Airlift/Tanker Association
| Type | Not for profit |
| Founded | July 1969 |
| Headquarters | Chattanooga, TN |
| Membership | Individuals and companies |
| Field | Education and advocacy |
| Board of Directors | Chairman - Gen Duncan J. McNabb, USAF (Ret) President - CMSgt Michael R. Kerver, USAF (Ret) Senior VP - Lt Gen Vern M. Findley, USAF (Ret) VP Programs - Ms. Patti G. Cost, DAFC, (Ret) VP Industry - Col Cary M. Walgamott, USAF (Ret) Secretary - Col Michael D. Cassidy, USAF (Ret) Treasurer - Col John J. Murphy, Jr., USAF (Ret) |
| Website | [1] |
The Airlift/Tanker Association is a Section 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing a forum for ensuring that American military forces continue to have the air mobility capability required to implement U. S. national security strategy. The Association is international in scope, with members and chapters throughout the world. Membership includes active duty, guard, reserve and retired military personnel, both officers and enlisted, as well as civilian and industry supporters of the air mobility mission. Membership is open to anyone who wishes to join.
Association benefits and programs include a quarterly magazine, annual national conventions, educational programs, seminars and symposiums, college grants and scholarships, awards, and heritage programs that recognize outstanding contributors to air mobility, both past and present.
Mission[edit]
- Provide an organization through which men and women may unite to fulfill the responsibilities imposed on modern society by aerospace technology:
- Recognize the services rendered by industry, military, civilian and government personnel to air mobility activities in which the United States and its Allies have been or may become engaged.
- Promote scientific and academic research regarding the continuing development of our nation’s air mobility capabilities.
- Conduct and sponsor speaking engagements, seminars, symposiums, conventions, and public forums that will further the development of all aspects of air mobility and community relations.
- Encourage young men and women to participate in air mobility activities and related aerospace functions.
- Support the achievement of continued education and air mobility activities through the tuition grant and scholarship programs.
History[edit]
The Association began in 1968 as a gathering of Vietnam War airlift veterans. Former members of the 834th Air Division in Vietnam held their first reunion in Las Vegas, Nevada the following year. The “Founding Members” responsible for this reunion were Gen. William G. Moore, Maj. Gen. Tom Sadler, Maj. Gen Jim Baginiski, Brig. Gen. Mal Hooker, Col. Ken Chatfield, Col. Bill Bailey, Col. Bob Ellington, Col. Jim Maturo, Lt. Col. Hank Van Gieson and Mr. C.W. Scott. [1] During the reunion these Founding Members decided to continue to get together on an annual basis and to conduct educational programs at each reunion with the help of volunteers with no designated board of directors.
At the 1975 reunion in New Orleans, attending members voted to incorporate the association as a nonprofit entity. Among the stated goals of the Association was the sponsoring of seminars and symposiums on the advancement of airlift. Thus was formally formed The Airlift Association, Inc., with its management under an elected Board of Officers. In 1978, based on guidance from the chairman of the board, Lt. Gen. Bob Coverdale, USAF (Retired), the Airlift Association began publishing a newsletter (Airlifter) and began holding elections of officers at the annual reunion.
When the Air Force reorganized in 1992, Air Mobility Command (AMC) gained responsibility for airlift and air refueling forces, including aeromedical and air rescue aircraft. To reflect this change in AMC's mission, the organization changed its name to the Airlift/Tanker Association and changed the Airlifter magazine’s name to Airlift/Tanker Quarterly (A/TQ).
Coordination between the then AMC commander, Gen. Ron Fogleman and the Association, resulted in the A/TA adding a full-fledged symposium with a total of 36 professional seminars to its convention schedule in 1993, plus expanding the industry exhibition hall with a primary goal of increasing the knowledge and awareness of members in subjects important to air mobility airmen. These seminars are split with AMC presenting 18 and the Association responsible for the remainder. Over the years the Association has been pleased to have had several luminaries as keynote speakers. These include the Secretary of the Air Force[2], Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force[3], and Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force[4][5] in addition to representatives from the U.S. Army and U.S. Marines and AMC commanders.[6]
The organization now has over over 3,000 members plus 56 Industry Partners (as of February 2018).
