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NEWSLINE

October 2013
In This Issue
Field Ops Update
New National Officers
From the AFA Facebook Page
Veterans Day Ceremony at AF Memorial
Pacific Air and Space Syposium
From the AFA Blog
Field Spotlight
Cyber Patriot VI
October AFA Air Force Breakfast
Mitchell Institute
Jodi Callahan Memorial Scholarship Winner Announced
Ferretti Scholarship Recipient Announced
AFA Establishes New Endowment
Order Airpower Classics


AFA National Report  


 

Leanne Babcock is the first of AFA's Emerging Leaders to be profiled in "AFA National Report." See November's Air Force Magazine, also online at  www.airforcemag.com.


Important Upcoming Dates

21-22 November
Pacific Air and Space Symposium

5 December
Finance Committee and New Board Meeting

6 December
Executive Committee and New Board Meeting

7 December
Executive Committee Meeting

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Quick Links

October Field Operations Update 

By Scott Van Cleef 

 

 

Officer Rosters- 31 October

 

Another reminder that chapter officer rosters are due NLT 31 October. Rosters should be sent directly to [email protected], but you must also send info copies to your state and region presidents. We have a new, user friendly form on the AFA website. You'll find it under Field Leaders/ Library/ forms/ Chapter/State Officer Roster. You must have a current roster on file in order to receive support payments and we need to produce updated chapter, state, and region leader rosters for use by AFA National and Field leaders.

 

Annual Activity and Finance Plans- 31 December

 

The updated 2014 Activity Plan Template is online now. There have been no substantive changes since last year other than the change of date and changing "AFA HQ" to "AFA National." As a reminder, annual activity and finance plans will be due to AFA National NLT 31 Dec. Those will need to be routed through your SP and RP for endorsement so plan ahead. Chapters without updated rosters and annual plans on file after 31 Dec will be considered inactive and will receive no quarterly support payments until those documents are received. Read the instructions ahead of time. Doing them right the first time saves you and everyone else a lot of time and trouble.

 

Region and State Presidents Meeting

 

The annual Region and State Presidents Meeting was held in Arlington, VA on 11-12 October. All our regions were represented and about half the state presidents were on hand for this opportunity to learn, socialize with other Field leaders, and to cross-talk and share information. Our first class of the new Emerging Leaders Program was present and added a lot of value to our discussions. The feedback from all those who attended has been very positive. Chairman of the Board George Muellner opened the meeting and was present throughout. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit our AFA National headquarters building and to hear from and speak with the AFA National staff. Among other things, we got a preview of some really exciting web-based capabilities we'll have available in the coming months. Read aheads and briefings from the meeting are provided on the AFA website. Thanks to the staff for a great event.

 

"Wingman" Magazine

 

Those who attended the National Convention or the RP/SP meeting know we are going to begin publishing a new "Wingman" magazine three times a year which will arrive with your Air Force Magazine. The first issue will come out with the May Almanac addition. "Wingman" is designed to highlight AFA field and membership activities. We want to show what you are doing for AFA, your communities, and for the Air Force. More details will follow elsewhere, but you should be gathering photos and writing articles now to appear in this publication. Without your help, this will not succeed, so we need your input. Take quality, action-oriented photos. Make your submissions to Michael Sirak, at [email protected].  You can also continue to send chapter news to Frances McKenney at [email protected] for the "AFA National Report." 

 

Join the Air Power Advocates (APA)

 

If reduced defense spending, the lack of a Federal budget, sequestration, government shutdowns and threats of the government defaulting on its loans, and 20% of our combat Air Forces not being combat ready this past summer does not get your blood boiling, I don't know what will! The Air Force needs advocates now more than ever. You can do your part, writing letters to the editor, op eds, speaking at civic group functions, or just being a vocal and informed citizen. Join the APA and make a difference. APA can get you smart on the issues at hand so you are comfortable in talking about them with some authority. Call Chet Curtis at 703-247-5850 to get involved. You can do most of this from the comfort of your home office.

 

Membership - Recruiting and Retaining

 

AFA is dipping perilously close to the 100,000 membership level. That's a big deal in Washington where numbers count. We need the Field to step up and recruit new members and retain those we have. For the last two years chapters have recruited about 1000 fewer new members than we routinely did just a couple of years ago. We need to do our share! Sometimes it's just as easy as asking someone to join. Don't hesitate to do so. On the flip side, we also need to keep those members we've got. Have a retention program in your chapter. Check your rosters monthly to see who's membership is about to expire and then make contact. Urge them to renew. Find out why they may not and see what you can do to change their minds. We've got awards established to incentivize chapters to recruit and retain...be a winner!


