The Latest from AFA's Government Relations Department

Kristine Robbins, AFA's Director of Government Relations, recently sent out this update on the latest Air Force news from D.C:

SecAF Nomination Held Up
Senator Kelly Ayotte , R-NH, has placed a hold on Air Force Secretary nominee Deborah James, expressing concern over unofficial news the Air Force may be looking to cut the fleet in the FY15 budget.

Ayotte's husband flew the A-10 in Iraq with the Air National Guard, and has said the hold will stand until she gets answers about Air Force planning for the A-10, and what would replace it.

Government Shutdown?

Congress has yet to approve a FY 2014 budget, is running out of time to pass even a continuing resolution, and if it does not, the government will run out of money and "shutdown" at midnight, Sept 30.

DoD employees who are considered vital to national security, public safety, health and welfare would still be called to work — about 1.3 million civilian employees and 1.4 million in the military.

If a shutdown lasts less than two weeks, these folks will still receive their paychecks on time. If it lasts longer, they will continue to work, but will not receive their pay until Congress acts. Furloughed civilians will not necessarily receive back pay for their missed days, as again, Congress would have to agree to do so. Let's remember almost half of the federal workforce has already been forced to take several furlough days this year due to sequestration, and federal employees are also in the third year of a pay freeze.

TDYs not directly in support of essential activities will be cancelled, and PCSs underway will be completed. Education and training will be limited. On bases, TRICARE, inpatient, acute and ER care will continue in medical/dental facilities, but all other services could be limited or closed.Military retiree and survivors benefits are not dependent on regular appropriations, so monthly checks are not affected by a government shutdown. VA Healthcare and other services will also not be affected.

Make Cuts Smartly…
A new report out from the Stimson Center, a nonpartisan think tank, recommends how DoD should cut the $50 billion per year required by current law. Their recommendations fall into three broad categories:

• $22.4 billion in management reforms, (including reforming military retirement and health benefits.)
• $21.4 billion in changes to force structure.
• $5.7 billion in reduced modernization costs.

The authors, among them a former CSAF, two former vice chairmen of the joint chiefs and a former Navy chief, acknowledge none of these recommendations are easily accomplished, but address the difficult choices. This report will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing dialogue on how to deal with fiscal realities. Click here to view the report.

Air Force Association Announces the 2013 Ferretti Scholarship Recipient

The Air Force Association (AFA) today announced Brianna Bowen of Gilmanton Ironworks, New Hampshire, as the 2013 recipient of the Lt Col (Ret) Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship.

This year, the scholarship provided Ms. Bowen with $5,000 towards continuing her education at Keene State College in Biology and Pre-med studies. In high school, she participated in Student Council and was a member of the National Honor Society. Ms. Bowen was also the President of the Prom Committee, Editor of the Yearbook Committee, Manager of the Varsity Soccer team, and a New Hampshire State Scholar. This summer she was accepted into St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program to study Biomedical Ethics for six weeks at a college level.

“We are excited about Ms. Bowen’s academic future and we are honored to be able to help support her educational pursuits,” said Lew Ferretti, executor of the estate of the late Lt Col Romeo Ferretti and Josephine Bass Ferretti. “She continues to be an example of a motivated student who is dedicated to succeeding in a variety of areas. Her commitment to her education makes her a deserving recipient of this scholarship.”

This scholarship is made possible by a remarkable endowment that was established through a bequest of the late Lt Col Ferretti of Bourne, MA, and a personal gift from the late Mrs. Ferretti. The $250,000 endowment from the Ferretti estate, managed by Amy Mowbray and Col Lew Ferretti, USMCR (Ret), makes possible a yearly scholarship to minor dependents of active duty or retired Air Force, Air Force Reserve, or Air National Guard enlisted Airmen with consideration of both merit and need. The first scholarships were distributed in 2007.

“College expenses continue to increase each year, which can deter students from pursuing higher education goals,” said Amy Mowbray. “Ms. Bowen’s enthusiasm for academic growth proves that this scholarship will truly serve as an investment in a bright student’s future.”

The late Lt Col Ferretti and his late wife were long time supporters of AFA and advocates of education. Lt Col Ferretti served in the Air Force for more than 23 years, beginning in World War II with the Army Air Corps where he volunteered for flight training. He went on to fly in the P-61 Black Widow night-fighter. On Easter Sunday in 1945, he was shot down over enemy territory, but was able to parachute to safety and evade capture. After retirement in 1966, he became a stockbroker and financial planner.

