Defender

Highlights of the Quarter

• Alamo Chapter loses a giant 
• Combat Breakfast and CAM Week 
• AFA National Convention recap
• $1K Family Scholarships Awarded 
• President's Column:  Talking Strategy

News

Alamo Chapter loses a giant

In Memoriam...Dr. Kaye H. Biggar, PhD.

Longtime AFA Alamo Chapter member Dr. Kaye H. Biggar (Lt. Col. USAF, Ret.) passed away on August 7, 2011, following a lengthy battle with cancer.  Biggar was born in Spokane, Wash. in 1932, and retired as a senior Air Force officer after nearly 28 years on active duty.  Randy Coggins, president of Alamo Chapter, presented a citation to Biggar on July 7, 2011, in recognition of his dedication to the principles of Aerospace Education.  The Alamo Chapter and the Aerospace Education Foundation of the chapter established the Dr. Kaye H. biggar, PhD. Cyber Patriot Award in honor of Biggar.  "Dr. Biggar's vision was instrumental in creating the competition that we know today as Cyber Patriot," said Coggins.  Coggins explained that this competition stimulates the minds of our youth in pursuit of excellence in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and lays the foundation for lasting improvements in the education of young Americans and the security and prosperity of all Americans.  "Dr. Biggar's tireless efforts and commitment to establishing a legacy for STEM advancement through the Cyber Patriot program reflects great credit upon the Alamo Chapter, the Air Force Association, the United States Air Force and our great nation,"  Coggins added.  The award will be presented annually in recognition of the top high school team from San Antonio in the Cyber Patriot competition.

Bill Croom, friend, fellow former Air Force officer and distinguished Alamo Chapter member delivers the eulogy to Kaye Biggar during his funeral at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on Aug. 11, 2011. Croom said Kaye Biggar had a positive impact on AFA for almost three decades.  "Though he concentrated his efforts at the local and state levels, I was well aware of how he strengthened AFA goals writ large long before moving back to San Antonio in 2001,"  Croom reflected.  "Once here, I quickly learned that answering a phone call from Kaye invariably meant accepting a task to once again improve AFA.  He was a visionary who epitomized 'service before self.'  The AFA, and especially Alamo Chapter #234, will not be the same without Kaye; all who knew him will truly miss him,"  Croom said.  Biggar was buried with full military honors.  (Photo by Douglas Nelson)

In Memoriam...Phyllis Croom

On Sept. 10, 2011, Alamo Chapter AFA lost one of its beloved life members -- Phyllis Croom, wife of Bill Croom, National Director Emeritus and past National Secretary.  Phyllis was a staunch AFA supporter and an outstanding role model for all.  Her lasting contributions to Alamo Chapter and AFA will long be remembered.  The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the University of Texas-Health Science Center Transplant Unit, San Antonio, Texas www.transplant.uthscsa.edu or to Air Force Association Aerospace Education programs, Arlington, Va. www.afa.org/AFA_donation_form.

Chapter News

Alamo AFA Combat Breakfast and Celebrate America's Military Week

Alamo Chapter AFA will host the annual Combat Breakfast on Nov. 8, 2011, at the Kendrick Club on Randolph AFB at 7 a.m.  Members of the Air Force Recruiting Service, led by Master Sgt. Kelley Walsh, have volunteered to coordinate and execute the details of the Combat Breakfast again this year. 

The breakfast is one of many events sponsored by the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce to honor America's military from Oct. 28 to Nov. 13, 2011.  This event honors our Wounded Warriors and is a tribute to our men and women in uniform serving around the world. 

Tickets for the breakfast are $10.50.  When the online ticket registration is turned on, you will be able to purchase online at www.alamoafa.org using the Combat Breakfast link.

Celebrate America's Military Week Activities

AFA Fall Executive Committee Meeting coming up

The AFA Texas Fall Executive Committee Meeting will be held at the Ramada Inn in Del Rio, Oct. 28-30. All events (except the golf on Friday and Spouse Tour on Saturday) will be held at the hotel.  All documents are on the AFA Texas website home page at www.texasafa.org. Complete the registration form and send your check to the Del Rio Chapter AFA as indicated on the form NLT Oct. 11.  If you have any questions, please contact Larry Martwig, Del Rio Chapter President at

lmartwig@stx.rr.com or 830-775-1168.  

