2012 Capt. Jodi Callahan Memorial Graduate Scholarship Recipients

Each year around this time, AFA awards the $1,000 Callahan Memorial Scholarship to deserving Air Force active duty, full time Guard or Reserve pursuing a non-technical Master’s Degree. Congratulations to this year's winners: SSgt Evelyn Nicholson and TSgt James Lloyd for the 2012 Captain Jodi Callahan Memorial Graduate Scholarship.

SSgt Nicholson is pursuing a master’s in Business Administration from American Military University. She currently in serving at Osan Air Base in South Korea in Emergency Management Plans & Operations. SSgt Nicholson plans to use her skills developed through her master’s program to become a more effective leader at the tactical level and help improve business operations within the Air Force.
TSgt Lloyd is pursuing a master’s degree in Management from the American Military University. Currently he serves in the selectively manned 25th Space Control Range and is responsible for maintaining over $58 million worth of Air Force systems and equipment at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. TSgt Lloyd plans to use his education courses to enhance his skills relevant to his Air Force Career. He believes many of the courses will contribute to becoming an effective leader as well.

Captain Jodi Callahan was an AFA National Director and a Trustee of the Aerospace Education Foundation. She was a life member of AFA. This scholarship is possible because of the generous donations of her family and friends through the Jodi Callahan Memorial Fund.

“Jodi was both a devoted Airman and scholar. At the time of her death, she was pursuing her second master's degree at George Washington University. Both this program and her Masters of Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University were off duty education initiatives supported in part by the Air Force,” said the Callahan Family. “It takes a lot of determination and hard work to find that right balance of life, scholarship and career. To recognize these Airmen’s achievements and to contribute to their academic growth in the name of our daughter gives us great pleasure. We wish them the best of luck.”

A New Face at AFA: Lt. Gen. Richard Newton Named New Executive Vice-President

AFA today announced that Lt. Gen. Dick Newton, who retired from a 34-year career in the Air Force this past June, will be replacing David T. “Buck” Buckwalter as AFA’s Executive Vice-President as of August 27, 2012.

Newton retired as the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and Director, Air Staff, Headquarters USAF, where he oversaw the administration and organization of the Air Staff, which develops policies, plans and programs; establishes requirements; and provides resources to support the Air Force’s mission. He also served as Deputy Chairman of the Air Force Council, and was the Air Force accreditation official for the international Corps of Air Attachés. 

A little about AFA's New EVP:
Born at Forbes Air Force Base, Kan., Newton hailed from an Air Force family and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1978. His command assignments include the first B-2 squadron, a B-1B operations group and a B-52 wing. He served at Headquarters U.S. Air Force as a planner, then executive officer for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, and later as Deputy Director for Strategic Plans and Future Systems for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. 

A little about AFA's outgoing EVP: 
After five years in the position, Buckwalter leaves AFA after having provided strong leadership and expertise. He leaves behind key accomplishments including: the development and expansion of AFA’s flagship STEM program, CyberPatriot – the National High School Cyber Defense Competition, and completion of the Association’s transition into an IRS 501 (c)(3) organization. Prior to taking his EVP position, he served in the USAF as a logistics group commander, component repair squadron commander, requirements action officer and executive officer on a major Air Force staff in Europe -- and also had held several positions within AFA, AEF (Aerospace Education Foundation, and other committees.

Note from AFA -- Courage, Gen. Loh op-ed

The Air Force has just released its latest “Portraits in Courage.” The Portraits in Courage series highlights Airmen who display bravery and determination in the face of especially challenging or dangerous circumstances. You can find it here at http://www.af.mil/specials/courage/index.html. In our subsequent notes, we will highlight each individual, like Captain Jennifer Curtis, who assisted U.S. Army Special Forces with village stability operations. You can read her story here at http://www.af.mil/specials/courage/10curtis.html.

