Your AAAA National Executive Group, plus Executive Director, Mr. Bill Harris, have just returned from the annual Aviation Leaders Conference at Fort Novosel, AL.

Many thanks to our great Branch Chief, MG Clair Gill, for including the Aviation ‘Gray Beard’ cohort in this really impactful gathering of our Army Aviation leadership teams from all components and organizations. It truly is an invaluable opportunity to engage with our Army and Aviation leaders to understand the current state of the Branch, and importantly the vision for the future. AAAA exists to support the Army Aviation Soldier and family, and the broader Army Aviation community, and it is vital to understand the Branch’s activities, initiatives, and challenges so we can best shape your Association’s efforts, events, and advocacy on behalf of Army Aviation.

Another important feature of the Leaders Conference is the Annual Awards Dinner conducted at the Army Aviation Museum… a timely opportunity to present AAAA “Functional” awards to our outstanding and deserving Aviation Soldiers in the areas of Air Traffic Control, Medicine, Air Sea Rescue and Training, done in conjunction with the LTG Ellis D. Parker ‘Organizational’ awards presented by the Branch Chief. We featured the AAAA Functional award winners in the January issue and will feature the Parker awards in the March issue. It is always such an honor and pleasure to meet and visit with the awardees and their families the evening before the Annual Awards Dinner, at a private awardee dinner we host each year at AAAA Past President BG Rod Wolfe’s country club in Enterprise. There is no doubt that the strength of our Army and Army Aviation is embodied in those soldiers and their families!

Of note, the week prior to the Aviation Conference, our Executive Director and Deputy Director, Bill Harris and Art Agnew, hosted a joint dinner meeting for the boards of the Central Florida Chapter of Orlando (and thanks to our AAAA Vice President for Chapter Activities, Jan Drabczuk) and the Embry Riddle Chapter of Daytona Beach, FL. Bill and Art report out that it was a dynamic discussion ranging from the ROTC Cadets view of recruiting challenges among their peers to emphasis on the “Sacred Trust” between the Aviation Branch and the Troops on the ground. The meeting featured a diverse breadth of experience and perspectives – from combat veterans to ROTC Cadets, civilian industry executives representing aviation simulation and AI capabilities and even a couple of Marines thrown in for good measure. Many actions fell out of the meeting, and we look forward to using these two Chapters (that represent differing demographics) as a sounding board for AAAA initiatives going forward.

Finally, hopefully by now you have made your plans to join us at the AAAA Annual Summit May 14 -16, 2025 at the Gaylord Opryland, Nashville TN. Currently, registrations, exhibit sales, and all other metrics are at really strong levels. The agenda and program(s) are being finalized with our Aviation Branch leadership, and it is certainly shaping up to be another world-class Summit. See you there!

MG Walt Davis, U.S. Army Retired
36th President, AAAA
walt.davis@quad-a.org

From all of us at the AAAA Global Headquarters, we hope you all have had a wonderful Holiday Season… time with family and loved ones. And especially during this time, our thoughts and prayers are with our men and women in uniform who are deployed and engaged around the globe in support of our Nation’s vital mission.

I’m pleased to report that we had a very successful Cribbins Readiness Conferrence in Huntsville, AL beginning on Veterans Day in November. The professional programs and sessions were incisive and impactful, and we thank the entire Aviation General Officer Steering Committee (GOSC) for their presence, participation and support for the forum’s entirety.

Our Industry partner support and participation, as always, was incredibly strong and invaluable to the realization of our Networking and Voice pillars. Please take a look at page 74 for a complete wrap up and especially the coverage of our incredible AAAA awardees. A real highlight was the AAAA Murder Mystery Dinner hosted by our AAAA Scholarship Foundation… what a tremendous evening (the Roaring Twenties Speakeasy theme was taken seriously by your AAAA National Executive Group… you determine whether you believe your Association has adequate leadership after viewing the group picture!) where over $95,000 was donated in support of our signature Recognition and Support program. And in that spirit, I want to highlight Chapter President, COL (Ret.) Ron Lukow’s AAAA Washington Potomac Chapter Annual Scholarship Fund Raising Formal held in late November. What an incredible evening; one that truly showcases the programs and activities of our chapters, which are the backbone, and indicative of the strength, of our great Association. I was privileged to attend, and witness first-hand the impact that our incredible scholarship program has on the lives and future success of the recipients.

