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 President -- Significant Op-ed

Yesterday, in the Washington Times (and the Early Bird), there appeared the most significant op-ed of my time as President of the Air Force Association.

It was written by two former Secretaries of the Air Force -- F. Whitten Peters and Michael W. Wynne.

In the piece, they describe the state of the Air Force. A quote to interest you:

“The Air Force has arrived at a make-or-break moment. The past 10 years have seen the service's share of the defense budget decline to record lows - hovering around 20 percent of the total - while 90 percent of the fiscal 2013 defense budget cuts were levied on the Air Force. In fact, the 2013 budget marks the fewest number of Air Force aircraft purchased in a given year since 1916, when the aviation section of the Army Signal Corps was buying Curtiss JN4 Jenny biplanes. The country actually managed to buy more aircraft in the midst of the Great Depression than it will next year. The Air Force faces a 100-year replacement rate for its fleet.

Resetting the U.S. Air Force will require investment - and it must be both substantial and stable over the coming years. While this is a tall order in our current budget climate, Air Force air power affords our leaders a broad range of critical policy options. Failing to recognize this - and make needed investments now - would be a choice the nation can't afford over the long run.”

You can find the piece on our website at: http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2012/wanted-New_planes.asp

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn

President/CEO

Air Force Association

"The only thing more expensive than a first-rate Air Force is … a second-rate Air Force." -- Senate staff member

Dr. Geiss Speaks at Air Force Breakfast Series during Energy Awareness Month

Dr. Geiss speaks to a crowd of military,
media and industry professionals,
at the Crystal City Marriott

"Energy is a critical topic for the Air Force," said Dr. Kevin T. Geiss, a member of the Senior Executive Service and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Geiss was the guest speaker for AFA's Air Force Breakfast Series this month,  which is also nationally observed as Energy Awareness Month!

Dr. Geiss is responsible for providing oversight and direction for all matters pertaining to the formulation, review and execution of plans, policies, programs and budgets for the effective and efficient use of energy to support the global Air Force mission.

Awareness is great, he said, but the aim is to "move the Air Force and move the nation to action" in energy efficiency. Their initiatives include improving resiliency (ability to easily recover if access to conventional energy sources are ever compromised); reducing demand for energy (reducing cargo, coordinating missions with allies, improving resource management, etc.); assuring supply (landfill gas is being used by Hill AFB to produce electricity); and fostering an energy aware culture.

The Air Force is making excellent progress toward satisfying federal energy mandates. Since 2003, the Air Force has reduced energy use nearly 15 percent, water consumption 11 percent, and more than six percent of all electricity is obtained from renewable sources. And today, 99% of Air Force aircraft is fitted for synthetic fuels. 

Listen to the full presentation here:

http://www.afa.org/CorpMembers/Breakfast_10-26-11_Geiss.asp 

AF Breakfast Series Now Audiotaped!

The Air Force Breakfast Series had a great first session of the new year with Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley as the guest speaker. It was our biggest audience yet! Speaking to a crowd of nearly 100 reporters, military members and industry professionals, Secretary Donley commented on statements made last week by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on the department’s budget, efficiencies and priorities.

AFA is trying something new this year with the Air Force Breakfast series, now providing an audio recording of the event. Click here to hear the January session.

AFA Exchanges Coast for Global Warfare Symposium

Later this week, AFA is hosting the 2010 Global Warfare Symposium on the West Coast in Los Angeles, CA.

The two-day symposium will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, located approximately 15 miles outside of Los Angeles AFB, home of the Space and Missile Systems Center and the 61st Air Base Group. For a list of the Symposium Agenda, go to http://www.afa.org/events/NatlSymp/2010/GWS2010_Agenda.asp.

But our unique symposium will center on the global role of the Air Force in the world today and will cover topics ranging from the nuclear enterprise, cyberspace, expeditionary forces and space. This November symposium, accompanied with the Air Force Ball, is a special part of AFA’s heritage and provides an opportunity to share ideas with highly skilled aerospace and Air Force professionals.

We have invited multiple speakers from the Air Force, defense-related industry, and government. As always, our national symposiums attract the top echelon of USAF senior management and commanders, the aerospace community and academia.

A list of featured speakers with their bios can be found here.

AFA President on Fox News

In case you missed it, AFA President Mike Dunn discussed the North Korean launch on Fox News.



You can watch it here.