AFA Selects Former Air Force European Command Chief of Staff as New Executive Vice President

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association is proud to announce the addition of Major General Mark A. Barrett, USAF (Ret.) as Executive Vice President to serve as the number two senior staff executive under President Craig McKinley.

As Executive Vice President, General Barrett will serve as the principal deputy professional staff member to the President and will act as the Association's senior staff liaison with Boards, Committees and Councils as well as the Air Force, concerning Air Force budgets, programs, systems, operations and legal issues.  Additionally, Barrett will assist in the oversight of AFA, AFA Veteran Benefits Association, and the Air Force Memorial Foundation.

"I am very honored to be joining the Air Force Association leadership team.  As a long term member of AFA, I look forward to meeting and working with all of the AFA professionals and members across the nation," said General Barrett. "As a retired Air Force member, it is my privilege to continue to serve in my capacity at the Air Force Association.  Together with the entire team, I will continue to help educate, advocate and support our great USAF and ensure it remains ready and able to defend our great nation."

Prior to his retirement in June 2014 after 34 years of service, General Barrett most recently served as Chief of Staff, U.S. European Command in Stuggart, Germany.  He was responsible for assisting the Commander, EUCOM conduct military operations, international military partnering, and interagency partnering to enhance transatlantic security and defend the United States forward.

General Barrett was commissioned in 1979 through the ROTC program at North Carolina State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. His commands include the 493rd Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England; the 325th Operations Group, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.; and the 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, Va. General Barrett has served as an operations officer on the Joint Staff and executive officer to the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff. He has also served as Chief of the Combat Forces and Program Integration divisions, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and as the Air Combat Command Inspector General, Langley AFB, VA. Prior to his assignment as Chief of Staff, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Allied Command Transformation, Norfolk, Va.

General Barrett is a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours in the F-15C/D and the F-22, including more than 300 hours of combat time in Southwest Asia.

"General Barrett brings a very strong military background and has also been a longtime AFA member and supporter," said Craig McKinley, AFA President.  "We are thrilled to have him onboard and remain confident that he will advance the organization's mission of promoting a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national security."  

General Barrett will begin his new role in September.

The Air Force Association is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Our mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage. To accomplish this, we:

• EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security.
• ADVOCATE for aerospace power and STEM education.
• SUPPORT the Total Air Force family and promote aerospace education.

AFA has 200 chapters nationally and internationally representing 100,000 members. Visit AFA at www.afa.org.

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SOURCE Air Force Association