Mrs. Ferretti was a secondary and high school teacher and retired after 30 years of teaching. While she and her husband were stationed at MacDill AFB, Florida, she taught Airmen from the base their General Education Degree program requirements as well as other courses. She said the reason for the scholarship fund is for children of Airmen, noting her husband Romeo did not have the money available to attend college and wanted to see more children have that opportunity. Originally from Opelika, Alabama, Mrs. Ferretti and her late husband had called Tampa, Florida, their home.

“The Ferretti Scholarship is one of the many programs that allows AFA to support students as they continue on the path to academic excellence,” said Jerry White, AFA’s Vice Chairman of the Board for Aerospace Education. “AFA genuinely appreciates the great generosity of the Ferretti’s, and their vision for establishing this longstanding support system for our young people.”
For more information on other AFA scholarship programs, visit http://www.afa.org/AFA/InformationFor/Military/Scholarships, or contact Lynette Cross at 703-247-5800 Ext 4807 or LCross@afa.org.

Air Force Community Gathers for Annual AFA Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition

The Air Force Association (AFA) held their annual National Convention on September 14th and 15th prior to the Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition, the convention included 201 registered delegates from 41 state delegations.

In alignment with its mission to educate, advocate and support, AFA approved a Statement of Policy and Top Issues for 2013.

The following National Officers were elected or reelected for one year terms:

• George K. Muellner (Huntington Beach, CA) – second term Chairman of the Board
• Scott P. Van Cleef (Fincastle, VA) – second term Vice Chairman of the Board, Field Operations
• Jerry E. White (Colorado Springs, CO) – second term Vice Chairman of the Board, Aerospace Education
• Marvin L. “Marv” Tooman (Des Moines, IA) – first term National Secretary
• Leonard R. “Len” Vernamonti (Clinton, MS) – fourth term National Treasurer

The following National Directors were elected for three-year terms

• David Dietsch (Arlington, TX) – Central Area Director 
• Peter Jones (Potomac Falls, VA) – Director At-large
• Dave Warner (Colorado Springs, CO) – Director At-large

The following Region Presidents were elected or reelected by the delegates from their region at the Annual Convention for one year terms:

• Gavin “Mac” MacAloon (Central East)
• Wayne Kaufman (Far West)
• Dann Mattiza (Florida - reelected)
• Kent Owsley (Great Lakes - reelected)
• John Daly (Midwest - reelected)
• Ron Adams (New England)
• Jim Simons (North Central - reelected)
• Maxine Rauch (Northeast)
• Mary Mayer (Northwest - reelected)
• Gayle White (Rocky Mountain - reelected)
• Jim Mungenast (South Central)
• John Allen (Southeast - reelected)
• Ross Lampert (Southwest)
• Riq Baldwin (Texoma)

Parliamentarian: Buck Buckwalter
Credentials Committee: Mark Tarpley, Chair, OK; Geri Sutter, TN; Karel Toohey, NM; and Sharon White, CO.
Inspectors of Election: Buck Buckwalter, Chair, TX; George Castle, AZ; and Bush Hanson, SC.

Following the National Convention, AFA held its annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition, which hosted more than 6,000 attendees over the three-day event, 55 speaker sessions, 91 exhibitor booths, and 35,500 square feet of exhibit space.

Speaker highlights from this year’s conference included Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Welsh, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody, many of the MAJCOM commanders, and a number of other active and retired Air Force officials and civilian industry leaders. Topics discussed ranged from the KC-46 and F-35 programs, to defense budget challenges, cyber defense, and more. To listen to the audio from the speaker sessions and to reference speaker slides, visit our conference website at www.afa.org/airspaceconf.

Over 170 people registered to attend AFA’s Spouse and Family Forum, a day-long event that covered a variety of issues facing our military families today. Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Welsh, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody, Lt Gen Darrell Jones plus many other Air Force leaders and their spouses supported the event. Keynote speakers from the event included Mrs. Betty Welsh, Mrs. Athena Cody, Mrs. Holly Petraeus, and author Debbie Fink.

Additionally, AFA rolled out their new Corporate Membership Program on Wednesday, September 18th, to over 200 prospective and current corporate member companies. The new program consists of three tiers of membership for businesses of all sizes, and aims to increase partnerships with companies in order to spread the mission of AFA.

“AFA is proud to bring another successful event to a close and grateful for the opportunity to engage with military, government, and industry members in an effort to spread its mission to educate, advocate, and support on behalf of the United States Air Force,” said George Muellner, AFA Chairman of the Board. “The work we do continues to be valued by the Air Force and reaffirms the need for airpower as a part of a strong national defense. We look forward to continuing our efforts in support of our Airmen and their families.”