Not to be left out, our Voice pillar was firmly addressed over the last month. Our very own AAAA Executive Director, Mr. Bill Harris (the epitome of persistence), was able to meet with our Army Aviation Caucus Co-Chair, the Honorable Rosa DeLauro (D CT-3) in her office in Washington, D. C. on Thursday November 14, 2024. During the meeting with her staff the course was set for the next year with the selection of the Honorable Dale Strong, (R AL-5) as her Republican co-chair, and the next meeting projected to take place in the first quarter of CY 25. There is still some work to do to get additional members of Congress to join the Caucus in the new Congress next year. If you have a Congressman in your district that may be interested due to a connection to Army Aviation through personal experience, having an installation in their area, or related industry please send your suggestions in to Bill at bill@quad-a.org who will forward to the co-chairs for action.

Finally, on behalf of the Association, I’d like to welcome back LTC (Ret.) Kevin Cochie who will transition back to serve as the Chairman, Legislative Affairs Committee and the Association’s Legislative Liaison. We can’t thank LTC (Ret.) Josh Baker enough for all of the work he has done in that role for the past several years… very much appreciate his passion and edication in support of our Association.

As we look forward to 2025, we hope to see you at one of our events – the Luther Jones Depot Symposium has shifted to February 11-12 and of course our AAAA Annual Summit on May 14-16. Thanks to all our members for a really great 2024!!!

Above the Best!

MG Walt Davis, U.S. Army Retired
36th President, AAAA
walt.davis@quad-a.org

Welcome to 2025… a quarter of the way through the 21st century! From all of us at AAAA, we hope you all had a fantastic Holiday season with your family and loved ones.

By the time you read this, the AAAA National Executive Group, along with our Executive Director Bill Harris, will have attended the Aviation Senior Leaders Forum at Fort Novosel. We are always so grateful to our Branch Chiefs, now MG Clair Gill, for including the Aviation ‘Graybeards’ in this incredibly comprehensive and inciteful conference for the senior leaders and command teams of the Total Army Aviation Force. It provides our Association with an understanding and appreciation for the priorities and challenges of our Branch across the entirety of the Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel and Facilities spectrum. Additionally, we are honored each year to be part of the annual Ellis D. Parker and AAAA National functional awards dinner, including the presentation of the Trainer of the Year, Air-Sea Rescue, multiple Air Traffic Control Awards, and Flight Medic of the Year awards.

I’d like to reiterate that I’ve had the great privilege and honor of presenting the Gold Order of St. Michael to one of our foremost Aviation Leaders as she retired in November, GEN Laura Richardson. She joins GEN Doug Brown, GEN Dick Cody, and recently retired GEN Dan Hokanson as powerful voices indeed for our Army Aviation Branch, and we look forward to being able to leverage and engage this ‘Star Power’ to strengthen our Association in support of our Aviation soldiers and families.

Also, as you read this, our new Administration and Congress will be seated in Washington D.C. As I mentioned last month, we expect the Army Aviation Caucus to be organized and functioning in the first quarter (thank you Mr. Bill Harris and Mr. Josh Baker for your efforts at energizing this outcome!). There is certainly a lot to educate the Caucus on, and we look forward to significant engagements over this year on your behalf.

I’d also like to report that both the Luther G. Jones Army Aviation Depot Forum February 11-12 in Corpus Christi, TX and especially the Annual Summit May 14-16 in Nashville, TN are shaping up nicely. The Summit is just about sold out of exhibit space and is on track for our most robust attendance ever. We are literally running at over twice the pre-registrations we had at the same time out from the last time we were in Nashville in 2023. Notably, Craig Morgan will be our entertainment at the closing Soldier Appreciation Dinner Concert this year. A Soldier himself, Craig does a fantastic show. Check out the AAAA website for the latest details. With our U.S. Army Chief of Staff, GEN Randy George keynoting the Summit, we really look forward to a very dynamic event and robust discussions about what our great Aviation Force contributes to the Army and Joint Force.

Above the Best!

MG Walt Davis, U.S. Army Retired
36th President, AAAA
walt.davis@quad-a.org

It is great to continue the rhythm of events and activities that showcase Army Aviation’s essential capabilities, and your Association’s contribution to enabling the pillars of Networking, Voice, Recognition and Support for our Army Aviation soldiers and families.