As always, thanks for serving AFA!
 

Scott
 

Scott Van Cleef

Vice Chairman-Field Operations


    

 

Meet AFA's New National Officers

Each year at Convention, the delegates elect AFA's new National Officers for any positions open that year. This year, AFA held elections for a new National Secretary, two National Directors at Large, and a National Director - Central Area.We are excited to have these new leaders at AFA! Please read more about them below.

National Secretary - Marvin Tooman



Tooman has been an AFA member since 1991 and is a Life Member. During his undergraduate studies, he was a member of the Arnold Air Society. Within AFA, he has served as Gen. Charles A. Horner Chapter President, Iowa State President, and Midwest Region President. Nationally, he previously served as a member of the Field Council, the Membership Committee and the Aerospace Education Council.  Tooman is recipient of the AFA Medal of Merit and Exceptional Service Award and was Midwest Member of the Year 2004. Tooman has served as President and CEO of a regional health care corporation providing rehabilitation services for individuals with brain injury. He served as a volunteer as Secretary and then President of the National Association of Health Facility Survey Agencies. In the Air Force, Tooman served five years on active duty as Electronic Combat Countermeasures Officer on a B-52 and 22 years in the 132nd Fighter Wing, Iowa Air National Guard. Within this unit, he was Chief of Base Administration, Chief of Personnel, Wing Electronic Combat Measures Officer, Chief of Intelligence, and Support Group Commander. Tooman holds a bachelor's and doctoral degree from Drake University and a master's degree from Central Michigan University. He retired as Iowa's Chief Regulator for Health Care.

 

 

National Director At Large - Peter Jones

 

    

 

Jones is a Life Member. In the last 10 years he has served AFA in multiple roles, including manager of the Virginia AFA Hospitality Suite at the National Convention from 2003 to 2008; as Vice President, and later President, of the Donald W. Steele Sr. Memorial Chapter in Northern Virginia; and as VP for Virginia State AFA. He is the Virginia State President. He is in his third year as a member of the AFA Strategic Planning Committee. He was also a member of the Field Council, chaired the e-business subcommittee, and led a Field Council/Aerospace Education Council joint committee, which oversaw all reviews and updates of the AFA Field Operations Guide. He has received numerous Chapter, State, and Region awards, and his national awards include the Medal of Merit, the Exceptional Service Award, and AFA Fellowship for exceptional leadership at the chapter and state level. Jones served on Active Duty for 28 years, including tours in Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, Italy, and CONUS. He retired from the Air Force in 1997 at the end of his assignment at the Defense Information Systems Agency, Washington, D.C. Jones holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Grove City College and a master's in systems management from the University of Southern California. He holds an FAA commercial rating in gliders and a private rating in single engine aircraft. In addition to AFA, he is a member of AFCEA and American Mensa.

 

National Director at Large - David Warner



A Life Member, active since 1980, and son of a chief master sergeant, he grew up Air Force before experiencing his own 30-year career. After being a distinguished graduate from ROTC at Southwest Texas State and being a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard's JFK School of Government, he went on to a career ending as a brigadier general as AFSPC/A6 and retired in 2010. He was responsible for planning/security of network/information systems for the Air Force (AFSPC and USAFE), Joint Forces Command, and in other capacities while leading at the squadron and group level. He was instrumental in integrating the AFSPC cyber mission through stand-up of 24th Air Force, establishing a new AFSC career field and developing Undergraduate Cyber Training. He par-icipated in AFA's second CyberPatriot competition. His strength is in serving and building teams. He serves as CEO of a nonprofit organization, 17,000 strong and growing, of Active Duty, retired military, and family members. He leads 50 paid and 300 volunteer staff across the nation and wherever the US military is located. He regularly travels to major military bases and visits with cadets, junior officers, Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, and families and knows their needs. He serves on the Christian Services Charities board, raising $8 million annually through Combined Federal Campaign activities, and is active in his local church.

