Air Force Aid Society is governed by a distinguished group of volunteer Trustees comprised of current Air Force and Space Force leaders and personnel, former Air Force leaders and members of the civilian community – fulfilling the vision of our founder, Gen Hap Arnold.
AFAS Board of Trustees President
Mr. James C. Reagan
Mr. Reagan recently retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Leidos Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of technology solutions in national security. Prior to this role, Mr. Reagan was Senior Vice President and CFO at Vencore, Inc. He has over 20 years of experience providing executive-level financial leadership to large companies, mostly in the Washington, DC area. He also serves on the Boards of the Wolf Trap Foundation and the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation. Reagan earned his B.S. in Business Administration from The College of William & Mary and his MBA from Loyola College.
AFAS Board of Trustees Vice President
Ms. Kathleen Barchick
Kathleen Barchick is a co-founder of Cliffwater LLC, an alternative investment advisory firm for institutional investors managing over $55 billion in private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and real assets. Prior to founding Cliffwater in 2004, Ms. Barchick was a Managing Director and Principal of Wilshire Associates. She began her career with the Department of Defense Logistics Agency managing contractor performance for U.S. Air Force radar systems and later served as an acquisition officer for the USAF. Ms. Barchick holds a B.S. in Operations Research from the United States Air Force Academy and an MBA from the University of Southern California. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a member of the CFA Institute and the Los Angeles Society of Financial Analysts.
Secretary of the Air Force
Frank Kendall
Mr. Frank Kendall is the 26th Secretary of the Air Force responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the U.S. Air and Space Forces. In this capacity, he directs the Department of the Air Force’s annual budget exceeding $168 billion, provides Air and Space Forces to combatant commanders for global military operations, and is accountable for the welfare of nearly 700,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian Airmen and Guardians and their families. Mr. Kendall has more than 50 years of experience in engineering, management, defense acquisition, and national security affairs across private industry, government, and the military. He was a consultant to defense industry firms, non-profit research organizations, and the Department of Defense in the areas of strategic planning, engineering management, and technology assessment. Additionally, he is an attorney and was active in the field of human rights, working primarily on a pro bono basis. He served 11 years as an active duty Army officer, including assignments in Germany, teaching Engineering at West Point, and in research and development positions. Mr. Kendall has a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, an MBA from C.W. Post Center of Long Island University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Chief of Staff of the Air Force
General Charles Q. Brown
Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. As Chief, he serves as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 685,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President. Gen. Brown was commissioned in 1984 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Texas Tech University. He has served in a variety of positions at the squadron and wing levels, including an assignment to the U.S. Air Force Weapons School as an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor. Gen. Brown has an M.S. in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
CMSGT Joanne S. Bass
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Joanne S. Bass represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government. She serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of more than 600,000 Total Force Airmen. Chief Bass is the 19th chief master sergeant appointed to the highest noncommissioned officer position. Prior to this assignment, she served as the Command Chief Master Sergeant, Second Air Force, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Chief Bass enlisted in the Air Force in 1993. She holds a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and an A.A.S in Airport Resource Management from the Community College of the Air Force.
GEN. B. CHANCE SALTZMAN
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman is the Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force. As Chief, he serves as the senior uniformed Space Force officer responsible for the organization, training, and equipping of all organic and assigned space forces serving in the United States and overseas. As members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Space Operations and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, and the President.
Gen. Saltzman is a graduate of Boston University and was commissioned in 1991. He has operational experience with missile and space systems, as a Minuteman III launch officer, and as a satellite operator for the National Reconnaissance Office. He also served as the first Chief of Combat Plans for the Joint Space Operations Center, and later, as Chief of Combat Operations.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT OF THE SPACE FORCE
ROGER A. TOWBERMAN
CMSgt Roger A. Towberman is the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the United States Space Force. Chief Towberman serves at the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government. He acts as the personal adviser to the Chief of Space Operations and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization and development of the U.S. Space Force. He is the first enlisted member of the U.S. Space Force and the first to be appointed to its highest enlisted position. Chief Towberman entered the Air Force in September 1990 and his career has included various duties as a ground and airborne cryptologic language and intelligence analyst. Chief Towberman earned an Associate in Communications Application Technology degree from the Community College of the Air Force.
Mr. Rahn Bass
Mr. Rahn Bass is married to Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass, the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. Mr. Bass was raised in Topeka, Kansas and joined the United States Army in 1990 as an Aviation Operations Specialist. Throughout his career as an active duty Soldier, Mr. Bass served in numerous units, including three tours in the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. with deployments to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan; one tour in Korea with the 6th Cavalry Regiment; two tours in Germany with the 19th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, and 3rd Armored Division with deployments to Turkey, Qatar, and Kuwait. He served his last assignment as the First Sergeant with 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, TX, and retired after 27 years of uniformed service.