On November 7, I had the privilege and honor to represent the Association at the U.S. Southern Command Change of Command and retirement ceremony for GEN Laura Richardson and induct her into the Gold Order of Saint Michael in recognition of her incredible accomplishments, service, and support to our Army, Joint Force, and the Army Aviation Community.

The event served as a reminder of how fortunate we are to now have five retired Aviation four- star generals (GEN Doug Brown, GEN Dick Cody, GEN Dan Hokanson, and GEN Jim McConville) that have been incredibly impactful and supportive of our Army Aviation family and Association. Additionally, I was honored to attend the retirement ceremony of CW5 Wade Ziegler, the 6th Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Army Special Operations Aviation Command and present him with the Gold Order of Saint Michael in recognition of his more than 32 years of dedicated service and accomplishments in support of our Army, Army Aviation, and the Army Special Operations community. What an incredible Army Aviation force we have!

Let me transition and speak about our AAAA Senior Executive Associates. Conceived over two decades ago by GEN Crosby E. ‘Butch’ Saint and Brig. Gen. Harry Bendorf, USAF (who at that time headed our AAAA Strategic Planning Committee), this is the group of our retired, non-Aviation Flag Officers, who volunteer their time to help generate understanding of Army Aviation capabilities, priorities, and challenges outside of the Army Aviation community.

The Associates come together twice annually to meet with the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Army Aviation General Officer Steering Committee led by our Branch Chief, MG Clair Gill… with our most recent meeting occurring on the heels of the Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting and Exhibition in mid-October. Our Senior Executive Associates perspective from the ‘Big Army’ point of view, as former Division, Corp, and Army Commanders, is simply invaluable. Under the leadership of the Chairman, GEN J.D. Thurman, Generals Dan Allyn, J.C. Campbell, Dave Perkins, Gus Perna, and Steve Townsend, along with Lieutenant Generals Dave Halverson, Mike Oates, Jim Pasquarette, Roger Schultz and Frank Wiercinski, work very effectively to ensure Army Aviation’s value is understood. We can’t thank them enough for their volunteer efforts in support of the Army Aviation Community and our Army Aviation soldiers and families.

By the time you read this we will have completed our second largest gathering of the year. The AAAA Cribbins Readiness Conference is always a signature event as we gather in Huntsville, AL to present and discuss all things acquisition and sustainment, in the context of being able to fight tonight and prepare for future operations with all the new emerging technology before us. Exciting times for sure as we meet the challenge of gaining effectiveness and advantage in protection, lethality, and supportability through the integration of uncrewed aircraft systems, launched effects, the modular open systems approach, and the realization of the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft.

Finally, if you haven’t already…please make sure to sign up and join us for the AAAA Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit, May 14-16, 2025, in Nashville.

From all of us at the AAAA Global Headquarters, we hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Thanks for all you do in support of Army Aviation!

Above the Best!

MG Walt Davis, U.S. Army Retired
36th President, AAAA
walt.davis@quad-a.org

It is great to be back into the rhythm of the events that showcase Army Aviation’s essential capabilities, and your Association’s contribution to enabling the pillars of Networking, Voice, Recognition and Support.

First was the Association of the United States Army Hot Topic on Aviation, which occurred in early September at AUSA Headquarters in Arlington VA. Bill Harris, our Executive Director, and I were invited to participate in this important event; I was honored to chair the opening panel on “Army Aviation in the Air-Ground Littoral of 2040,” while Bill introduced all the day’s speakers and panels. Our Branch Chief MG Clair Gill, BG Cain Baker, our Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team director, BG David Phillips, Program Executive Officer Aviation, GEN JD Thurman, Ret. (our AAAA Senior Executive Associates Chair), and COL Tom Von Eschenbach, Ret., Senior Vice President for Air and Space Systems, Parry Labs, were exceptional in their articulation of the criticality of Army Aviation capabilities and their contributions to the future fight. Our Branch is simply in great hands with not only our incredible Aviation General Officer Steering Group leaders, but also with our exceptional Industry Partner leaders that are so committed to the Branch.

At the end of September, we hosted the AAAA Army Aviation Survivability Forum in Huntsville. It was a dynamic event with great questions being raised for the speakers and panel from the many Aviation Mission Survivability Officers (AMSO) in attendance. A huge thanks to COL Brock Zimmerman, Project Manager Aircraft Survivability Equipment, and our Program Executive Officer for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, BG Ed Barker, whose support ensured the attendance and participation of unit AMSOs from all components for both the classified and unclassified Forum sessions. Industry feedback was also critical and reinforced how your AAAA is a vital enabler and platform for lateral discussions among the entire Aviation community to explore solutions that have a real-world impact for our force.

