Air Force Association The Air Force Association ( AFA ) is an independent , 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non - profit , civilian education organization , headquartered in Arlington , Virginia . Its main role is promoting public understanding of aerospace power . AFA disseminates information through " AIR FORCE " Magazine , " Daily Report " , " General Billy Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies " , social networking , public outreach , and national conferences and symposia . Mission . The association lists its mission as educating the public about the critical role of aerospace power in defense , advocating power and strong national defense and supporting the United States Air Force , the Air Force family and aerospace education . History . The genesis for the Air Force Association occurred in August 1945 when Chief of the Army Air Forces General Henry H . Arnold asked an executive of Eastman Kodak , Edward Curtis , to create an organization among veterans returning from World War II that would promote airpower and the cause of a separate Air Force . Curtis held an organizing meeting in New York City on October 12 , 1945 , to create a nonprofit organization to meet Arnold ' s goals . Other significant founders of AFA in attendance were John Allard , Everett Cook , James H . Doolittle , Deering Howe , Rufus Rand , Sol Rosenblatt , Julian Rosenthal , James M . " Jimmy " Stewart , Lowell P . Weicker ( Senior ) , Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney , and John Hay Whitney . The establishment of Air Force Association was made public by Doolittle in January 1946 , who explained that it would be based on a " grass - roots structure " , with affiliates on local , state , and regional levels , would publish a national magazine and would provide sponsorship for educational programs about the development of airpower . The Association was incorporated in the District of Columbia on February 4 , 1946 . AFA ' s first national president was Doolittle , an aviation pioneer and recipient of the Medal of Honor . In July , " Air Force " Magazine , then the official service journal of the Army Air Forces , became AFA ' s official journal at Arnold ' s behest . The next month a nationwide radio broadcast in observance of Air Force Day on August 1 , 1947 , was organized by AFA and featured charter members Jimmy Stewart , Jack L . Warner and Ronald Reagan . In 1948 Doolittle took a year ' s leave of absence from Shell Oil , where he was a vice president , to establish AFA chapters nationwide . Former President Michael M . Dunn has complained about both the termination of F - 22 production and the 250 legacy fighters the Air Force had to retire to pay for upgrading the reduced F - 22 fleet . Organization . AFA is divided into three geographic areas , comprising 14 regions , each led by a Region President . Predominantly a volunteer organization , the association has more than 200 chapters in 49 states ( Maine is the only state without a chapter ) and other countries including the United Kingdom , Germany , Italy , Belgium , Japan , Okinawa , and the Republic of Korea . As of June 30 , 2010 , AFA had a membership of 117 , 480 of whom 37 % ( 43 , 954 ) are life members ( permanent membership ) , organized into local chapters . There has been a 23 - year trend of declining regular membership , but increasing life membership . AFA membership in 2010 included 15 % on active duty military and 70 % retired or former military . Programs . As part of its education mandate the association publishes " Air Force " Magazine and the online electronic news brief " Daily Report " . " Air Force " Magazine began in September 1918 as the " D . M . A . Weekly News Letter " , originally published by the Information Branch of the Division of Military Aeronautics , and changed names several times , becoming " Air Force " Magazine in January 1943 . The Air Force Association assumed responsibility for its publication and content beginning in October 1946 . AFA also runs professional development conferences which feature speakers , workshops , trade show s and presentations by Air Force and national defense leaders . The organization has a public policy and research arm , the Mitchell Institute for Airpower Studies run by director Dr . Rebecca Grant . AFA also has its " CyberPatriot " national high school cyber defense competition , to promote student interest in cyber security and other Science , Technology , Engineering , and Mathematics ( STEM ) career fields . The " Visions of Exploration " program has its members distribute educational materials to schools and concerned citizens . This is done in part through a joint multi - disciplinary science , math and social studies program with USA Today . As part of its support programs AFA provides more than $ 1 . 5 million in scholarships , grants , and awards . AFA ’ s educational programs and scholarships are intended to encourage Air Force members to continue their education , provide funds to Air Force spouses working towards a degree , and administer grants that develop programs promoting math and science skills among young people . AFA was a key organization in building the United States Air Force Memorial and continues to be involved in its day - to - day operations .