The Air & Space Forces Association Nominating and Governance Committee met by video conference in April 2024 and selected seven candidates to send forward for open National Officer positions and National Director positions on the Board of Directors. The Committee consists of a Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee as well as at least three actively serving AFA Directors. The Chair and the Vice Chair of the Committee shall be the two most recent past serving Chairs of the Board, unless the Board determines to elect a different Chair or Vice Chair by a majority vote of the Board.
Self-nominations were submitted by the June 15 deadline, and the Nominating and Governance Committee conducted interviews and selected two additional candidates to add to the 2024 slate.
Elections by authorized voters for these open Board positions will take place electronically between Sept. 1-14, 2024.
No votes will be accepted after Sept. 14.
VICE Chair of the Board, Education
Joe Abegg,Easthampton, N.J., is the current AFA New Jersey State President, past AFA N.J. State Executive Vice President, an AFA Life Member joining in 1981, and a current member of both the AFA Education Council and the new AFA Recruiting Task Force. He recently retired as a United Airlines Captain (free travel for life). Retiring after 29 years in the Air Force as both Officer and Enlisted, AF Command Pilot, and CAP Command Pilot. Abegg holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, and a master’s in Management. He was the Arnold Air Society Squadron Commander, AFROTC Cadet Group Commander, a flight test engineer at McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, graduate of SOS, ACSC, and AWC, and an Astronaut (select) for the Ansari X-Prize team. Awards received include the AFA Exceptional Service Medal, the AFA Medal of Merit, the CAP Distinctive Service Medal, four CAP Exceptional Service Medals, six CAP Meritorious Service Awards, and three DOD Meritorious Service Medals. Most recently, Abegg led the CAP contributions from 16 CAP Wings at the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War; advocated for CAP funding on Capital Hill for the 10th year; and was the National Activity Director for the sold-out Spaatz Association Award Gala with the Air Force Band and the CSAF as the keynote speaker.
A message from Joe Abegg: I plan to give back and to pay forward in the best way that I know possible. I bring 42 years of active AFA service, 51 years in CAP service with executive leadership over CyberPatriot teams, StellarXplorer teams, Flight Academies, and Flight Scholarships— noting that CAP has 30,000 cadets and 5,800 Aerospace Education Members. My vast and diverse Aerospace Education background from CAP, to Industry, to AAS, to AFROTC, the airlines, the military, and the Boardroom will allow me to make a difference.
Gary Copsey, Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a colonel. He was an Instructor Pilot (IP) and Flight Examiner in helicopters at formal school; developed new training programs for USAF IPs; developed night vision goggle training; served as Squadron Assistant Chief Pilot and IP in C-141s; Chief, SOF and Rescue Branch, HQ MAC Plans and Programs; Chief of Protocol HQ MAC and USTRANSCOM; Deputy Chief of Staff OPS/PLANS, U.S. Forces Azores; Deputy Director Command and Control and Director, Ops Management, HQ AMC TACC; Chief of Staff, Inter American Defense Board and College (Washington, D.C.); and Commander, AFROTC Det. 930, Marquette University.
While in AFROTC, Copsey was selected to command Ellsworth II Field Training with 325 cadets, having to establish relationships with base leadership as a tenant org. He spent nine years at USAA leading training design and development teams for training at USAA Bank and for New Employee Orientation. Copsey served as Lead Learning/Performance Consultant where he advised senior leaders at USAA with direct report to SVP. He was also selected as HR “Volunteer of the Year” based on his work with AFA. Bottom line: He spent both of his careers in service to people by helping them succeed—in turn, helping organizations succeed.
A message from Gary Copsey: With over 10 years on the Field Council and six on the Education Council, I have the experience, skills, and background to be a servant leader as VCED. I’m deeply committed to the mission of AFA and STEM education. I’ve seen it from the grassroots chapter level through region as a Region President. My goal, if selected: further the great work that’s been done, come up with new ideas from the field, listen to the membership, and take action if feasible. I will also look for and find solutions to issues.