As always, a key highlight of the Forum was the recognition of our outstanding awardees both on stage and at the Awardee Dinner the night before the presentations. We are so fortunate to have these great Soldiers in our formations. See page 44 for photos and a more detailed wrap up of the event.

Finally, we will have held our Senior Executive Associates Dinner which occurs after the conclusion of the Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting and Conference, in mid-October. This is the group of our retired, non-Aviation Flag Officers, who volunteer their time to help generate understanding of Army Aviation capabilities, priorities, and challenges outside of the Army Aviation community. We were fortunate indeed to have had Army Chief of Staff, GEN Randy George and the Aviation General Officer Steering Committee (A-GOSC) join us again this year at that dinner.

In support of our AAAA Support pillar, remember that the Scholarship Foundation’s application process is now open. See the website for application process details quad-a.org/scholarship.  This incredible program grants over $600,000 each year to our Soldiers and Families for higher education. It is certainly one of our greatest AAAA membership benefits.

And remember, the Cribbins Readiness Conference is coming up in Huntsville, AL, in November and the Luther G. Jones Army Aviation Depot Forum in December in Corpus Christi, TX. We hope to see you there!

MG Walt Davis, U.S. Army Retired
36th President, AAAA
walt.davis@quad-a.org

Welcome to our annual Army Aviation “Blue Book” Directory issue that provides all of our members with an enormously broad perspective across the entire Army Aviation Enterprise. I know many look forward to this ‘one of a kind’ issue, as it serves as an invaluable resource of information about our Total Aviation force structure and personnel.

I’ll begin by informing you all that I had the privilege of representing our Association at several events recognizing and honoring our Aviation and Joint Force leaders. First, I thank our immediate past Branch Chief, MG Mac McCurry, for two great years working together with AAAA to make sure we were doing our best to support the Branch priorities and initiatives through our AAAA forums and activities. He and Sadie have been outstanding, and we look forward to their continued success at Army Futures Command. We are blessed as a force to have MG Clair Gill, our new Branch Chief, setting the path ahead; we look forward to working closely with him and his team at Fort Novosel to ensure AAAA is synchronized in our support of the Branch. Next, a huge thank you to MG Tom O’Connor, the now former AMCOM Commanding General, who has transitioned to become Director of Force Development for the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8. MG O’Connor has always been an ardent supporter of our Association and his commitment to our Mission is second to none. We are so grateful to have MG Lori Robinson taking the AMCOM reins and look forward to working with her and the AMCOM team in support of their sustainment and readiness mission. And finally, to another outstanding advocate and supporter of AAAA and our most senior Army Aviator, GEN Dan Hokanson, now the former Chief of the National Guard Bureau, was honored twice for his incredible lifetime of service at retirement ceremonies at Fort Myer and in Medford, Oregon (where he served many years as the Oregon Adjutant General). All three were inducted into the Gold Order of St. Michael!

By the time you read this, AAAA will already be well into our busy season of events. Starting with the Army Aviation Survivability Forum that ran from September 15-17 in Huntsville, AL; followed by the Cribbins Readiness Conference, November 11-13 back in Huntsville, AL; the Luther G. Jones Army Aviation Depot Forum, December 10-11 in Corpus Christi, TX; and of course the upcoming annual AAAA Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit, May 14-16, 2025 in Nashville, TN.

I have been asked from time to time, why does AAAA do all this? As you can imagine there is a ton of work with all the logistics, planning, and execution involved in all of them. And, with the exception of the big Annual Summit, the other events barely break even or sometimes even run at a loss especially post COVID with huge increases in hotel, food, and audio-visual charges. So again, why do we do all this?

The answer is in our Mission Statement, “AAAA: Supporting the U.S. Army Aviation Soldier and Family.” These events go back long before COVID. The Cribbins event dates from the 1970s, and Survivability from the 1980s are two examples. They along with the Summit that began in 1959 were and are what today we now call “Networking” opportunities for the whole community to gather around a particular subject like Depot Maintenance in the Luther Jones case or the entire spectrum of Army Aviation in the case of the Summit.