Organization[edit]
The A/TA is governed by a Board of Officers. The board consists of the following positions: Chairman, President, Senior Vice President, Vice President - Programs, Vice President - Industry, Secretary, and Treasurer. Chapters are the Association’s life-blood. They are of particular importance to local organization’s leadership in that they provide an avenue to enhance the mobility mission outside normal operational channels.[7][8][9] Similarly, Chapters provide a forum from which members can “lead from below,” often greatly affecting the course of mobility operations.[10] The A/TA is proud to have the 45 chapters from around the globe.[11]
Programs[edit]
A/TA maintains a number of awards programs to recognize, honor and support our community. These awards, along with the Air Mobility Command regulation (if appropriate), include:
- Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame Award: Identifies and recognizes an outstanding Airlift/Tanker individual or group whose sustained legacy of achievement distinguished themselves in outstanding performance to the Air Mobility mission.[12]
- General P. K. Carlton Valor Award: (AMCI 36-2806) Identifies and recognizes an outstanding airlift or tanker aircrew or aircrew member for valor.[13]
- General Dutch Huyser Award Outstanding Aircrew Member Award: (AMCI 36-2806) Identifies and recognizes an outstanding pilot, navigator, flight engineer, loadmaster, boom operator, flight attendant, and mission specialist for sustained excellence in airmanship.</ref>[14]
- A/TA Young Leadership Award: (AMCI 36-2808) Identifies and recognizes 12 outstanding individuals who will likely become future leaders within the Air Mobility community.[15]
- Specialized Mission Award: (AMCI 36-2806) Identifies and recognizes an outstanding individual whose performance of duties in support of an aerial air mobility mission is exceptionally noteworthy during crises, contingencies, or humanitarian airlift. This award is presented to career fields not covered by the General Dutch Huyser award categories.[16]
- Halvorsen Award: Identifies and recognizes an outstanding Air Transportation (AFSC 2T2XX) individual for sustained excellence in aerial port operations.[17]
- United States Air Force Academy Core Values Trophy: Identifies and recognizes the United States Air Force Academy USAFA Cadet squadron that best exemplifies the USAF core values of integrity, service and excellence during the past year.
- Ronald R. Folgelman Award: Identifies and recognizes the top Advanced Studies of Air Mobility graduate.[18]
- James E Sherrard III Award: Identifies and recognizes the most outstanding Air Force Reserve Wing or group that distinguishes itself in the performance and support of the Mobility Air Forces mission.[19]
- Stanley F. H. Newman Award: Identifies and recognizes the most outstanding ANG wing/group contributing to overall success of the Mobility Air Forces mission.[20]
- Key Spouse Award: (AMCI 36-2808) To recognize the critical role key spouses play in the wing/unit/organization’s mission success.[21]
- President’s Award: Identifies and recognizes A/TA member-volunteers who contribute immeasurably to the overall success of the Airlift/Tanker Association. All non-elected, non-paid A/TA members are eligible. Awardees are selected by the President through recommendations from the A/TA elected board and approved by the A/TA Chairman.
- Global Reach Award sponsored by A/TA and administered by Air War College) – Designed to recognize excellence in research and writing at the graduate level in the area of Global Mobility. Award entries are selected from the Air War College Professional Studies Paper program and are nominated to the awards committee by the authors’ research advisors.
Enlisted Education Grant[edit]
The Airlift/Tanker Association offers $400.00 Education Grants to deserving enlisted personnel who are members of the Association. Education Grants are available to Air Force Active Duty, Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve members pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees.
A/TA Hall of Fame[edit]
The Associations greatest honor is to recognize individuals or groups that have played uniquely important roles supporting air mobility. Inductees are honored with a bust at the Scott AFB Mobility Memorial Park located at Scott Air Force Base IL.