“We were also honored to be able to recognize our 2013 Outstanding Airmen of the Year at various points throughout the conference,” said Muellner. “These men and women exemplify the best of the best, and we are proud of their dedication to excellence in service.”
The 2014 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition will be held September 15-17, 2014. For more information on how you can be involved with AFA throughout the year, visit www.afa.org.

“Three Tiers, More Opportunities” - AFA Announces Their New Corporate Membership Program

The Air Force Association is proud to announce a new Corporate Membership program in order to increase partnerships between AFA and companies in support of the Total Air Force Family. This new initiative will offer three levels of membership for large and small businesses that will provide a variety of new benefits for companies and their employees.

Tier 1, the Small Business Program, consists of two levels for companies to qualify, commensurate with their size. In this program, companies receive the benefits of individual AFA memberships, eligibility to exhibit at AFA conferences and symposia, and invitations for one member to attend special events. Tier 2, the Corporate Program, includes the benefits of Tier 1 in addition to eligibility to sponsor AFA programs, a feature profile in Air Force Magazine, logo placement on the AFA website, and the opportunity to distribute company literature at AFA events. Tier 3, the Premium Corporate Program, provides the benefits of Tier 2 plus more visibility opportunities on AFA’s digital outlets, advertising discounts, eligibility to be named Corporate Partner of the Year, and invitations to more exclusive AFA events.

All Corporate Members will receive the Daily Report and AFA updates, as well as first access to reports from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies. Corporate Members will also be listed on AFA’s website and in AFA’s corporate directory, the Air Force Magazine, and AFA’s annual report. For more of a breakdown on the specific details of the benefits provided in each tier, visit the new Corporate Membership website at www.afa.org/CorporateMember.

“This new tier structure offers smaller businesses the opportunity to engage with AFA, attend its events and network with larger prime contractors. Larger non-defense/aerospace companies have a business to consumer interest with AFA, and in addition to events would also enjoy the benefits of being able to engage with our chapters. Our traditional and current members are offered exclusive incentives, enhanced benefits and more opportunities to deepen their partnership with AFA,” said Larry Dilworth, AFA’s Vice President for Development & Marketing. “We look forward to working with an increasingly broader base of companies in support of the United States Air Force.”

The new AFA Corporate Membership Program will kickoff next Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at AFA’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition with a Welcome Session for prospective companies. Welcome Session attendees will attend the conference’s keynote speaker session, tour the exhibit floor, and hear from AFA representatives about the benefits of the new program. 

AFA currently has 109 businesses in its Corporate Member program, with the goal of increasing this number threefold over the next two years. To become an AFA Corporate Member, fill out the secure form online or contact Mary Ellen Dobrowolski, Director of Industry Relations at mdobrowolski@afa.org.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Integration to Speak at Upcoming AFA Air Force Breakfast

The Air Force Association is proud to welcome Mr. Richard W. Lombardi, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Integration, as the guest speaker for the September AFA Air Force Breakfast. The breakfast will be held on Thursday, September 26, 2013, from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

Mr. Lombardi manages the acquisition staff organization charged with planning, managing and analyzing the Air Force's research and development, and acquisition investment budget. In this role, he oversees the integration of research, development, and acquisition budget formulation and execution, and directs streamlined management team activities, including Air Force acquisition reform and reduction in total ownership cost efforts.

In addition, he is a member of the Air Force Board, Air Force Budget Review Group, Defense Acquisition History Team and HQ Resource Allocation Process Integrated Process Team. He serves as Chief of Staff for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and the Program Executive Officer Organization, and is responsible for operations support for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition.

AFA’s Breakfast Program is a monthly series that provides a venue for senior Air Force and Department of Defense leaders to communicate directly with the public and the press. Past speakers include Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Mark A. Welsh, former Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley;; Dr. Jamie M. Morin, Acting Under Secretary of the Air Force; and Dr. Mark T. Maybury, former Chief Scientist of the Air Force.

Please register online at http://afaseptbkfstseries.eventbrite.com/. For additional information, contact Mary Ellen Doborowlski at mdoborowski@afa.org.

The Key Bridge Marriott is located at 1401 Lee Highway Arlington, Virginia 22201.

2013 Air & Space Conference Coverage

Our annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition was a huge success. Many thanks to our attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and the media for participating in this year's event. Below are links to coverage from the event, concluding with a link to our AFA In the News section on our main website.