What these other smaller events have yielded are significant real-world impacts to our war-fighting Soldiers ranging from improved ballistic protection, to proliferation of unique equipment from the Special Operations world to Big Army, to making sure that Depot capabilities are understood by our major units in the field, and lessons learned in classified sessions for our government and industry partners at the Survivability Forum. You can’t measure the lives saved and successful operations that these events have contributed to, but believe me, they are real.

Together with “Networking,” the other three pillars that support our Mission Statement are Recognition, Voice, and Support. Each of these are also on display at every one of these events especially the “Recognition” pillar with our AAAA Awardees featured at each event from the UAS Soldier of the Year, to Air-Sea Rescue and Fixed Wing Unit awards.

You simply cannot beat the benefits of face-to-face engagements with your peers, Army Aviation leadership, and Industry Partners as we all work together to keep Army Aviation at the tip of the spear of our nation’s Land Warfare capability.

MG Walt Davis, U.S. Army Retired
36th President, AAAA
walt.davis@quad-a.org

In May or June after the Summit each year, the National Executive Group gathers at the Connecticut AAAA National Office to review and assess our organization’s posture and status, and to discuss and chart the next couple of years activities and initiatives.

The NEG consists of four elected officers: me as president, MG (Ret.) Wally Golden as senior vice president, BG (Ret.) Tim Edens as treasurer and MG (Ret.) Todd Royar as secretary. It also includes our two appointed vice presidents – CW4 (Ret.) Becki Chambers, VP for membership, and LTC (Ret.) Jan Drabczuk, VP for chapters.

This year after Becki and Jan briefed membership and chapter programs and initiatives, the four elected officers focused on the review and assessment of the AAAA national business model. Specifically, we reviewed the membership dues structure (which has not changed since 1998, in either corporate or individual member dues), AAAA national event topics, and our event/forum registration policies and fees for both exhibitors and individuals.

The good news is that the AAAA is in the strongest position it has ever been in terms of membership (which is at an all-time high of over 21,000) and fiscal position (currently have net assets financially at a record level). That said, questioning what our future organizational vulnerabilities could be, and discussing what efforts and programs were required to ensure we ‘survive and thrive’ organizationally, help bound our focus and energy during the review.

First, although our Annual Summit has grown substantially over the years, the inflation in vendor costs, especially since COVID, has outpaced our increased exhibit sales. Our smaller events (Aviation Survivability, Luther Jones, and Cribbins) are losing money; the positive Annual Summit net revenue each year is what solely underwrites all the other shortfalls in membership dues and smaller-event net revenues.

The vulnerability here is that if we must cancel another Summit (or two… as occurred during COVID), we have to ensure our Emergency Fund is robust enough to sustain the organization for two straight years, without any Summit income/revenue. We are currently at $4.6M on the way to the ceiling of $7.01M in the Emergency Fund that will be required to meet the two-year self-sustaining goal. And yes, we do in fact still have event cancellation Insurance (those policies yielded over $6M in total to AAAA for the cancelled 2020 and 2021 Summits), but now those policies going forward specifically exclude any ‘pandemic’ coverage, which is no longer available to any organization.

In a comparative analysis, we assessed like/similar military organizations and associations to determine how AAAA fit and compared; it did not take much to figure out that even just considering inflation since 1998, we had some further work and analysis to do. We certainly don’t have all the answers yet but are working them… and we will propose a plan to the full National Executive Board at the November meeting in Huntsville. Likewise, we assessed where we stood regarding exhibitor fees and policies, and we will be recommending some changes there as well.

Although we are enjoying record-setting metrics now, our assessment is that we have to pivot from our financial dependance on one positive revenue event, the AAAA Annual Summit. We must ensure that our great organization is protected long into the future, and to continue to provide world class support to you all, our Army Aviation Soldiers and Families, no matter what.

MG Walt Davis, U.S. Army Retired
36th President, AAAA

HAWAII, UNITED STATES
Courtesy Story
U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs Office

PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, KAUAI, HAWAII – 3d Multi-Domain Task Force (3d MDTF), partnered with 1st MDTF, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (25th CAB), and the 5th Surface to Ship Field Artillery Regiment of the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces (JGSDF) Western Army participated in a sinking exercise (SINKEX) from July 11-12, 2024, as part of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 exercise.

3d MDTF and the JGSDF provided tactical command and control of land-based fires during the SINKEX from a bilateral fire support coordination center (BFSCC) while 1st MDTF provided High Mobility Army Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers. The JGSDF participated with Type 12 Surface to Ship missiles (SSM).

