit, civilian organization primarily concerned with public understanding and acceptance of the pivotal role a well-staffed, well-equipped and well-trained Air Force plays in the security of the nation and its allies and the relevance of overall military strength to global peace. 

 Organization

AFA is led by volunteer leaders at the national, state and local levels.  AFA's 46 state organizations and more than 300 chapters hold their own elections and conduct programs to increase public understanding of key national security issues in their communities.  programs range from luncheon and dinner activities to symposia and legislative roundtables with Congressional leaders.

National officers and directors are elected by convention delegates attending the annual national convention in September.  Delegates are chosen at the state and chapter levels to represent AFA's varied membership in electing the national leadership and voting on AFA policies.  When finally adopted at the convention, AFA policy taken the form of an overall "Statement of Policy" and Policy Papers on "Force Capabilities" and "Personnel Issues."

AFA's leadership team for 1998-1999:

• Thomas J. McKee, National President
• Doyle E. Larson, Chairman of the Board
• William D. Croom, Jr., National Secretary
• Charles H. Church, National Treasurer.

Day-to-day business is carried out by a headquarters staff in Arlington, VA, under the leadership of John A. Shaud, a retired Air Force general. 

Programs

In addition to state and chapter programs, AFA sponsors comprehensive briefings by key Air Force and DoD leaders at national symposia across the country.  These symposia are keyed to topical aerospace and defense issues.  The schedule for 1998-1999 includes 

• a focus on government-commercial space partnerships in Los Angeles, CA, November 13, 1998
• a national symposium on tactical air warfare in Orlando, FL, February 4-5, 1999
• a national symposium in San Antonio, TX, March 25, 1999

• the annual Air Force Ball in Los Angeles, CA
• the Mid-America Ball in St. Louis, MO
• the Air Force Salute in New York, NY
• military balls in several other locations

At its national convention each year, AFA honors the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year at a dinner event.

Each year, AFA conducts an extensive awards program to honor top Air Force Professionals in key career fields. 

 Publishing

Each month, AFA publishes AIR FORCE Magazine, a highly regarded aerospace journal that reaches the desks of those in the highest levels of government, industry, defense, business, academia, and the media.  It is read for its authenticity, accuracy, and investigative spirit in reporting aerospace and defense matters.  Monthly circulation is about 160,000.  AFA also publishes several widely distributed newsletters, including 

• CROSSFEED, which serves as a forum for exchanging ideas on effective programs among all levels of AFA
• LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, which tracks key developments on Capitol Hill
• the Aerospace Education Foundation NEWSLETTER, which reports on the many programs and activities of AFA's educational affiliate.

AFA publishes a wide range of these and other materials on its World Wide Web site (http://www.afa.org). 

 Education

AFA's educational affiliate, the Aerospace Education Foundation (AEF), works through a network of hundreds of AFA members and chapters to distribute educational materials to schools and concerned citizens.  Examples of this include a USA Today (the national daily newspaper) multi-disciplinary science, math, and social studies program, called "Visions of Exploration," cosponsored by AEF and participating AFA state and chapter organizations.  Each year over 100 local chapters sponsor Visions programs that reach over 150,000 students nationwide.  The Foundation publishes a series of studies and Foundation Forums on aerospace and national security topics.

The Eaker Institute is the public policy and research arm of the AEF.  It was established in 1996 to focus and expand upon AEF's existing educational and publishing efforts in aerospace and national security policy.

Individuals may affiliate with the Foundation through its Gens. Jimmy Doolittle and Ira Eaker Fellowship programs and its Sen. Barry Goldwater Fellowships, which support the Foundation's projects.  Each year, Foundation officials award five $5,000 scholarships to graduating AFROTC cadets who have accepted into a graduate science, math or engineering program as they await active duty service with the Air Force.  AEF's Eagle Plan offers unconditional grants to top enlisted graduates of the Community College of the Air Force who intend to enroll in an accredited program toward a career-related degree. 

 History

The AFA's heritage is rooted in the legacy of Billy Mitchell.  Mitchell had seen the US enter World War I as the 8th ranked nation in airpower--exceeded by Bulgaria, Greece and Japan as well as by the major powers.  Despite the bitter lessons of the war in the air and the high priority other nations were giving to airpower, the US Air Service in 1919 was reduced from 10,000 pilots to 149; 6,000 were discharged in just nine days!  Mitchell fought long and hard in support of the importance of airpower and the need for a strong national defense.  his work was carried on by the men who believed and served under him.  One was the man who commanded the World War II Army Air Forces, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold. 

In April 1945, General Arnold first mentioned the need for an independent civilian organization to argue the case for military preparedness and the importance of aerospace power.  The AFA was incorporated in the District of Columbia on February 4, 1946.  The Association's first president as the late General Jimmy Doolittle, a noted aviation pioneer and Medal of Honor recipient.  A vice president at Shell Oil company at the time, Doolittle took a year off to start up AFA chapters across the country.  Since then, AFA has spanned the air age, the missile era, the conquest of space, the nuclear age and the post-Cold War period.  Although Association policies have evolved to meet changing technological and human demands, AFA has been constant in working to support Air Force people and strengthen American aerospace power to help maintain national security and preserve world peace.