AFA Exposition planned for January 12-13, 2012

Contact Trina Johnson at tjohnson@mc-2.com. The AETC dinner on Friday, Jan. 13

is a highlight you don't want to miss.  For more information on the Exposition and Symposium, visit the website:  https://www.aetcsymposium.com/symposium_2012/index.html.  The 2011 Symposium brought in more than 3,500 attendees and the 2012 event is expected to exceed those numbers.  The two-day event will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.  This year's Symposium emcee will be Lt. Gen. John D. Hopper, Jr. (USAF, Ret.), former AETC vice commander.  Invited keynote luncheon speakers for the two-day Symposium are Joe Robles, president and CEO of USAA and Gen. Ray Johns, commander of Air Mobility Command.

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2011 AFA National Convention Recap

The AFA National Convention was held on Sept. 17-18, 2011, at the Gaylord National Hotel, National Harbor, Md.  Delegates from across the nation, Texas AFA and Alamo Chapter, led by President Randy Coggins, attended this annual event to conduct the business of AFA. 

Two Alamo Chapter members were elected to the AFA Board of Directors -- Ed Garland will be the new National Secretary of the Board and Don Taylor will serve as National Director At-Large.  Congratulations to both of these gentlemen.  We know they will serve all AFA members well. 

AFA National recognized the U.S. Air Force's finest enlisted members - the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.  A detailed article on these 12 Airmen is located in the September edition of Air Force Magazine.  Particularly special to Alamo Chapter are two of our local Airmen, Tech. Sgt. Ricardo A. Chavez, military training instructor, 433rd Training Squadron, 433rd Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve Command) Lackland AFB, Texas, and Senior Master Sgt. Kathleen M. McCool, superintendent, Recruiter Screening Team, Air Force Recruiting Service (Air Education and Training Command), Randolph AFB, Texas.  Congratulations to Tech. Sgt. Chavez and Senior Master Sgt. McCool...Well Done!

AFA National also recognizes the outstanding contributions of members at the local chapter level.  Recipients of the Medal of Merit Award were Dave Pope and Douglas Nelson.  Randy Coggins was awarded the Exceptional Service Award.

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AFA TEXAS SUMMER CONVENTION A SUCCESS

Alamo Chapter hosted the AFA Texas Summer Convention at the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites, Fredericksburg, Texas, on July 22-24, 2011.  Special guest, Justin Faiferlick, National Vice Chairman of the Board Field Operations, from Iowa, updated delegates on field operations and initiatives at the national level, as well as AFA National Convention initiatives and activities.  Silver Wings National President Jenny Stuckenschneider and Vice President Erin Thomas who are both attending Texas A&M also attended and gave an overview briefing on the key aspects of Silver Wings, its structure, examples of its activities and how Silver Wings and AFA support each other.

New 2011-2012 officers were elected for AFA Texas:  President, Bill Lawson of Fort Worth; Executive Vice President, Gary Copsey of Alamo; Executive Secretary, Joan Lopez of Alamo; Treasurer, Bob Gehbauer from Seidel; Area VP North, Ricky Williams of Northeast Texas; and Area VP South, Larry Martwig of Del Rio. 

During the evening dinner, Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Mark Ediger, command of the Air Force Medical Operations Agency at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, briefed attendees on the future plans of the medical facilities in San Antonio and other medical issues within the Department of Defense.  The Earle North Parker Essay winner, Brandon Bear, was presented his first place award and he read his winning essay.  the AFA Texas Teacher of the year, Darren Carrollo, briefed attendees on his educational programs to get students interested in aerospace disciplines.  The 2011 AFA Texas Award Winners were announced:

NAME/AWARD/CHAPTER

1st Lt. Joseph M. Misch/Active Duty Company Grade Officer/Alamo

Senior Master Sgt. Kathleen M. McCool/Active Duty Senior NCO/Alamo

Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ferrell/Active Duty NCO/Donnelly