The combined joint live fire also integrated AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from 25th CAB. In addition to U.S. Army and JGSDF ground based fires assets, joint and partner Air Force and Navy platforms, to include ships and aircraft, also delivered synchronized effects during the SINKEX. The SINKEX showcased the continuing development of combined and joint interoperability.

“Our network of partners and allies is an asymmetric advantage over rivals. Working side by side with our JGSDF counterparts during RIMPAC strengthens our interoperability, allows us to share best practices, and improves how we operate,” said COL Michael Rose, 3d MDTF Commander. “We both possess complementary capabilities and this exercise allowed us to integrate our assets together in support of the combined joint force during the SINKEX. Interoperability with our Japanese allies is a force multiplier.”

3d MDTF and the JGSDF conducted combined planning and rehearsals from the BFSCC the week prior to the SINKEX which provided the opportunity to deepen the relationship between the two units and to conduct detailed integrated planning. During execution, personnel within the BFSCC worked side by side to conduct targeting and fires delivery.

In addition to increasing combined and joint interoperability, RIMPAC also provided avenue to advance the interchangeability between MDTF’s. While 3d MDTF led the planning and executed the tactical command and control for the SINKEX, 1st MDTF provided the HIMARS launchers and crews. The scalable and tailorable design of MDTFs lends itself to the exchange of capabilities between units based on mission requirements.

Rose highlighted this ability stating, “1st and 3d MDTFs work closely together in training and throughout the Indo-Pacific during Operation Pathways events. RIMPAC gave us the opportunity to integrate assets to support the Combined, Joint Force in a realistic training environment.”

Exercises such as RIMPAC provide MDTFs the ability to contribute to the combined joint force in the INDOPACIFIC.

The theme of RIMPAC 2024 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.” To promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, RIMPAC is the world’s largest joint and combined maritime exercise, utilizing and preserving a world class training environment. With inclusivity at its core, RIMPAC fosters joint and multi-national cooperation and trust, leverages interoperability, and achieves respective national objectives to strengthen integrated and prepared coalition partners. “RIMPAC is a premier venue to showcase the Army’s landpower contribution to the Joint Force,” said Rose.

UNITED KINGDOM
Story by 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

When his parents named him Tydal Wave Sugar, they had to know he was destined to make a splash. Now, a UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief serving with the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Spc. Tydal Sugar is part of a select group of 12th Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers taking part in the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, United Kingdom, July 22-26, 2024.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to go to the U.K.,” said Sugar, a Clearwater, Florida, native. “I was so excited. You can ask my pilots; for the past two weeks, I’ve been preparing the aircraft to come out here and look good and represent the 12th CAB.”

The FIA is one of the largest trade shows in Europe and focuses on space, defense, sustainability, innovation, future flight, and workforce development. This year, the FIA comprises more than 1,200 exhibitors from more than 40 countries worldwide. Attendance is expected to exceed 70,000 from more than 100 countries, including an expected 250 civil, military, and space delegations, along with more than 1,000 accredited media outlets.

For Sugar, this event is a chance to talk about what he loves: his Black Hawk.

“It’s a really neat experience,” he said. “I love talking about the Black Hawk. I can talk about it for hours.”

Already, Sugar has had the opportunity to talk to delegations from around the world and even showed off his Black Hawk to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.

“The reception from everyone has been that they really love it,” said Sugar. “We let them take pictures in the cockpit and cabin. It’s been nothing but smiles.”

Watching this junior Soldier interact with senior civilian and military leaders has been inspiring for the pilots working alongside Sugar during the FIA.

“He has represented the crew and 12th CAB very well,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Yllander, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot. “He is our senior crew chief, so he is a wealth of knowledge. He’s been able to answer any questions the delegates have had.”

Yllander said that before the event, Sugar took charge of preparing the aircraft and equipment for the crew’s trip from Germany, where they are stationed, to the U.K.

“He is in charge of what happens in the back of the aircraft through and through,” said Yllander. “Getting troops on and off the aircraft is our bread and butter, and he does it without any issues. He knows the most about what happens in the back of the aircraft, where we make our money.”

For Sugar, the FIA is just one of many opportunities that 12th the CAB has provided to travel the world and share his love of Army aviation.

