Welcome everyone to the 2024 AAAA Annual Mission Solution Summit!
Our Branch Chief, MG Mac McCurry, and the entire Army Aviation Leadership will be bringing you all up to date on everything from training and operations, to acquisition and sustainment, special operations, Reserve and National Guard priorities and so much more all under the theme “Transforming Aviation Warfighting – Strengthening Our Sacred Trust.”
It is with great regret that I’ve had to ‘take a knee’ due to a medical condition, and as a result am unable to attend and participate in what I know will be an incredible Mission Solutions Summit. For sure though, our entire Aviation Community is in great hands… as you will see our AAAA Senior Vice President, MG (Ret.) Wally Golden, at the Gaylord Rockies podium leading our great organization and the incredible program of scheduled activities.
We had much welcomed last-minute news that our Under Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Gabe Camarillo, will be opening our Summit to provide the vision for the future of the Army, and indeed our Aviation Branch. Additionally, we are honored to have and grateful for our most senior Army Aviators, GEN Laura Richardson, Commander, U.S. Southern Command who will be our keynote on Thursday, and GEN Dan Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, as our featured speaker on Friday. To have that level of leadership presence, commitment, and participation is so valued by our entire community… and it speaks volumes about the importance of our Branch to the Army, and the importance of AAAA to serve as a catalyst and enabler for the gathering of entire Army Aviation Community.
Building on our “Four Pillars” of actualizing our mission statement to Support the Army Aviation Soldier and Family, the Summit also provides our greatest annual opportunity for realizing those Pillars – Networking, Recognition, Voice, and Support. From interacting with our Industry Partners to attending the Hall of Fame inductions and award ceremonies honoring our best and brightest, to celebrating the 50th Anniversary of our first female Army Aviator, COL Sally Murphy, Ret., graduating Flight School, to the closing concert with Randy Houser, this truly is the premier Army Aviation Family gathering.
And always positive news, since our last AAAA publication, we have set another milestone… breaking through to over 20,000 members! This equals our previous pre-COVID all-time; with our current rate of membership increase it would not surprise me at all if we exceed our record very soon. Also want to give a big thanks to GEN (Ret.) J.D. Thurman and the other members of our Senior Executive Associates, for their enduring support and leadership. They met in Huntsville last month just before the AUSA Global Force Symposium with our Aviation General Officer Steering Committee to again dialogue about the critical Aviation Branch priorities and challenges to determine how best to support our Army and Branch through their advocacy. And finally, many thanks to LTC (Ret.) Josh Baker, Chair of our Legislative Affairs Committee, and Bill Harris who are diligently working to get the AAAA-sponsored Army Aviation Caucus next meeting scheduled, and to make sure your voices continue to be heard at the highest decision-making levels.
Hope you all have a productive and FUN Mission Solutions Summit! Know for sure that AAAA will always be there for you, “Supporting the U.S. Army Aviation Soldier and Family”.
Above the Best!
MG Walt Davis, U.S. Army Retired
36th President, AAAA
walt.davis@quad-a.org