Senior Airman Jose Guevara-Cortez/Active Duty Airman/Alamo

Joseph Gonzales/Active Duty Civilian/Alamo

Capt. Charles DeLongchamp/AFRC Company Grade Officer/Fort Worth

Master Sgt. Mary Staffeld/AFRC Senior NCO/Fort Worth

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Gibson/AFRC NCO/Fort Worth

Airman Ivana Leininger/AFRC Airman/Alamo

Robert Millan/AFRC Civilian/Alamo

Master Sgt. Emery King/ANG Senior NCO/Austin

Staff Sgt. Harold T. Hunter/ANG NCO/Fort Worth

Senior Airman Stephanie Orgil/ANG Airman/Alamo

Steven W. Tallant/ANG Civilian/Alamo

Alamo/Chapter of the Year

Tammy W. Bryant/Member of the Year/Northeast Texas

Darren Carollo/Teacher of the Year/Seidel

John Shroyer/Benjamin Foulois First Flight/Alamo

Marsha Krotky/Gen. Claire Chennault Patriotism/Northeast Texas

Triumph Aerostructures/Civilian Organization of the Year/Fort Worth

254th Combat Communications Group/Military Organization of the Year/Seidel

Alamo/Gen. John D. Ryan Membership, greater than 400

Donnelly/Gen. John D. Ryan Membership, less than 400

Northeast Texas/Community Partner Membership, greater than 400

Donnelly/Community Partner Membership, less than 400

CyberPatriot Sign-up

It's not too late to sign up teams for the Service Division (ROTC and Civil Air Patrol) of CyberPatriot even though the first practice round is past.  All training can be accomplished on a standard Windows or Linux machine.

Sign-up is still open for the Open Division (regular high school students) although the practice round is being conducted Oct. 3-7.

More mentors are needed and you don't need any cyber knowledge, just an interest in helping high school students learn how to defend computer networks.  Actually the coaches, mentors and students are all learning cyber together. 

Please go to http://alamoafa.org/ to learn about CyberPatriot.  Our country needs all the CyberPatriots it can get!

Registration ends Oct. 8

All Service Division (ROTC and Civil Air Patrol):

-  Practice Round - Sept. 12-17

-  Round 1 - Oct. 28-29

-  Round 2 - Dec. 2-3

-  Round 3 - Jan. 13-14

Open Division (regular high school students):

-  Practice Round - Oct. 3-7

-  Round 1 - Nov. 4-5

-  Round 2 - Dec. 16-17

-  Round 3 - Jan. 27-28

National Finals Competition:  March 22-23 in National Harbor, Maryland

According to Alamo Chapter member Douglas Nelson, the recent CyberPatriot training was a great success.  Nelson said 49 people showed up to learn about cyber security.  "There was a great mix of coaches, mentors and students," said Nelson.  "And much credit goes to Tom Rogers for putting the training together and to Digital Defense, Inc. for being a great host," Nelson added. 

Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC), Alamo Chapter relationship continues

With the recent departure of his hard working lead representative, Major Ryan Richardson, Maj. Gen. A.J. Stewart, AFPC commander, appointed three new representatives to the Alamo Chapter:

Major-select Josh Rockhill, Staff Sgt. Michael Anderson and Ms. Elizabeth Helmkamp.  All three bring experience and enthusiasm to not only help our chapter, but also grow AFA awareness among the amost 2,600 officer, enlisted and civilian Airmen working at AFPC.  Gen. Stewart articulated that point in his memo to Alamo Chapter President Randy Coggins:  "Representatives from all three categories of Airman on the Alamo Chapter board will allow us to better reach our members.  Major-select Rockhill, Staff Sgt. Anderson and Ms. Helmkamp will be great contributors to your organization and have my complete support." 

Josh, Mike and Liz have already hit the gound running by attending chapter meetings and planning AFPC participation in the Annual Awards Banquet.  We look forward to working with them in the future!

Chapter Events

Quick Calendar of Events

• Alamo AFA Executive Committee Meeting - Oct. 11
• AFA Texas Fall Executive Committee Meeting, Oct. 28-30 
• AirFest at Randolph AFB, Oct. 29-30
• Combat Breakfast, Randolph AFB - Nov. 8
• Alamo AFA Executive Committee Meeting - Nov. 8
• Spirit of America Dinner - Nov. 9
• Veterans Day Ceremony, Fort Sam Houston - Nov. 11 
• Parade/Wreath Laying, Alamo Plaza - Nov. 12

Link to the online calendar

President's Column...

Talking Strategy

To accomplish this, we: Educate the public on the critical need for unmatached aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security; advocate for aerospace power and STEM education; support the Total Air Force family and promote aerospace education. 

While the Alamo Annual Activity Plan will focus on 2012, our strategic planning session will look out three years (2012-2014).  A key consideration will be to develop a sound financial plan that will support the objectives of Alamo Chapter's Aerospace Education Foundation, activities supporting our local San Antonio military community and Alamo Chapter internal programs that support and strengthen our membership goals.

Our goal is to make Alamo Chapter the best we can be and relevant to those we support--the Air Force Association and our great U.S. Air Force.

Alamo Chapter AFA Community Partners

We wish to thank our Community Partners who continue to support the AFA
and make our programs possible...
We could not do it without you!
For information on our community partner program and how to join, see our
website at www.alamoafa.org. Our VP for Community Partners is Paul Weseloh.

Alamo Chapter Air Force Association

P.O. Box 34261
San Antonio, TX 78265-4261

www.alamoafa.org