  

National Director - Central Area David Dietsch

  

   

 

 

A  Life Member active in AFA since 1992,  he has served as Executive Vice President of the Lubbock Chapter, President of the Fort Worth Chapter, Texas State President, and Texoma Region President. He is Vice President for the state of Texas for Industrial Relations and Government Relations. He co-founded and became the first Chairman of the Board of the AFA Texas Aerospace Education Foundation. Dietsch has served at the national level on the Constitution Committee, Membership Committee, and Nominating Committee. He is on the Field Council. He has been AFA Texas Member of the Year twice and has received the AFA Texas Claire Chennault Patriotism Award. He also received the AFA Medal of Merit and three AFA Exceptional Service Awards. Dietsch served for 27 years in USAF in aircraft maintenance and logistics positions. Following retirement in 1992, he managed the aircraft maintenance contract workforce at two USAF flying training wings. He received a bachelor's degree in American diplomacy and foreign affairs from Miami University in Ohio and a master's degree in public administration from Golden Gate University. He graduated from the resident courses of Squadron Officer School, Armed Forces Staff College, and Air War College and completed the Lockheed Advanced Management Institute and the W. Edwards Deming Quality Management Institute. He serves on the local Salvation Army Management Committee and is a part-time consultant.

From the AFA Facebook Page: AFA Welcomes Emerging Leaders

 

Earlier this month, many of our State and Region Presidents gathered at AFA's headquarter office in Rosslyn, Va. to hear from AFA staff and discuss strategies for the upcoming year. Pictured here are representatives of our new Emerging Leaders Program, an initiative that identifies and develops younger leaders from the chapter level to serve actively in AFA by providing hands-on experience and unique insights into how the Association operates and is governed.

 

 

  AFA's Emerging Leaders pose with the statue of Jimmy Doolittle at AFA

 (From Left to Right: Juan Cruz, Miranda Hernandez, Tyler Johnson, Leanne Babcock, Cristina Lussier, and Tim Tichawa) 

 

AFA and AFSA to Host Veterans Day Ceremony at Air Force Memorial

 

AFA and AFSA will co-host a Veterans Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony at 11 am on Monday, November 11, 2013 at the Air Force Memorial. The guest speaker for the event will be Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff for the USAF. The event is free and open to the public. For directions and more information, visit  www.airforcememorial.org.

 

 

 

Pacific Air and Space Symposium

 

AFA's 2013 Pacific Air & Space Symposium will be held November 21-22, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. This year is sure to be another fantastic event with dialog from Air Force senior management and commanders, the aerospace community, and academia.

 

Confirmed Speakers Include:

  • The Honorable Eric Fanning, Acting Secretary of the Air Force
  • General William Shelton, Commander, Air Force Space Command
  • General Hawk Carlisle, Commander, Pacific Air Forces
  • Lt Gen Ellen Pawlikowski, Commander, Space and Missile System Center
  • Lt Gen Andrew Busch, Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command
  • Dr. Gordon Chang, China Expert
  • "Panel: The Future of Air & Space Operations in the Pacific"
  • "Panel: Rebuilding Military Power in the Pacific"
  • See the full agenda online 

 

 

The Symposium will be held on Thursday, November 21, from 1:00 p.m. - 5:350p.m. and on Friday, November 22 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:40 p.m. The annual Air Force Reception and Ball will be held Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. Since it is important for AFA leaders to have the opportunity to attend the symposium, a special "AFA Leader" registration fee for National Officers, Region Presidents, Directors, State and Chapter Officers and designees has been established. Registration is now open. Please click here for more details.

 

 

If you plan to stay at The Hyatt Century Plaza, the AFA discounted rate is $225 single/double plus tax. To make your hotel reservation, please either book online clicking here or by calling the hotel directly at (888) 421-1442. If you call, please mention you are with the Air Force Association's Pacific Air and Space Symposium to receive the special symposium rate. The deadline to receive these rates is Monday, October 28th following which reservations will be accepted based on hotel availability at the time of request.

 

 

From the AFA Blog: AFA's CyberPatriot Program Receives Support from the Department of Homeland Security

 

 

AFA's CyberPatriot program announced this month a new sponsorship from the Department of Homeland Security at the Cyber Diamond level. With the support of DHS, CyberPatriot will continue its growth as the National Youth Cyber Education Program.

 

"We understand that one of the key security challenges facing leaders now and into the future will be training a robust workforce with the technical skills to protect the nation's infrastructure," said Mr. Robin "Montana" Williams, Branch Chief - Cybersecurity Education & Awareness at US Department of Homeland Security. "DHS is committed to helping students succeed in school, their careers, and in life. With that in mind, we are pleased to provide the assistance to contribute to the excitement and momentum of CyberPatriot as it makes a significant and positive impact on the future of cybersecurity." Click here to continue reading more information from the announcement.