“Since I’ve been in the 12th CAB, they have allowed me to go to so many places,” said Sugar. “I’ve been to Scotland, Ghana, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, and just really all around Europe. I’m forever grateful for it.”

As Sugar travels the world, he is reminded that he follows in the footsteps of great service members before him, including his grandparents, his father, and an uncle currently serving in the U.S. Space Force. Through his service, Sugar now has the chance to carve his path and follow his dreams.

“I really wanted to join the military to broaden my horizons and travel the world to see what there is to see,” he said. “I always loved helicopters and the feeling of flight. Being up in the air is just insane to me. I love aviation as a whole, but the stuff you can do in helicopters is just amazing.”

For those thinking of a career in Army aviation, Sugar has some thoughts.

“If someone I knew was considering joining the Army, I would definitely say to do it,” Sugar said. “It’s a huge turning point in your life and will definitely make you better. I appreciate the 12th CAB and everything I’ve been able to do in my Army career so far. Not many people even leave their hometown, and I’ve already gotten to travel the world.”

Throughout the remainder of the FIA, Sugar will serve as a subject matter expert on his aircraft alongside his fellow crew members and military members from the Air Force and Navy. Other equipment from the U.S. at this event includes an F-35 Lighting II, two F-16 Fighting Falcons, a P-8 Poseidon, an MQ-9A Reaper, and a C-130J Super Hercules. For the 12th CAB representatives here, the FIA is a chance to show what makes Army aviation unique to a global audience and to share their love of Army aviation with the world.

In May or June after the Summit each year, the National Executive Group gathers at the Connecticut AAAA National
Office to review and assess our organization’s posture and status, and to discuss and chart the next couple of years
activities and initiatives.

The NEG consists of four elected officers: me as president, MG (Ret.) Wally Golden as senior vice president, BG (Ret.)
Tim Edens as treasurer and MG (Ret.) Todd Royar as secretary. It also includes our two appointed vice presidents – CW4
(Ret.) Becki Chambers, VP for membership, and LTC (Ret.) Jan Drabczuk, VP for chapters.

This year after Becki and Jan briefed membership and chapter programs and initiatives, the four elected officers
focused on the review and assessment of the AAAA national business model. Specifically, we reviewed the membership
dues structure (which has not changed since 1998, in either corporate or individual member dues), AAAA national event
topics, and our event/forum registration policies and fees for both exhibitors and individuals.

The good news is that the AAAA is in the strongest position it has ever been in terms of membership (which is at an all-
time high of over 21,000) and fiscal position (currently have net assets financially at a record level). That said,
questioning what our future organizational vulnerabilities could be, and discussing what efforts and programs were
required to ensure we ‘survive and thrive’ organizationally, help bound our focus and energy during the review.

First, although our Annual Summit has grown substantially over the years, the inflation in vendor costs, especially since
COVID, has outpaced our increased exhibit sales. Our smaller events (Aviation Survivability, Luther Jones, and Cribbins)
are losing money; the positive Annual Summit net revenue each year is what solely underwrites all the other shortfalls in
membership dues and smaller-event net revenues.

The vulnerability here is that if we must cancel another Summit (or two… as occurred during COVID), we have to
ensure our Emergency Fund is robust enough to sustain the organization for two straight years, without any Summit
income/revenue. We are currently at $4.6M on the way to the ceiling of $7.01M in the Emergency Fund that will be
required to meet the two-year self-sustaining goal. And yes, we do in fact still have event cancellation Insurance (those
policies yielded over $6M in total to AAAA for the cancelled 2020 and 2021 Summits), but now those policies going
forward specifically exclude any ‘pandemic’ coverage, which is no longer available to any organization.

In a comparative analysis, we assessed like/similar military organizations and associations to determine how AAAA fit
and compared; it did not take much to figure out that even just considering inflation since 1998, we had some further work
and analysis to do. We certainly don’t have all the answers yet but are working them… and we will propose a plan to the
full National Executive Board at the November meeting in Huntsville. Likewise, we assessed where we stood regarding
exhibitor fees and policies, and we will be recommending some changes there as well.

Although we are enjoying record-setting metrics now, our assessment is that we have to pivot from our financial
dependance on one positive revenue event, the AAAA Annual Summit. We must ensure that our great organization is
protected long into the future, and to continue to provide world class support to you all, our Army Aviation Soldiers and
Families, no matter what.

MG Walt Davis, U.S. Army Retired
36th President, AAAA
walt.davis@quad-a.org