NATIONAL SECRETARY
Paul Hendricks, Spicewood, Texas, is an AFA Life Member (49 years). He has extensive management experience while serving as an Air Force officer (20 years) and as a Program Manager for Boeing (21 years). As the Fairview, Texas, Town Council Mayor Pro Tem (6 years), Hendricks maintained community balance. He also founded the Veterans Center of North Texas providing social work to Veterans and their families. He was recognized as the Fairview Outstanding Citizen of the Year, the “Hero of the Year,” and the Outstanding Volunteer Social Worker of the Year. Serving as the Trinity Presbyterian Church Clerk of Session (Board Secretary) (10 years), Hendricks developed agendas, called and officiated meetings, maintained parliamentary procedures, developed meeting minutes, tracked action items, and produced statistical reports. As the AFA Deputy Chief of Staff, Vietnam 50th Celebration Committee, he scheduled and coordinated meetings, maintained organizational contacts, conducted critical path analyses, performed financial assessments, developed meeting minutes, and tracked action items.
A message from Paul Hendricks: I am a member of the AFA Board. I enjoy collaborating with members of the Board, the AFA Staff, and Field members. I am dedicated to serving the AFA at the highest level to foster growth, prosperity, and harmony. I have previously served as the Board Secretary on other boards. I have experienced and observed the value of organized, structured, and well-documented meetings. I am ready and eager to function as the AFA Board Secretary.
Jackie Trotter, Warner Robins, Ga., served 11 years on Active duty and 22 years as a Reservist (primarily ART/AGR tours) in the Air Force as a public affairs officer. When not on Active duty, she served in public affairs and publications management as a civilian. After her retirement from both the military and civilian positions, Trotter worked for the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. Those jobs gave her extensive experience in working with both nonprofit organization volunteers and governing boards.
A message from Jackie Trotter: In my first term on the Board, I became heavily involved in the development of the new By-laws and Governance Manual. I would like to continue that work, organizing and revising as necessary all the Association publications. I believe the Field and our staff deserve a centralized location for all guidance materials. Our Board minutes should also be published so our members are more knowledgeable of the Association’s leadership actions.
TREASURER
Chuck Martin,Fort Mill, S.C., is currently the AFA National Treasurer. Martin has an BBA from Manhattan College and an MBA from Michigan State University, and is a a member of Beta Alpha Psi (National Accounting Fraternity). He is a Certified Association Executive; Certified Internal Auditor; Adjunct Instructor, USAF Academy; Regis University; University of Maryland (European & Pacific Divisions); Member AFA FINCOM; Chair of the AFA PECC (President’s Evaluation and Compensation Committee); Board Officer on MOAA National Board; COO/CFO, American Physical Therapy Association. Martin has also served as Treasurer, Foundation for Physical Therapy Research; AFROC Treasurer; Audit Committee, American Academy of Audiology (Public Member). He served as Treasurer or on Finance Committee of various HOAs, conducted numerous pro-bono financial/audit reviews of the AFA Steele Chapter; AFCEA, AF4C, and many national medical associations for ASAE. Having Board and staff expertise and governance experience provides a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities. Transparency and recognition of Field and Education roles are vital for an AFA Treasurer and have been demonstrated in his AFA roles/performance.
A message from Chuck Martin: Upon retirement from the Air Force as a Colonel and MAJCOM comptroller, I moved into the NFP space and continued in my volunteer activities, while accepting a COO/CFO staff position at APTA for 18 years. I received the CAE Certification and was elected/selected for Board service in MOAA, AFA, AFROC, and other roles. I believe my continued performance as AFA Treasurer is vital as we take on the challenges facing us in 2025 and out. I am ready!
NATIONAL DIRECTOR, West Geographical Area
Bobi Oates, Las Vegas, Nev., served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as Senior Master Sgt. in Aircraft Maintenance. She spent nine years at the Armed Forces Bank, seven years as Exchange Branch Manager. Oates spent 14 years actively with AFA in Chapter positions: VP, Treasurer, President, three and a half years as Southwest Region President, and more than two years as the National Director, West Area. She worked several years with the Wounded Warrior Trials & Caregiver events at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., also working closely with the leadership at both Nellis and Creech AFBs to promote AFA and to support bases. Being part of the larger Las Vegas Veterans community, she works with them to help our Airmen, Guardians, Families, and Veterans. Oates is a member of the Advocacy and Region President subcommittee, a member of the Finance committee, and helps with the Field Council on whatever is needed.