• AFA President Craig McKinley  Defense News Interview the week before conference
• Monday morning interviews with conference speakers and Outstanding Airmen of the Year on WTOP's Federal News Radio
• "Enlisted Perspective" - CMSAF James A. Cody
• "Future of Joint Force" - Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• "Air Force Update" - General Mark A. Welsh, Chief of Staff of the USAF
• "State of the Air Force" - Acting Secretary of the USAF Eric Fanning 
• Coverage by USAF: http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/AFEvents.aspx

For a full list of media coverage from the event, check out our AFA In the News area on AFA's main website: http://www.afa.org/information/media/afainthenews. Also check out the #ASC13 hashtag on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for posts, and be sure to keep an eye on #ASC14 for next year's event!

It's Not Too Late to Register for Next Week's Air & Space Conference!

It's not too late to register for next week's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition! Hosted by the Air Force Association, this is a one-of-a-kind event that will provide attendees with access to top ranking Air Force officials, the latest in industry developments, and bestselling authors. Join over 6,500 Air Force and defense industry professionals at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on September 16-18, 2013.

Register to attend one, two, or all three days of the conference to experience over 80 exhibitors on our 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, attend any of our 55 conference sessions, and network with colleagues at one of our receptions. Visit our website to register today and avoid the long lines next week at the hotel.

Our speakers will cover a variety of hot topics including updates from the KC-46 and F-35 programs; Long-Range Strike; the nuclear enterprise; cyber; defense budget challenges; and a look at international affairs with China, Russia, and the Middle East. Speaker highlights include:

• Acting Secretary of the Air Force, The Honorable Eric Fanning
• Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral James Winnefeld
• Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Mark Welsh
• Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, James A. Cody
• Annual Four Star Forum with the CSAF and many of the MAJCOM Commanders

The full conference agenda can be found here. AFA will also be hosting a Spouse and Family Forum on Monday, September 16, which will feature a full day of speakers, panels, resources, and discussions on issues facing Air Force families today. This event is free and open to the public, and we encourage anyone interested to registeronline in advance.

Official Air Force participation has been approved for the conference. All military members on Active Duty and DoD civilian personnel can attend the conference free of charge. Additionally, the exhibit hall is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Free shuttles sponsored by Northrop Grumman, are available from the Pentagon, JB Andrews, JB Anacostia-Bolling and the King Street Metro stop.

Go Social! AFA is proud to announce the launch of our new conference app for your mobile devices. Visitwww.afa.org/Conf2013Mobile to access the app. Join the conversation with Air & Space Conference speakers, exhibitors, and attendees by using our hashtag#ASC13!

Conference Approval Statement:
"Official Air Force participation in the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2013, National Harbor, Maryland, has been approved IAW the most recent AF Sequester Guidance and the 12 Dec 12 Conference Policy Guidance.
Centralized TDY funding will be made available for winners of a limited number of awards and appointed council members. POC for centralized funding is Mr. Doug Benskin, SAF/AARA, Comm 703-695-3254, DSN 225-3254. Travel orders (using centralized funding) must be entered into DTS NLT 31 Aug 2013. Invited speakers and other individual attendees may participate in a funded TDY status only if local funding is determined to be available and appropriate; local travel approval authorities must determine whether individual participation at AF expense is mission critical IAW AF Sequestration Guidance.

For general questions about AF funded participation, call Lt Col Heather Meyer, SAF/AA, Comm 703-693-9503, DSN 223-9503."

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Blogger

Go Mobile with AFA's New Conference App!

The Air Force Association is proud to announce the launch of a new mobile application for the upcoming 2013 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition. This mobile app will provide event attendees, speakers, and exhibitors with easy access to the agenda, speaker bios, an exhibit floor map, and links to social media channels.

The mobile app will also send out alert notifications to announce changes and new information as they become available throughout the conference. The easiest way to access the app on your mobile device is by visiting www.afa.org/Conf2013Mobile. From there, you will be able to bookmark the page, or download it as a shortcut on your smartphone’s home screen.

A mobile app help desk will be available across from AFA’s registration desk on Monday, September 16^th, and Tuesday, September 17^th. The Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Mobile App was made possible through the generous support of The Boeing Company.

The Air & Space Conference will be held September 16-18, 2013, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, just across the river from Alexandria and minutes from downtown Washington, DC. Hear the latest updates on the Air Force and aerospace community in our 55 conference sessions; see over 80 exhibitors in our 50,000 square feet of exhibit space and network with colleagues at one of our many receptions.

Official Air Force participation has been approved for the conference. All military members on Active Duty and DoD civilian personnel are invited to attend the conference free of charge. Additionally, the exhibit hall is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Free shuttles sponsored by Northrop Grumman, are available from the Pentagon, JB Andrews, JB Anacostia-Bolling and the King Street Metro stop. Register now online and visit the Air & Space Conference website for more information.