The Palm Springs Chapter of the Air & Space Forces Association proudly serves the greater Palm Springs area. The Chapter’s active program supports Air Force members of all ranks and grades, addresses Air Force issues in advancing aerospace technology and professional and personnel issues, and reaches out to the Coachella Valley community. Thank You!
Team W.A.T.T. from Troy High School Navy JROTC (Fullerton, Calif.) won in the All Service Division of CyberPatriot XVI. March 17, 2024. Photo by Mike Tsukamoto, Air & Space Forces Association
ROCKVILLE, Md.—CyberPatriot’s 16th season came to an exciting end on March 18, with the announcement of the winners of the Air & Space Forces Association’s (AFA) annual National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. The competition field started with 5,183 teams and just 28 qualified for the National Finals. March 22 2024 Read the full story here or click on the photograph.
Second Lt. Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, meets future Airmen just before they take the oath of enlistment at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 17, 2024. Ahead of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup Series race, Marsh spoke with students across the city about serving both in and out of uniform. (U.S. Air Force photo by Miriam Thurber)
U.S. Air Force members assigned to the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron conduct a tandem High Altitude, Low Opening jump from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules cargo aircraft over East Africa, Feb. 27, 2024. HALO jumps are performed from altitudes where oxygen is limited, requiring members to employ specialized training beyond standard parachute insertions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne) Luke Air Force Base
U.S. Air Force maintainers prepare an F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the 79th Fighter Squadron, to fly during a South Carolina Electronic Warfare Range (SCEWR) exercise at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Dec. 13, 2023. The SCEWR initiative is employed in exercises aimed at replicating a more realistic combat scenario to better challenge the capabilities of the wing’s pilots, fighter aircraft and maintainers. It requires combining several local airspaces in partnership and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow pilots to train in a wider force exercise training scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mariana Tafur) For the full story from Shaw Air Force Base click on the photograph. March 8, 2024.
Staff Sgt. Amanda Estores, 22nd Security Forces Squadron patrolman, guards the flightline Feb. 2, 2024, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Estores recently returned as McConnell’s first female Raven. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class William Lunn) Click on the photo for the full story
PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 24, 2024) A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, attached to the 5th Bomb Wing, and aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, fly in formation over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Feb. 24, 2024. Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group Nine, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Caryln Brown, 432nd Wing Staff Agency protocol specialist, stands for a portrait at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 13, 2024. Brown outside of her duties as a protocol specialist, enjoys taking portrait photography and uses photography as a way to capture memories and moments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Victoria Nuzzi) Read the full story here at https://www.creech.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3690232/framing-memories-airmans-passion-for-photography-soars/
“Calspan and Lockheed Martin collaborated to transform the U.S. Air Force’s F-16D Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA) into the X-62 and enabled the first testing of synthetic artificial-intelligence pilots in a supersonic aircraft. This has provided the template for work on developing autonomy for the Air Force’s planned Collaborative Combat Aircraft family.” – Edwards Air Force Base February 21 2024
A huge Thank You to ROC’s Firehouse Grille and owner Roland Cook for becoming the recipient of AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 Community Partner Award. ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert California is our place for our informal meetings and get togethers. You will see many “Firetiques” displayed in this hugely popular food and beverage eatery dedicated the True Brotherhood of Firefighters.
Left to right: Bob Ahaesy, US Navy Vet, AFA Member, Hangar Chief Palm Springs Air Museum, Pacific WWII Theater; Tom Fox, P.S. AFA Special Ops, Exec. Council Member, PSAM F-117 Docent; Becky Humphreys, AFA Exec. Council, Cyber/Teacher of the Year program VP; Jim McFarlin, USAF Vet, AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 President, Chapter Cyber Science Director, author, and internationally renowned CyberTech speaker; ROLAND COOK, OWNER, ROC’S FIREHOUSE GRILLE… AND RECIPIENT OF AFA CHAPTER 134 COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARD (Roland is a highly decorated, retired Palm Springs Fire Dept. Captain…and a patriotic AFA/Veterans supporter); Rick Johnson, USAF Vet, AFA P.S. Chapter 134 Exec. Council, Membership & Community Partner VP and PSAM Pacific WWII Hangar Theater Docent; Tony Della-Morreta, US Navy Vet, P.S. AFA Chapter 134 Secretary, Exec. Council, and PSAM Library and Archives Docent; Major Bill Young, USAF (ret), P.S. AFA Chapter 134 Vice President, Exec. Council, P.S. Area Salvation Army Advisor Council; Patrick Shannon, P.S. AFA Chapter 134 Exec. Council, PSAM Docent, Pacific Hangar WWII Venue; Kemp Dowdy, US Navy Aviator, UAL Capt. (ret), P.S. AFA Chapter 134 Executive Council; Ops. Mgr., PSAM F-16 Flight Simulator.
The Air And Space Forces Association Community Partners Program, established in 1975, brings support and valuable relationships to those in the community and their AFA local chapter.