A message from Bobi Oates: I want to continue as a National Director for the West Area, to be their voice from the Field on the Board. I work closely with Airmen, Guardians, Families, and Veterans to know their needs and to be their voice as an advocate for them. I want to help the Association grow and continue to do great work for our Airmen, Guardians, Families, and Veterans.
National Director at Large
Two National Director at Large positions are open and each will be elected for a three-year term.
Wesley Hallman, Washington, D.C., served 27 years in the U.S. Air Force before retiring as a colonel. His last assignment was as the Chief Air Force Liaison to the House of Representatives. Prior to Congress, he served in several flying and staff positions, including commanding a squadron and a fighter group. Hallman was a White House Fellow, serving as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Agriculture, and his staff assignments included AFCENT Forward Chief of Staff and Joint Staff (J5).
He was formerly the Senior Vice President for Strategy & Policy at the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and is now a private sector Executive Vice President and Head of Washington Operations. Hallman has a bachelor’s from the U.S. Air Force Academy and graduate degrees from The Ohio State Univeristy, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and the Eisenhower School. He also serves on the Falcon
Foundation’s Board of Trustees, the parent board of School Without Walls, and as a mentor for the White House Fellows program.
A message from Wesley Hallman: Our Air and Space Forces are our continuing strategic advantage that we have in an increasingly dangerous world. Unfortunately, reinvestment in that advantage is not happening at the pace and scale needed to stay ahead. A vibrant and effective AFA is critical to both servng our current Airmen and Guardians, but also to advancing and advocating for air and space power. I can bring together teams with diverse backgrounds to lead successful efforts on behalf of our association, from advocacy to membership services and association growth.
Dan Ohnesorge, Tulsa, Okla., retired as a colonel after serving as a pilot, flying fighter-type aircraft (F-4s and F-16s), both in CONUS and at several overseas locations, including Korea, Germany, Italy, and Turkey. Ohnesorge also served in assigments on USAFE, NATO, and ACC staffs. His final assignment was as Vice Commander and Instructor Pilot at Vance. After retiring in 2003, Ohnesorge worked as Deputy Program Manager and then Program Manager for the “Umbrella” contract supporting Vance Air Force Base.
In 2008, he was hired as the Director of the Woodring Regional Airport, located approximately 5 miles east of Vance Air Force Base, Okla. In the position he was responsible for several different improvements to the airport. Any project that aided the militay would also benefit the civilian fliers. They built a large joint-use hangar, a joint-use parking ramp, and extended the primary runway to 8,000 feet so T-38s could land there. Ohnesorge has spent his entire adult life either on Active duty or supporting the USAF.
A message from Dan Ohnesorge: I have been successful at organizing events/projects and providing resources to support them. As Chapter President of the AFA Enid Chapter, I challenged the chapter to add 100 Community Partners to our rolls within a year. Our plan included a massive letter-mailing campaign, followed by chapter members divided into teams for person-to-person meetings. We met our goal. In another action as co-fundraising chairman, I played an integral part in sourcing over $400,000 to purchase an 80 percent replica of the Vietnam Wall and erect it at Woodring Regional Airport.
Doug Slocum, Macomb, Mich., has served as the Michigan State AFA president and the Chapter 179 President since January 2021, which has expanded in scope, membership, and impact every year. Pioneering a single-entity organizational structure to streamline administration and maximize efforts on community engagement. Also introducing virtual events.
His professional background includes 35 years in uniform retiring in 2019 as a brigadier general. Slocum’s experience includes executive leadership and management at local, state, national, and international levels capping his career as the Commander of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and the 127th Wing, where he turned the Wing from one of the most stressed/lowest performing organizations in the ANG to the award-winning “best Wing in the ANG” within two years. Prior to Selfridge, Slocum innovated and introduced safety/human factors programs to maintenance and logistics career fields across the USAF as well as suicide prevention and resiliency. He is a career fighter pilot with more than 4,000 hours in F-4, F-16, and A-10 aircraft.
A message from Doug Slocum: I think I can make a difference. I branded my engagement/leadership style “violent positivity” by focusing on people—equipping and motivating individuals to reach new levels of excellence. It works. I think I can bring that same energy and people-centric focus as a member of the board to positively influence and contribute to field effectiveness as well as nationwide AFA activities. I also believe I’II bring a reserve component perspective and experience that will add value.