National security conversations usually revolve around multi-billion-dollar budgets and hardware specs. But the human element behind air and space power rarely gets enough airtime. As the Air & Space Forces Association kicks off its annual conference, retired Lt. Gen. Burt Field is pushing a sharper focus on what the organization actually exists to do.
With decades of uniform service behind him, including 3,400 hours in fighter jets like the F-16 and F-22, Field now runs the AFA as its president and CEO. Ahead of the high-profile Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, he sat down to break down the core pillars driving the association today. Also making waves recently: Why Imran Khan Sons Blame Army Chief Asim Munir For Prison Torture Claims.
The Core Three-Part Mission
If you ask average citizens what the AFA does, most won't have a clear answer. Field cuts through the noise by boiling the organization's charter down to three non-negotiable functions.
First, they advocate for a dominant Air Force and Space Force. They view absolute aerospace superiority as the non-negotiable bedrock of American national defense. Additional information regarding the matter are explored by USA Today.
Second, they honor and support the people in uniform. That includes active-duty personnel, reservists, guardsmen, civilian workers, and wounded airmen and guardians alongside their families.
Third, they preserve institutional heritage. Remembering where military aviation started keeps the culture sharp.
"We've been around for 80 years," Field notes, pointing out that the association actually predates the official creation of the independent Air Force by a year. Back then, the mission was simple: convince a skeptical public that a new branch flying airplanes was vital. Today, the mission involves managing an ecosystem of over 120,000 members and keeping congressional feet to the fire regarding modern capability gaps.
Supporting Wounded Warriors Beyond the Headlines
Advocacy sounds great on paper, but accountability is where organizations usually stumble. Field ties the AFA's support initiatives directly to the Air Force Wounded Warrior program.
Having commanded troops in combat and lost personnel under his own watch, Field treats support for wounded service members as personal business. The AFA uses non-profit funding streams to back adaptive sports initiatives and recovery programs.
Take the Memorial to Memorial bike ride, for instance. The grueling 340-mile trek stretches from the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, all the way to the Air Force Memorial in Washington, D.C. It honors aviation roots while raising critical funds for wounded warriors who fought through severe medical battles before pushing through to compete in adaptive sports like the Warrior Games.
Translating Strategy into Action
Conferences like the annual gathering in Maryland serve a distinct purpose beyond handshakes and defense industry PR. They act as public megaphones for leadership.
Programs under the AFA umbrella—including Air & Space Forces Magazine and the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies—give service leaders a platform to speak directly to the public and lawmakers. Lower-ranking airmen and guardians often feel disconnected from the Pentagon strategies dictating their daily lives. Independent advocacy groups bridge that gap.
If you want to track where American defense policy is heading, watch how these organizations rally public backing for modernization efforts. Field’s leadership emphasizes that technology without strong family support systems and clear historical roots will eventually collapse from the inside out.
Lt. Gen. Burt Field Talks M2M Memorial Ride
This video provides an inside look at retired Lt. Gen. Burt Field discussing the core mission of the Air & Space Forces Association and its dedication to wounded airmen.
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