Maj. Gen. Mark A. Brown
Retired Maj. Gen. Mark A. Brown is the 8th Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid (FSA). He previously served as a Senior Advisor with FSA focusing on the human capital readiness and development needed to support approximately 42 million student loan borrowing clients and administrators in the $1.5 trillion Federal Student Aid Program. General Brown retired from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) where he served over 32 years as an active duty Air Force officer. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Commander for Air Education and Training Command, where he was responsible for Air Force education, as well as basic and technical training. General Brown holds a B.S. in Accounting from Tuskegee University, an MPA from Troy State University, a M.S. degree in Strategic Studies from the Air Command and Staff College, and a M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University.
Mrs. Sharene Brown
Sharene Brown is married to General Charles Q. (CQ) Brown, Jr. Raised in a military family, she embraced the frequent moves and cultural and social explorations from a young age in both the national and international context. Born in New York, with family in Virginia, she continues to enjoy traveling the world with her spouse for their 20th move to National Capital Region in Washington, DC. She is an avid supporter of military families through her service to organizations such as the Armed Services YMCA and Air Force Aid Society. Mrs. Brown received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Virginia and a master’s in Management from Webster University.
Mr. Eli Cohen
Mr. Cohen is a principal and head of alternative investments at GenTrust Wealth Management, a boutique multi-family office and registered investment advisor. He is responsible for the selection, oversight and development of alternative investment strategies including hedge fund, private equity, and other non-traditional strategies. Prior to joining GenTrust, Cohen worked at Strategic Investment Group, and outsourced investment office with over $30 billion in assets under management. Mr. Cohen received a J.D. from Harvard Law School and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He received an A.B. from Harvard College, magna cum laude in Economics.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT DANNY DOUCETTE, USAF (RET)
Retired CMSgt Doucette is a Senior Instructor and Executive Coach consultant for Leadership Foundry, a division of Xator Corporation. During his 26 years of Air Force service, Mr. Doucette served in both the Regular Air Force and the Air National Guard Active Guard Reserve and as a traditional guardsman. He culminated his Air Force career as the Commandant, U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Academy, where he was the first-ever Air National Guardsman to hold this position. He was responsible for the training and development of more than 500 Total Force First Sergeants annually and for the development and validation of the course curriculum. He has 12 years of experience as an Adjunct Professor in Organizational Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Strategic Management, and coaching with over 4,000 hours facilitating distance learning as Adjunct Professor and over 2,500 podium hours. Mr. Doucette earned a B.S. in Justice and Law Administration, an MBA in Management, and an M.P.A. in Human Resources.
Chief Master Sergeant Dennis A. Fritz, USAF (Ret)
Retired CMSgt Fritz was a Contract Program Manager for the Army’s Wounded Warrior Program from 2014 to 2018. From 2008 to 2014, Chief Fritz was a Recovery Care Coordinator in the National Capital Region. He was responsible for the oversight of the support and care provided to Air Force Wounded Warriors by federal government agencies. Prior to that, Chief Fritz was a Research Fellow with LMI Government Consulting and the Program Security Manager for the Joint Strike Fighter Program with Anteon Corporation. While on active duty, he served as a principal advisor to general officers at two major commands and two large wings. Chief Fritz also has held several positions at the Pentagon on the Air Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy. He culminated his 28 years of military service at Andrews Air Force Base as Command Chief Master Sergeant. He earned a B.S. in Management from National-Louis University and an M.S. in Public Management from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy.
Maj. Gen. Michael A. Greiner
Maj. Gen. Michael A. Greiner is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Greiner is responsible for planning and directing the formulation and execution of the Department of the Air Force’s budgets totaling more than $194 billion annually. He leads a staff of military and civilian financial managers who develop, integrate, justify and defend Department of the Air Force resource requests to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Office of Management and Budget, and Congress. He manages and executes funding that supports military operations and Department priorities at the direction of the Secretary of Defense and Congress.
Maj. Gen. Greiner received his commission from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Portland as a distinguished graduate. He is also a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Institute of Technology. He has served in operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Unified Response, and Freedom’s Sentinel.