Hall of Fame Inductees:
- 2018 - General Walter Kross
- 2017 – Major General Paul Williams[22]
- 2016 – Sir Alan Cobham [23]
- 2015 – The C-17A Pathfinder Loadmasters
- 2014 – Colonel Earl B. Young, USAF (Ret)
- 2013 – General Ronald Fogleman, USAF (Ret)
- 2012 – Staff Sergeant William H. Pitsenbarger, USAF
- 2011 – General Thomas M. Ryan Jr., USAF (Ret)
- 2009 – The Pioneers of Aerial Refueling
- 2008 – Major General Robert B. Patterson, USAF (Ret)
- 2007 – The Aeromedical Evacuation Legacy Team
- 2006 – General Duane H. Cassidy, USAF (Ret)
- 2005 – Maj Gen James I. Baginski, USAF (Ret)
- 2003 – Mr. John F. Shea
- 2002 – General Carl A. Spaatz (Tooey)
- 2001 – Master Sergeant Roy W. Hooe
- 2000 – Maj. Gen. Winston P. Wilson
- 1999 – Colonel Gail Halvorsen, USAF (Ret)
- 1998 – Sgt. John L. Levitow
- 1997 – Colonel Joe M. Jackson
- 1997 – General William G. Moore
- 1996 – Nancy Harkness Love
- 1995 – Lt. Gen. Joseph Smith
- 1994 – Gen. Robert E. Huyser "Dutch"
- 1993 – Lt. Gen. Ira C. Eaker
- 1992 – Maj. Gen. Cyrus Rowlett Smith "CR"
- 1991 – Lt. Gen. Harold L. George
- 1990 – Mr. Donald Wills Douglas Sr.
- 1990 – Gen. Laurence S. Kuter
- 1989 – Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner
References[edit]
- ↑ "Oral history of ATA. Talk by Col Bob Ellington USAF,Ret".
- ↑ "Under Secretary of the Air Force speech 2017 A/TA convention". Air Mobility Command.
- ↑ "VIce Chief Addresses A/TA Convention". A/TA.
- ↑ "CMSAF speech A/TA 2017 convention". Belleville News Democrat.
- ↑ "CMSAF Speech 2017 A/TA convention". Air Combat Command News.
- ↑ "AMC/CC speech 2017 A/TA convention". Air Force News.
- ↑ "Halvorsen Chapter Helps Special Olympics". Spandahlem Air Base News. Air Force News.
- ↑ Wade, SSgt Stephenie. "A/TA awards Airmen's impact to mobility mission". MyBaseGuide.
- ↑ Creel, Amanda. "Robins A/TA Chapter Works To Stay Viable". Air Force News. 78 ABW/PA.
- ↑ "A/TA Leadership Luncheon". Air Force News.
- ↑ "A/TA Chapter Listing".
- ↑ "Hall of Fame Inductee Major General Paul L. Williams" (PDF). Airlift/Tanker Quarterly. Vol. 25 (Issue 4): Page 27. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "General P. K. Carlton Award for Valor Winner" (PDF). Airlift/Tanker Quarterly. Vol. 25 (Issue 4): Page 47. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "General Robert E. "Dutch" Huyser Award Winners" (PDF). Airlift/Tanker Quarterly. Vol 25 (Issue 4): Pages 42-44. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "A/TA Young Leadership Award Winners" (PDF). Airlift/Tanker Quarterly. Vol. 25 (Issue 4): 34–39. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "A/TA Specialized Mission Award Winner" (PDF). Airlift/Tanker Quarterly. Vol 25 (Issue 4): Page 51. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "A/TA Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen Award Winner" (PDF). Airlift Tanker Quarterly. Vol. 25 (Issue 4): Page 48. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "A/TA General Ronald Fogleman ASAM Award Winner" (PDF). Airlift/Tanker Quarterly. Vol 25 (Issue 4): Page 52. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "A/TA LtGen James E. Sherrard III Award (AFRC) Winner" (PDF). Airlift/'Tanker Quarterly. Vol 25 (Issue 4): Page 56. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "A/TA MajGen Stanley F. H. Newman Award (ANG) Winner" (PDF). Airlift/Tanker Quarterly. Vol 25 (Issue 4): Page 58. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "A/TA Key Spouse of the Year Award Winner" (PDF). Airlift/Tanker Quarterly. Vol 25 (Issue 4): Page 55. Fall 2017.
- ↑ "Hall of Fame Inductee Major General Paul L. Williams" (PDF). Airlift/Tanker Quarterly (Vol 25, No. 4, Fall 2017, Pg. 27). Airlift/Tanker Association.
- ↑ "Sir Alan Cobham Bust Dedication". Belleville News Democrat.
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