Army Aviation

Throttle Full Open!

President’s Cockpit / MG Jeff Schloesser, U.S. Army Retired: October was a busy month for us at AAAA, as we held our semiannual National Executive Board meeting on Sunday, 13 October, followed by an AAAA Past President’s reception.

AAAA National President MG (Ret.) Jeff Schloesser welcomes members of the Army Aviation Congressional Caucus and Army Aviation senior leaders to the Congressional Caucus breakfast at the Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, October 17, 2019. / AAPI PHOTO BY BILL HARRIS

At the board meeting we featured for the first time a conference call-in capability, and we received very positive feedback from board members who were unable to attend the meeting in person but did so virtually. This also marked the first meeting attended by new board member, Active duty Sergeant Ashley Sanchez, who provided us a great perspective as a junior noncommissioned officer in Army Aviation. We will be seeking a few other active duty board members to represent our junior warrant officer and junior officer members as well.

Later that same week we hosted the Army Aviation Caucus on Capitol Hill, chaired by Congresswoman Rosa De Lauro, Congressman Mo Brooks, and Congresswoman Martha Robey. They had a superb and detailed exchange with Army Aviation senior leaders, with Branch Chief MG Dave Francis shaping the discussion.

That evening General Francis and the Aviation Six-pack joined our AAAA National Executive Group for dinner with AAAA Senior Executive Associates, a distinguished ten member group of retired four and three star generals, hosted by Chairman General Scott Wallace and me. All in all, it was a very productive series of engagements during that busy AUSA week.

We look forward this month to our Aircraft Survivability Equipment Symposium followed by our Cribbins Aviation Product Support Symposium, 18-21 November in Huntsville, Alabama.

In this issue of Army Aviation, MG Francis speaks to the importance of ASE in preparing for MDO Large Scale Combat Operations, as well as highlighting the essential support provided by Army Aviation UAS and Air Traffic Control soldiers and their capabilities. Deeper inside the magazine are great updates from associated project managers for UAS and ATC, as well as an update from PM Fixed Wing. If you want to be current with what’s happening in the broader Army Aviation enterprise, read this issue cover to cover!

Finally, our Hall of Fame nominating committee under the leadership of CW5 (Ret.) Randy Jones has completed this cycle of voting among our chapter presidents and National Board members. Our next group of Hall of Fame inductees will be announced later in the month so pay attention to your emails from AAAA!
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your AAAA President. Keep sending me those cards and letters on how we can improve!

MG Jeff Schloesser, U.S. Army Retired
34th President, AAAA
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