Prior to his current assignment, the general was the Comptroller, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Honorable Robert F. Hale
The Hon. Mr. Hale, a former DOD Comptroller, is currently a fellow at Booz Allen Hamilton. Hale has almost four decades of experience in defense-related financial management. Prior to joining Booz Allen, he was nominated by then-President Obama and confirmed by the Senate as Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). During the Clinton administration, he served as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) (Financial Management and Comptroller). During his tenure as the longest-serving Assistant Secretary for Financial Management in Air Force history, he helped to streamline USAF financial business processes and improve base-level financial services. Hale earned his B.S. in mathematics and statistics, as well as his M.S. in operations research, from Stanford University.
Dr. William W. Jennings
Dr. Jennings is Professor of Finance and Investments at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) where he is the principal finance educator. His research focuses on tax-exempt investment issues at charities and pensions. He serves the community via several investment committees, including at the USAFA Association of Graduates and Falcon Foundation. Before academia, Dr. Jennings worked as a private equity analyst. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a registered CPA in Michigan. His doctorate is from the University of Michigan.
Mr. Ken Mailender
Mr. Mailender is the retired CEO of Mailender, Inc., a regional distribution company of paper, packaging and cleaning supplies located in Cincinnati, OH. Formerly he was employed by Procter & Gamble in Brand Management. He served in the Air Force Reserves from 1969-75. Mr. Mailender has an extensive record of community service including with the C-Stars program at the University of Cincinnati (The Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills). Among other activities, he served at Xavier University both as the Chair of the Business School Executive Advisory Board and the Co-Founder of the Interfaith Community Engagement program. Additionally, he was previously an Instructor of Marketing at Northern Kentucky University. He received both his B.S. of Business and MBA degrees from The Ohio State University.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CAROLINE MILLER
Lt. Gen. Caroline M. Miller is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. Lt. Gen. Miller serves as the senior Air Force officer responsible for comprehensive plans and policies covering all life cycles of military and civilian personnel management, which includes military and civilian end strength management, education and training, compensation, resource allocation, and the worldwide U.S. Air Force services program.
Lt. Gen. Miller was commissioned from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in 1994. She has held several command and staff positions at the base, major command, Air Staff, and Joint levels. Her command tours include the 1st Mission Support Squadron, 1st Force Support Squadron, 379th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, and 633rd Air Base Wing.
Prior to her current position, Lt. Gen. Miller served as the Commander of the 502nd Air Base Wing at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL ROBERT I. MILLER
Lt. Gen. Miller is the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and also serves as the Surgeon General of the U.S. Space Force. In this role, he advises the Secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force Chief of Staff, the Space Force Chief of Space Operations and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs on matters pertaining to the medical aspects of the air expeditionary force and the health of Airmen and Guardians. Lt. Gen. Miller has authority to commit resources worldwide for the Air Force Medical Service, to make decisions affecting the delivery of medical services, and to develop plans, programs and procedures to support worldwide medical service missions. He exercises significant influence over a $6.1 billion, 44,000-person integrated health care delivery and readiness system serving 2.6 million beneficiaries at 76 military treatment facilities worldwide.
Lt. Gen. Charles L. Plummer
Lt. Gen. Charles L. Plummer is The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force (19th) and Space Force (2nd), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In these capacities, Lt. Gen. Plummer serves as the Legal Adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Chief of Space Operations, and all officers and agencies of the Department of the Air Force. He directs all judge advocates in the performance of their duties and is responsible for the professional oversight of more than 2,200 judge advocates, 350 civilian attorneys, 1,400 enlisted paralegals and 500 civilian employees in the Total Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps worldwide, overseeing military justice, operations and international law, and civil law and litigation functions at all levels of Air Force and Space Force commands.
Mrs. Cheryl Roberson
Mrs. Cheryl Roberson has been an active duty Air Force spouse for over 34 years. She knows first-hand the issues that face military families. She remains committed to strengthening the military community and highlighting the needs of service members and their families. Mrs. Roberson has held various positions within the military and civilian community to include Chairperson of the U.S. Air Force Charity Ball, program manager of NMFA scholarship programs, and Guardian Ad Litem for Bay County, FL. She is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy where she majored in Computer Science and earned her master’s in management information systems from Boston University. After completing her service commitment, she served in the Air Force Reserves.
Mrs. Rachel Rush
Rachel Rush is married to CMSgt Roger A. Towberman is the Senior Enlisted Advisor of the United States Space Force. Mrs. Rush is a Psychiatric Registered Nurse with specialized experience in adult, adolescent, forensic, and trauma inpatient settings. She is committed to caring for Space Force personnel and their families during this historic transition into a new branch of service. Mrs. Rush received a B.S. in Nursing from the University of South Alabama and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas.