AFA Celebrates 67th Birthday

Today, the Air Force Association celebrates its 67th birthday. With more than 200 chapters and over 105,000 members worldwide, we remain committed to promoting a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense.

 

 

AFA is rooted in the legacy of General Billy Mitchell, grown from the efforts of airpower pioneers like Generals Hap Arnold and Jimmy Doolittle, and upheld by the men and women who believe in and support the role of airpower in defending our country and supporting allies.

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 airpower. By February 4, 1946, AFA was incorporated in Washington, DC, with Jimmy Doolittle as the first national president. 

 Since then, AFA has spanned the age of airpower, the missile era, the conquest of space, the nuclear age, the post-Cold War period and the advent of cyberspace. Our position as the force behind of the Force is one we carry honorably and take seriously as we have, for 67 years, consistently worked to strengthen American aerospace power to help maintain national security, protect and support allies, partners and friends, and encourage peace throughout the globe. As we once again find our current state shadowed by global threats, hostile nations, proliferation of terrorism, budget instabilities and fiscal constraints, we must dig deeper and work harder to help tell the Air Force story, of the courage and sacrifice of our Airmen, of the necessity and vitality of their missions, and of the ambition and innovation in their visions.

Throughout the past 67 years, the AFA mission hasn’t strayed. We are still committed to educating the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security; advocating for aerospace power and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education; and supporting the total Air Force family, and promote aerospace education.

So thank you all for the 67 years of continued support – we look forward to the great work we all can do together in the many years to come!