Field Spotlight 

Paul Revere Hosts "Vettes to Vets" Event 

 

This month we are spotlighting the Paul Revere Chapter located in Massachusetts. Recently, the chapter held their Vettes to Vets event at the Bedford VA hospital. In the picture below, Dick Codling (L), VP for Veterans Affairs shows Paul Zauner (R), the new Paul Revere Chapter President the award Dick received from the Department of Veteran Affairs for 10 years of service to American's Veterans through the Vettes to Vets Program. Dick has been hosting Corvette owners at the Bedford VA Hospital who come to honor the veterans at the hospital the last Sunday in September.  This year, over 420 Corvettes were displayed and the Paul revere Chapter fed over 1,000 veterans, their families and Corvette owners at this annual event.  The Chapter would like to express their gratitude for Dick's work with the local veterans and that he will be missed! We would also like to thank the Paul Revere Chapter for all of their hard work and dedication!

 

 

 

CyberPatriot VI  Update           

 

CyberPatriot Increases Team Registrations by Nearly 30%!

 

The CyberPatriot Program Office is pleased to announce that 1,560 teams from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, and DoD schools in Japan, South Korea, Germany, and Italy have signed up for the CyberPatriot VI season! That is more than 400 more teams than the previous season. Thanks to everyone at the AFA Chapter, State, and Region levels for your help in spreading the word about this season's competition. Your hard work has been instrumental in helping draw students to jobs and education in science, technology, engineering, and math.

 

For information on how to stay active with teams in your area, email  [email protected].

 

Round 1 of CyberPatriot VI Begins on November 15th

 

The first scored round in this season's competition will take place the weekend of November 15-17, 2013. Teams will have six consecutive hours total to find and fix vulnerabilities on their multiple images. This will be the least daunting of the rounds, but teams will still need all the support they can get. Contact teams in your area to see if you can provide any assistance to help them advance through the competition. To take on an official role with teams, sign up as a Team Assistant to provide administrative and other non-technical support. The link to sign up is here:   https://www.uscyberpatriot.org/_layouts/cyberpatriot/mentorregistration.aspx  

 

San Antonio CyberPatriot Middle School Program Pilot a Great Success

 

The CyberPatriot Middle School Pilot Program in San Antonio is ending with a three-hour competition to test students' cyber knowledge on October 26, 2013. Competitors will get a chance to prove that they've got what it takes by showing what they've learned about cyber safety, basic cybersecurity, and system administration tips over the last four weeks. Dozens of VIPs will get to watch the students in action throughout the day.

 

The CyberPatriot Middle School program will continue its pilot season in CyberPatriot Centers of Excellence during the 2013-2014 school year before rolling out to schools across the country in the 2014-2015 school year. It is already off to a great start; 68 middle schools have signed up for this season's competition. This incredible number for the first year of middle school eligibility is due in large part to all of our AFA volunteers advocating for our program. Thanks for your support!

 

CP-VI Participant Kits Shipping Soon

 

Participant kits for CyberPatriot VI will include a portfolio-style bag, CP-VI challenge coin, lapel pin, teal pen, USB drive, and participation certificate. They will be shipped out to Coaches for distribution to their Mentors and Competitors in the coming weeks. Students in past competitions have always expressed how much they enjoy these kits and the ability to publicize their participation in the competition. Get teams in your area excited by letting them know that all of this free stuff is coming their way soon!

 

Southern California Students Compete with CyberPatriot Images in Regional Competition

 

Teams from counties surrounding Los Angeles worked on three images during the CyberDay LA competition earlier this month. Participating schools came from the Los Angeles Unified School District and Redlands, Diamond Bar, Mira Mesa, Brea Linda, Henry J Kaiser, and Troy high schools. Twelve LAUSD middle schools also competed. Awards were handed to teams in Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced categories based on their previous participation in CyberPatriot.

 

The Air Force Association's CyberPatriot Program Office would like to recognize Schriever Chapter 147 in Los Angeles for their excellent support, which helped make this event a rousing success.

 

 

USAF Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Speaks at October AFA Air Force Breakfast

 

Dr. Kevin Geiss, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the USAF for Energy, discussed the Air Force's strategies to sustain an assured energy advantage in air, space, and cyberspace at the October installment of the AFA Air Force Breakfast Program. To hear Dr. Geiss's full remarks, listen to the audio from the event on our website:  http://www.afa.org/Events/AFAAFBreakfastProgram/PreviousPrograms.