Secondly, an excellent editorial by Gen (Ret) John Michael Loh appeared in Defense News. In it, Gen Loh, addressing the new “Pivot to the Pacific” strategy, states the Asia-Pacific region, because of its huge expanse, few land operating bases, and many far-reaching potential battle scenarios, will require airborne all-weather sensors for wide-area surveillance, and airborne battle management, command and control (BMC2) centers. Today, there are few aircraft that perform this mission and none planned in the future. He points out the Libyan Campaign had no established command and control center, no nearby bases and no wide surveillance of the battle area until AWACS and JSTARS joined the fight. This campaign underscored the need for these systems in the future. BMC2 is but one new capability the Air Force will need to execute the “Pivot to the Pacific” strategy, and the need comes at a most challenging time for modernization of systems already in the pipeline. You can read the piece here at http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120820/DEFFEAT05/308200009/The-Eyes-Brain-8216-Pacific-Pivot-8217-


Buck

David T. "Buck" Buckwalter
Acting President
Air Force Association

2012 Air & Space Conference: Heritage Spotlights

Photo courtesy of the Air Force Association's Library

In the pre-dawn hours of June 25^th, 1950, six columns of North Korean forces stormed across the 38^th parallel into South Korea. Ninety thousand communist troops augmented by armored columns and close air support rapidly overwhelmed South Korean soldiers. The newly-created US Air Force swung into action, and by June 27^th, an F-82 crew claimed the first aerial victory of the war.

At our 2012 Air & Space Conference, members of the aircrews from the 1950s’ Korean War will lead a panel, describing their experiences flying the flying F-80s, F-51s, B-29s and B-26s in Korea, amidst the brutal cold of winter and the oppressive heat of summer.

But the Korean War Aircrews are just one of several heritage spotlights on the agenda. Other heritage highlights include:

• Panel comprised of Fighter Pilots of World War II
• Panel comprised of Aircrews of the Berlin Airlift
• Book signing by Clarence “Bud” Anderson, To Fly and Fight: Memoirs of a Triple Ace
• Book signing by Gail Halvorsen, The Berlin Candy Bomber

The full conference agenda can be found here.

The 2012 Air & Space Conference will be held September 17-19, 2012, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, just across the river from Alexandria and minutes from downtown Washington, DC. This year’s conference will host more than 60 conference addresses and 50,000 square feet of the latest and greatest technology from industry in the Exhibit Hall. Advance registration is available here.

[Note: All Active Duty military members and DOD civilian personnel can attend the conference free of charge!]

AFA's Air & Space Conferene Sessions Qualify toward Airmen CLPs

The Air Force has again made several sessions of AFA's 2012 Air & Space Conerence eligible for Continuous Learning (CL) points for personnel required to maintain professional currency in their acquisition specialty area by meeting DOD and AF Continuous Learning standards. With the conference fees now waived for all active-duty military members and DOD civilian professionals, the Air & Space Conference is a great venue for professional development training as conference attendees have access to Air Force leadership, industry experts, academia and current aerospace specialists from around the world giving insight to past, present and future aerospace challenges.

This year’s conference will host more than 60 conference addresses and 50,000 square feet of the latest and greatest technology from industry in the Exhibit Hall. Speaker Highlights Include:

• Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki
• Deputy Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey
• Secretary of the Air Force, Michael B. Donley
• Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, James . Roy

The full conference agenda can be found here. 

 

The 2012 Air & Space Conference will be held September 17-19, 2012, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.

[Personnel can earn 0.5 points per hour, maximum of four points per day and 20 points per year for Symposia/Conference Attendance. Please contact the Air Force Acquisition Training Office for further guidance. However, other Services must contact their acquisitions departments to see if attendance at AFA’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition fulfills their qualifications.]

Mitchell Hour Recap: Air Operations Over Afghanistan

Yesterday's Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies welcomed Major General Tod D. Wolters, former commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan, as the guest speaker for its latest Mitchell Hour. 

In an hour-long briefing, he discussed Air Force and NATO air operations in Afghanistan from Summer 2011 to Summer 2012, the height of the insurgency. For a year in his role, he led more than 9,000 airmen across three Afghanistan-based air wings.

From providing ISR capabilities (more specifically, full-motion video ISR) to synchronizing messages and executing plans that were in line with the COMISAF, Wolters had the responsibility of leading his task force in the "relentless pursuit" of the target to achieve ISAF and GIROA success.

He provided his perspective on the successes and limitations of US and NATO airpower in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, emphasizing how air remained a critical enabler throughout the year and citing casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), lift, close air support and electronic warfare as major assets during his tenure. 

Notable accomplishments:

• On CASEVAC/MEDEVAC: Evacuating casualties from the battlefield to the nearest hospital within 60 minutes of their injury, averaging 40 to 45 minutes  
• On ISR: USAF provided 560-600 hrs/day of full motion video, in addition to a few more hundreds of hours provided by the Army and Coalition forces.
• On close air support: the requirement is to have an asset overhead to protect ground troops within 12 minutes, however, they average eight minutes today.

