Air Force Association / Mel Harmon Chapter #128

AFA Mission

Our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support our Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect our enduring Heritage.

To accomplish this, we:

EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unrivaled aerospace power and promote aerospace and STEM education for a technically superior and professional workforce to ensure national security;
ADVOCATE and promote aerospace power to favorably shape policy and resourcing decisions to guarantee the strongest aerospace forces in the world;
SUPPORT Airmen, Guardians, and the families of the Total Air Force and Space Force, including Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, civilians, families, and members of the Civil Air Patrol.
AFA Vision

The Air Force Association will be the premier professional military and aerospace education association in the nation, dedicated to United States dominance in air, space, and cyberspace, a strong national defense, and support for the people who serve the United States Air Force and United States Space Force.

Our History

When the United States entered World War I, it was the eighth-ranked nation in airpower. As other forces prioritized the impact of airpower, the U.S. Air Service drastically cut 6,000 of its 10,000 pilots in just nine days back in 1919. This did not sit well with Army General Billy Mitchell. He fought long and hard for the importance of airpower and the need for a strong national defense.

Today, we know Mitchell as the father of the United States Air Force. After his passing in 1936, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, the commander of World War II Army Forces, succeeded Mitchell as the leading voice for airpower. Nearly a decade later, General Arnold’s advocacy for an independent civilian organization was incorporated as the Air Force Association. Our first national president was noted aviation pioneer and Medal of Honor recipient, General Jimmy Doolittle, who spent AFA’s inaugural year establishing chapters across the country. While we have evolved over the decades to uphold the military’s standards, national security and the preservation of world peace has remained our core focus for members.

Our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support our Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect our enduring Heritage.

To accomplish this, we:

EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unrivaled aerospace power and promote aerospace and STEM education for a technically superior and professional workforce to ensure national security;
ADVOCATE and promote aerospace power to favorably shape policy and resourcing decisions to guarantee the strongest aerospace forces in the world;
SUPPORT Airmen, Guardians, and the families of the Total Air Force and Space Force, including Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, civilians, families, and members of the Civil Air Patrol.
AFA Vision

The Air Force Association will be the premier professional military and aerospace education association in the nation, dedicated to United States dominance in air, space, and cyberspace, a strong national defense, and support for the people who serve the United States Air Force and United States Space Force.

Our History

When the United States entered World War I, it was the eighth-ranked nation in airpower. As other forces prioritized the impact of airpower, the U.S. Air Service drastically cut 6,000 of its 10,000 pilots in just nine days back in 1919. This did not sit well with Army General Billy Mitchell. He fought long and hard for the importance of airpower and the need for a strong national defense.

Today, we know Mitchell as the father of the United States Air Force. After his passing in 1936, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, the commander of World War II Army Forces, succeeded Mitchell as the leading voice for airpower. Nearly a decade later, General Arnold’s advocacy for an independent civilian organization was incorporated as the Air Force Association. Our first national president was noted aviation pioneer and Medal of Honor recipient, General Jimmy Doolittle, who spent AFA’s inaugural year establishing chapters across the country. While we have evolved over the decades to uphold the military’s standards, national security and the preservation of world peace has remained our core focus for members.

AFA's involvement with PWAM/PHAS:

Pueblo is the home of AFA Mel Harmon / Chapter 128 who is one of four chapters in the Colorado State AFA organization.  The current Mel Harmon Chapter President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer are members of the Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society.  A previous Vice President, current curator, and current docent and events manager of the PHAS are members of the Mel Harmon AFA Chapter. The Air Museum’s STEM Lab, Space/NASA display, and the Tuskegee Airmen display are actually AFA created, developed and managed displays.  AFA / PHAS members provide tour support for these parts of the Air Museum. The Mel Harmon AFA chapter holds its monthly meetings at the museum. Beginning in 2017, the Mel Harmon AFA chapter and PHAS hold a joint Christmas members banquet.  The Mel Harmon chapter also allocated money to fund school visits. When PHAS is contacted by a school organization that needs help with tour costs, they contact the AFA to coordinate AFA funding.