AFA Announces New Board Chair and Board Members

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Air & Space Forces Association elected Kathleen Ferguson Chair of AFA's Board of Directors. A career Department of the Air Force civil servant, Ferguson will begin her three-year term on Oct. 1.

Ferguson joined AFA in 2015 and is a Life Member of the association. She has been a Board Member for the past three years and previously served as a National Director. Over nearly 35 years as a civilian Air Force staff member, she served in a variety of civil engineering and senior leadership roles, culminating in service as Principal Assistant Secretary for Installations, Energy and Environment. Ferguson now heads the defense consulting practice for The Roosevelt Group in Washington, D.C.

Also joining the Board:

• Dwyer Dennis, National Director at Large. Dennis is a retired Major General in the Air Force and an AFA Life Member. Over more than 35 years in the Air Force, Dwyer commanded at the Wing and Group levels and held senior positions as Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Bombers and PEO for C3I and Networks. He also was the military assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) and Air Force Director for International Programs in the Joint Strike Fighter System Program Office. He is currently Executive Vice President and advisor at DAI, offering strategic guidance to government and industry while mentoring future leaders. As a lifelong AFA member, he revitalized the Space Coast Chapter after retiring from the Air Force.
• Wesley Hallman, National Director at Large. Hallman served 27 years in the Air Force, retiring as a colonel after a tour as Chief Air Force Liaison to the House of Representatives. He commanded at the squadron and group level and held staff roles including roles at Air Forces Central and on the Joint Staff. Since retiring, Hallman has held executive roles at the National Defense Industrial Association, where he is now Executive Vice President and Head of Washington Operations.
• Janelle Stafford, National Director for the Central Area, was reelected to her present role. An AFA member for more than 20 years, Stafford held volunteer roles at AFA including National Director, Region President; State President and Treasurer; and Chapter President, Vice President, and Secretary. In her professional life, Stafford has nearly 25 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry in and around Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. She champions airpower, supports STEM education, promotes family and quality-of-life initiatives vital to recruitment and retention, and is dedicated to honoring veterans and preserving heritage to educate future generations.

"AFA's Board continues to attract members with deep experience, clear vision and a strong passion for service on behalf of Airmen, Guardians, and Families," said Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.), President and CEO of AFA. "Their guidance and leadership will be invaluable as we grow and adapt in a rapidly changing world."

At the 2025 National Convention, delegates approved a resolution expanding the number of National Directors the Chair may appoint from three to five.

Appointed National Directors serve one-year terms and are full voting members of the Board. They are selected by the Chair to bring unique skills and perspectives to the Association. Currently, two of the five seats remain open.

Distinguished leaders serving in these roles include:

• Col. Robert E. Corsi, USAF (Ret.), former Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of Manpower, Personnel and Service
• Tom Deale, Corporate Lead Executive at Northrop Grumman and former Vice Director for Joint Force Development on the Joint Staff, Washington D.C.
• Greg Touhill, Director of the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute's CERT Division and the 1^st Chief Information Security Officer for the Federal Government

For more information on AFA leadership, visit here.

About AFA

The Air & Space Forces Association is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 association dedicated to advocating for investment and support for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, and for supporting Airmen, Guardians, and their Families. Founded in 1946, AFA is the single largest entity of its kind focused on air and space power. With more than 120,000 members and 200 chapters spread around the world, our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect the enduring heritage of the Air and Space Forces.

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SOURCE Air & Space Forces Association