Air & Space Forces Association

AFA’s Lance P. Sijan Chapter hosted the AFA Colorado State Awards Banquet on August 15, 2026, and set the tone well in advance: “This is not intended to be a quiet event! Please cheer loudly for your nominees!” And that’s exactly what happened. The program opened with the announcement of the top three nominees in each military and civilian category as they entered the banquet hall to the sound of cheers and pounding on the tables.

The Air & Space Forces Association Charleston Chapter continues its commitment to serving veterans and the greater South Carolina Lowcountry community through its ongoing partnership with the nonprofit organization Warriors Haven. As part of this partnership, the chapter routinely supports a monthly initiative providing meals to individuals experiencing homelessness, including veterans in need.

The American Rocketry Challenge held its 24th National Finals on May 16, 2026, at Great Meadows in The Plains, Virginia. It is the largest student rocketry competition in the world, with more than 100,000 students competing since its inception. This year 1,107 teams from 44 states and Washington, D.C., took part.

This summer, AFA participated in the Air Force Recruiting Service Educator Tours at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, from July 20–23. The program brings STEM teachers from across the nation to experience U.S. Air Force technical training firsthand. Laurie Orth, president of the GA137 East Georgia Chapter, attended as a teacher from Georgia. She also serves on our AFA Education Council team and is now the lead for the Educators’ Base Visit Program.

Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) community leaders representing the Sam Johnson Chapter, Northeast Texas (416) Chapter, and the Fort Worth Chapter, presented the AFA Texas Military Organization of the Year Award to the Panthers of the 344th Recruiting Squadron at the group’s change of command ceremony on June 9 in Dallas, Texas.

What happens when an educator who is also an AFA chapter president and a passionate STEM advocate steps onto an Air Force base for an immersive recruiting experience? For me, the Air Force Recruiting Service’s Enlisted Accessions Educators Tour at Goodfellow Air Force Base became far more than a visit.

The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) is deepening its collaboration with Air Force Recruiting Service (AFRS) to ensure educators across the nation gain firsthand insight into the missions, training, and career pathways of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.

AFA’s Lance P. Sijan Chapter donated $3,500 toward the standup of AFROTC Detachment 105A at the University of Colorado—Colorado Springs (UCCS). The donation covered the cost of the flags shown for the detachment, to be used for display and ceremonies. Detachment 105A is an operating location of Detachment 105 at the University of Colorado—Boulder. Its standup eliminates the requirement for a three-hour drive weekly from Colorado Springs to Boulder for the UCCS cadets.

AFA’s Charleston Chapter, in collaboration with Warriors Haven and RJ’s Mission Foundation, sponsored two dinners for resident veterans and families of the Charleston Fisher House in South Carolina Lowcountry. The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Fisher House serves as a “home away from home” for families of veterans receiving medical care, providing temporary lodging at no cost while their loved ones are hospitalized.

Dear Congressional Leaders: As you well know, the defense of the U.S. homeland is a primary and foundational priority of the 2025 National Security Strategy and 2026 National Defense Strategy. Fundamental to continuing to achieve this strategic objective is the expedited development and operational deployment of the integrated homeland air and missile defense system called Golden Dome. Congress has allocated over $24 billion for this project.