May, 2024 – Last month, AFAS CEO Maj Gen (Ret.) Ed Thomas launched the Campaign to Connect, designed to build stronger relationships between AFAS and those on the front lines with the people we serve, including Military and Family Readiness Centers, First Sergeants, Command Teams, spouse organizations, and others can help us make sure that our support programs are reaching the people who need them most.
The campaign kicked off with a “listening tour” at bases around the country to see how AFAS can better serve our force. General Thomas and his wife Dinah headed to San Antonio Texas for their first stop. They started their trip with a visit to Joint Base San Antonio where they met with with First Sergeants and Military & Family Readiness teams from across the area to hear about how AFAS can better support our Airmen, Guardians, and their families.
General Thomas stopped by by Blue Skies of Texas, a great partner to AFAS, and a vibrant community for Airmen for more than 50 years, where he had the opportunity to spend time with the President & CEO of Blue Skies, Lt Gen Darrell D. Jones, USAF and former AFAS CEO Lt Gen Mike McGinty, who now resides at Blue Skies, and shared “It’s a great place to live, and you will be among many friends from all your years in the Air Force.
Joining the Air Force and Space Force is often a family affair! Dinah Thomas spent some time in Texas connecting with spouses who have accessed AFAS support in the past, like Sarah-Beth, to collect feedback on the process.
Before heading back to AFAS headquarters in Virginia, General Thomas spent time with his son, and reflected on his past involved with USAA: “I’ve been with USAA my whole life. In 1986, as a cadet, they sent me a brass key chain with my own USAA number (separate from my Army parents). And now, my fourth child gets his from USAA as he readies to commission as a second lieutenant.”
He then stopped by USAA San Antonio headquarters to thank them for their enduring support of Airmen, Guardians, and their families as one of Air Force Aid Society’s key partners. Thanks to Maj Gen Johnny Richardson, Mike Kelly, Kendra Mathews, Gerardo Tapia, and Lindsey O’Neill.
(Pictured: General Thomas, Matthews, Kelly, Dinah Thomas).