Check out Air Force magazine's Aug. 15 Daily Report for further reading!

[Gen. Wolters is currently the Air Force Director of Legislative Liaison. The directorate is the contact between the Air Force and Congress on issues such as legislative and constituent inquiries, programs and weapons systems.]

Anniversary of Victory over Japan (V-J Day)

Today, we celebrate Victory over Japan Day, otherwise known as V-J Day, when the surrender of Japan effectively ended World War II. Though the official documents were not signed until September 2, 1945, the Allied nations celebrated across the globe. 

The many celebrations did not just illustrate American sentiment on the surrender of Japan, but recognized the fact that  the Second World War had effectively ended, taking with it half-a-decade of global conflict and loss of life.

Reporters upon hearing the announcement of the Japanese surrender. (From the Harry S. Truman Library)

The infamous 'kiss' in Times Square. (Photo from the August 27, 1945, issue of LIFE)

V-J Day in New York City. Crowds gather in Times Square to celebrate the surrender of Japan., 08/15/1945 (Photo from the National Archives)

Check out some more great photos here!

2012 Oustanding Airmen of the Year

AFA today announced the 2012 Twelve Outstanding Airmen of the Year!

Each year, the Air Force and AFA recognize 12 outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements. Then, we proudly honor these Outstanding Airmen at the annual National Convention/Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in the Washington, D.C. area. [AFA initiated the OAY program in 1956, when we held the 10th annual National Convention.]

“This time of the year is always an honor to us at AFA as we get to distinguish a dozen of our airmen who are among the best and brightest in their respective organizations,” said Sandy Schlitt, AFA Chairman of the Board. “Their dedication to duty is quite admirable and we commend them for their service.”

The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, a general officer and selected Major Command chiefs form the selection board. The Air Force Chief of Staff reviews the selections. The Twelve Outstanding Airmen are awarded the Outstanding Airmen ribbon with the bronze service star device and wear the Outstanding Airmen badge for one year. They also serve on the Air Force Enlisted Council for one year.

12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (by command of assignment when selected):

• Staff Sgt. Angelo C. Banks, Air Education and Training Command
• Master Sgt. Alan M. Braden, Air Force Materiel Command
• Staff Sgt. Cory T. Branham, Air Combat Command
• Senior Airman Bryenna L. Brooks, Air Force Global Strike Command
• Tech. Sgt. Brandon C. Bruner, Air Force Special Operations Command
• Senior Airman Matthew J. Butler, Air Force District of Washington
• Senior Master Sgt. Laura A. Callaway, Air Mobility Command
• Senior Master Sgt. Emilio Hernandez, U.S. Air Forces in Europe
• Senior Airman Nicholas A. Hurt, Air Force Space Command
• Master Sgt. Sandra L. Plentzas, Air Force Reserve Command
• Tech. Sgt. Matthew G. Stark, Pacific Air Forces
• Senior Master Sgt. Luke W. Thompson, Air National Guard

For bios on each of this year's recipients and the full AFA release, check out: http://www.afa.org/media/press/2012_OAY.asp

Note from AFA -- AFA National Convention and Conference

With AFA's 2012 National Convention and Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition just six weeks away, you can expect things to be quite busy around these spaces.

This year's National Convention will be September 15-16 and the Conference will be September 17-19, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac, in National Harbor, just across the river from Alexandria and minutes from downtown Washington, DC.  And this year’s conference fees are waived for all military members on Active Duty and DoD civilian personnel!

For those not familiar with these annual events, the National Convention serves as an exciting opportunity for AFA members from around the country and abroad to come together and play a pivotal role in governing our Association. Workshops and activities are scheduled for delegates, spouses and guests. That Sunday, September 16, we also host a memorial service and wreath laying at the Air Force Memorial, to recognize members and supporters of AFA who have passed.

The Conference and Technology Exposition is truly a one-of-a-kind event where AFA brings together Air Force leadership, industry experts, academia and current aerospace specialists from around the world to discuss the issues and challenges facing America and the aerospace community today. This year, we will have more than 65 conference addresses, including forums led by:

• Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki
• Deputy Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey
• Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley
• Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Mark Welsh
• And the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy.

Our Exposition floor has grown quite a bit this year, to accommodate more exhibits, a special Speakers Corner, and a Veterans and Spouses Career Center.

Also, we both support our young airmen and honor Air Force heritage with two formal events: Monday's Outstanding Airmen of the Year Dinner, where we recognize 12 outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievements, and Wednesday's Air Force Anniversary Dinner, where we feature our most prestigious award recipients and honor Lifetime Achievement Winners who have contributed to the success of the Air Force. 

In all, it is a great opportunity to network with colleagues, Air Force leadership, guest speakers, and professionals and pioneers from the private sector. With the current economic environment and budget concerns, opportunities to engage in open dialogue on issues that concern our national security and the future of our Air Force are vital.  New this year, and thanks to a Secretary of the Air Force Ethics Office determination, we are offering admission to the Conference at no charge to military members on Active Duty and DoD civilian personnel.

We hope you can join us – register now at: http://www.afa.org/events/conference/2012/default.asp.

Buck

David T. "Buck" Buckwalter
Acting President
Air Force Association

AFA’s Next Mitchell Hour: Air Force and NATO air operations in Afghanistan

If you're in the Arlington, VA-area, stop in for the next Mitchell Hour, which will be this Tuesday, August 14!

AFA's Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies welcomes Major General Tod D. Wolters, former commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan, as the guest speaker for an upcoming Mitchell Hour. He will discuss Air Force and NATO air operations in Afghanistan.

Gen. Wolters is currently the Air Force Director of Legislative Liaison. The directorate is the contact between the Air Force and Congress on issues such as legislative and constituent inquiries, programs and weapons systems. He was previously commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan and Deputy Commander for Air, US Forces-Afghanistan. For a year in that role, he led more than 9,000 airmen across three Afghanistan-based air wings.

He will provide attendees his perspective on the successes and limitations of US and NATO airpower in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 14, 2012, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: AFA’s national headquarters at 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA, 22209, next to the Key Bridge Marriott. The presentation will be in AFA’s fourth floor boardroom.

Remember, all Mitchell Hours are free to the public. To register for this event, go to http://august14mitchell2012.eventbrite.com. 

Waiver for 2012 Air & Space Conference Fees for Active Duty Military and DOD Civilian Personnel

Great news! AFA is pleased to announce that a favorable opinion by the Secretary of the Air Force’s Ethics Office has authorized a waiver for conference fees associated with the 2012 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition for all military members on Active Duty and DoD civilian personnel!

 

AFA’s Air & Space Conference will be held September 17-19, 2012, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac, in National Harbor, just across the river from Alexandria and minutes from downtown Washington, DC. As always, it promises to bring together Air Force leadership, industry experts, academia and current aerospace specialists from around the world.  

The 2012 agenda will have an exceptional line-up of speakers and sessions, to include addresses by:

• Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki
• Deputy Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey

With more than 65 conference addresses and an expo floor displaying the latest advancements in air and space technology, attendees will learn about the current issues and challenges facing America and the aerospace community. Guest speakers will also include the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. 

Hot topics include: Air Force ISR, Air National Guard, Arab Springs, Cyber, Energy Initiatives, International Affairs, Sequestration, Space and Veterans Affairs. (For the full agenda, click here.)

The 2012 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition is a great opportunity to network with colleagues, Air Force leadership, guest speakers, and professionals and pioneers from the private sector. Be a part of AFA’s premier national forum for aerospace professionals. 

NOTE: All attendees still need to register to attend the conference. Registration details can be found here.

Air Force Week

Air Force Week starts next Sunday in NY! Well, its actually half of a week -- August 19-21, 2012 -- but keep your eyes peeled for AFA representatives roaming around NY in celebration.

Air Force Week is a program endorsed by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force that provides the opportunity to show and tell civic leaders, opinion leaders and the general public what the Air Force does, while at the same time, demonstrating their gratitude to the communities which support the Air Force by engaging in events what help give back!

Will we see you there?

Note from AFA -- New CSAF, Sequestration and Defense Budget

Earlier this week, we officially said farewell to Mike Dunn as AFA's President and CEO. He served AFA and the nation superbly, and he will surely be missed. AFA's new president is set to take the reins 4 September 2012, but for the month of August I  will be Acting President and will carry on with the periodic updates from headquarters with "Notes from AFA."