 

 

AFA's Mitchell Institute Event Features Richard Aboulafia as Guest Speaker

 

AFA's Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies welcomed Richard Aboulafia from the Teal Group as the guest speaker for this month's Mitchell Hour event. Richard Aboulafia is the Vice President of Analysis at Teal Group where he advises companies in the commercial and military aircraft fields on defense and aerospace trends. In this role, Mr. Aboulafia also writes and edits Teal Group's World Military and Civil Aircraft Briefing, a tool that covers over 130 aircraft programs and markets. To listen to the audio from this event and previous Mitchell Hours, visit http://www.afa.org/mitchellinstitute1/Presentations/. Join us for the next Mitchell Hour on November 19th, 2013. For more information, contact Doug Birkey at  [email protected].

AFA Awards the 2013 Capt. Jodi Callahan Memorial Graduate Scholarship

 

AFA is pleased to announce the selection of Air Force Staff Sergeant Rebecca Allard as the recipient of the 2013 Captain Jodi Callahan Memorial Graduate Scholarship.

 

Sergeant Allard is pursuing her Master's of Business Administration at Baker University. Her future plans are to become an ALS instructor. AFA awards the $1,000 Callahan Memorial Scholarship annually to a deserving Air Force active duty, full time Guard, or Reserve Airman pursuing a non-technical master's degree.

 

Click here for more information.  

2013 Ferretti Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Air Force Association announced that Brianna Bowen of Gilmanton Ironworks, New Hampshire, is the recipient of the Lt Col (Ret) Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship. The year, the scholarship provided Ms. Bowen with $5,000 toward continuing her education at Keene State College in Biology and Pre-Med Studies. For more information, read the full press release here.
AFA Establishes New Endowment in Honor of Late Loren and Randy Spencer

The Air Force Association is honored to announce the establishment of a new endowment in honor of the late Loren and Lawona (Randy) Spencer. The new endowment fund will provide grants to United States Air Force Personnel and civilians for graduate-level studies in management and administration for preparation in senior level leadership roles. Read the full press release here.

Order Airpower Classics Today

 

Are you a fan of the Airpower Classics section of Air Force Magazine? A new, coffee-table size, hardbound book captures the vintage aircraft in the Airpower Classics series that readers of Air Force Magazine have enjoyed for the past seven years. The first 60 aircraft from the imaginative series have been collected in this magnificent book-visually stunning and loaded with history and data.

 

The giant 14.5'' x 11.5'' horizontal format showcases the vivid aircraft illustrations created by Air Force Magazine's Zaur Eylanbekov, with supporting text by world-renowned aviation writer Walter J. Boyne. Each listing contains additional historical facts and photos that did not appear in the magazine version. To order, click  https://secure.afa.org/joinafa/bookorder.aspx or call 800-727-3337. Books will be shipped in early December. 

Community Partner "Tip of the Month"

This month's CP tip is about the chapter's responsibility handling community partners. Many problems with community partners not renewing is because of lack of communication. We have entered into the new year of chapter officers, meaning communication is crucial when it comes to programs like CP. We suggest the chapter assign one representative to handle the CP program. They will be the ones in contact with AFA National and the ones that are in charge of renewals for the CPs. When a chapter has too many people working on the program, the "too many hands in the pot" rule comes into play and it is easy to get confused. It is important to make sure that AFA National has updated information on whoever is the chapter contact for Community Partners. That way we can ensure that the renewal forms, plaques and medallions are going to the correct place at all times. We are also happy to assist you with any community partner questions you have at [email protected]. By working together we can continue to improve this important program.

 

Do you have a CP tip that has worked well for your chapter? Please send it to us at [email protected] and we will highlight it in the next Newsline!

 

Community Partner Spotlight

This month we would like to spotlight the McChord Field chapter for their hard work and dedication to the Community Partner program. Bill Striegel and Tommy Carson work closely with the community partners to ensure the chapter's success with the program. Currently the chapter has over 75 Community Partners! The chapter works tirelessly with the companies to make sure he always has updated information, and that the CPs follow through with renewals. They are also constantly thinking of new and innovative ways to get more companies involved. Bill recently visited AFA National and sat down with us to go through his Community Partners to understand the process and to fix any problems. While you may not be able to come in person to AFA National, please feel free to call or email Kirsten Klein if you have any specific issues you would like to discuss! Congratulations to the McChord Field Chapter a winner of the Community Partner Gold Award this year! Community Partners are important on both the national and local level to promote and retain membership in AFA!  

 

Do you have someone you would like to see in our Community Partner Spotlight? Feel free to send the information to  [email protected].

 

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