This initiative was begun by Mike Dunn early in his five-year tenure, and we intend to continue them because the notes have allowed greater interaction and engagement with our members, supporters, partners and friends.  They have also served to highlight the most critical issues facing our Air Force and nation. With that said…

AFA congratulates General Mark Welsh on his confirmation as Air Force Chief of Staff.  We believe General Welsh is the right person to lead the Air Force through the difficult days ahead.

Recess for Congress starts next week, and we won't be expecting too much to come out of Washington. But there are a couple of legislative issues looming when Congress returns:

1. Sequestration… Most recently, OMB said military personnel accounts would be spared the budget ax, which ultimately will result in even steeper cuts to other areas of the Pentagon budget. Every Service chief has gone on record to say that the effects of sequestration will be devastating, and AFA urges bipartisan agreement to prevent this clause of the Budget Control Act of 2011 from taking place.  

2. Defense Budget: Earlier this week, Senate subcommittee put forward a Pentagon spending plan for FY13 that would set the base budget at $511 billion and would include $93 billion in OCO funds. Those figures are in line with DOD's budget request.  The bill rejects the Obama administration's proposed TRICARE fee hikes; reverses the Navy's plan to retire nine ships and funds the requested number of Joint Strike Fighters; provides an additional $180 million for efficient production of Air Force C-130Js; and provides $21.5 million to accelerate backup oxygen systems for the F-22 Raptor.

The decisions yet to be made in the coming months will affect how the USAF, and its sister Services, will be able to project US power in the years (and decades) to come. As this month progresses, we hope you lend your voices to the cause, contacting your local congressmen and women to protect the issues important to you and this nation. We will keep you updated with what we are doing here. 

Buck

David T. "Buck" Buckwalter
Acting President
Air Force Association

Guest Blogger: Project Constant Peg

This post was written by John Grainger, a student at the University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill, majoring in "Peace, War, and Defense", and concentrating in the Evolution of Warfare.

Yesterday’s Mitchell Hour featured an intriguing presentation by John T. “Jack” Manclark, former head of Air Force Test and Evaluation. The topic of Mr. Manclark’s presentation was Project Constant Peg, a highly classified, joint Air Force-Navy program that involved performance evaluations of captured Soviet fighters and the subsequent use of those aircraft against American fighters in air-to-air combat training. Project Constant Peg was carried out at the Tonapah Test Range in Nevada from 1979 through 1988 by the 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron. As the commanding officer of the 4477th from 1985 through 1987, Mr. Manclark offered a unique perspective into the history of the black project.

The twenty-six aircraft evaluated by Project Constant Peg consisted of various models of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (NATO: “Fresco”), MiG-21 (NATO: “Fishbed”), and MiG-23 (NATO: “Flogger”). Most of the aircraft evaluated were MiG-21 “Fishbeds” because, as Mr. Manclark explained, “it was the threat that had proliferated the most.” Mr. Manclark also iterated that there was a consensus among the pilots of the 4477th that the MiG-17 “Fresco” and MiG-21 “Fishbed” were excellent airplanes. The MiG-23 “Flogger,” on the other hand “…was a nightmare for us, the guys hated flying it… It was faster than anything we had but we were never comfortable in it.”

After evaluating the Soviet fighters, the Air Force and Navy began weekly rotations of personnel flying American fighters, such as the F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and early versions of the F/A-18 Hornet, to fly combat sorties against the MiGs of the 4477th. The idea behind these rotations was so that Air Force and Navy fighter jockeys would have first-hand experience in fighting against the MiG-17, 21, and 23, instead of just reading about the capabilities of those aircraft. As Mr. Manclark explained, “When you tell a guy don’t slow down with a MiG-21, it’s one thing. But when a guy tells his buddies that he got gunned down by a MiG-21, it’s another.” 

Picture provided by Jack Manclark: "The 4477th with a MiG-21"

In describing how pilots fared against the 4477th and the lessons learned from those engagements, Mr. Manclark stated that, “We were going to beat them up on day one, that was a given. The goal was by the end of the week to have them beat us up…the bottom line was that we gave the guys confidence.” The lessons learned from Project Constant Peg showed the importance of acquiring and evaluating weapons that might be used against us in future conflicts. 

Also check out Air Force Magazine's Daily Report for more: http://www.airforce-magazine.com/Features/security/Pages/box080112constant.aspx