2004 AAAA Annual Convention, March 24-27, Opryland, Nashville, Tennessee

COL Hal Kushner and Mike Wallace, from CBS 60 minutes

Night Stalkers CH-47 on the convention floor

Ron Kurowsky presenting the Honorable Order of St. Michael to Edward Carnes.

"And I won this one for ..."

Cub Club Reception

Flight crews of AH-64D, Apache Longbow

The final event of the convention was the Banquet. Before the start, Ms. Wynonna Judd, center right, and Army G3, LTG Dick Cody, pose with the cadet escorts from Virginia Millitary Institute.

The colors were presented by the cadets from the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College.

GEN Doug Brown, CG Special Operations Command, SOCOM, was the banquet speaker. Brown gave a memorable speech that featured walk-ons by wounded combat veterans of Vietnam and OIF.

Brown also presented the Annual Unit of the Year awards, including the U.S. Army Reserve award. It was awarded to the 244th Aviation Brigade, Fort Sheridan, Ill. Pictured accepting the award from Brown left are COL Thomas W. Caples, the commander, and CSM Dennis P. Jensen, the senior NCO. Copresenting were BG Sinclair, Aviation Branch Chief, BG Matthew C. Matia, deputy commanding general for mobilization & training, USA Combined Arms Support Command, and President Andreson.

The G Company 104th Aviation Regiment, Pennsylvania and Connecticut Army National Guard was the ARNG Unit of the Year. Left to right are GEN Brown, the unit's XO, Captain John Kubitz representing the commander, MAJ David Ernest Wood and Staff Sergeant Paul Albert representing the Senior NCO, First Sergeant Dell Lynn Christine, BG Sinclair, LTG Roger Schultz, Chief, National Guard Bureau, and President Andreson.

The 9th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky was the 2003 Outstanding Aviation Unit of the Year. Accepting the award for the unit was the commander LTC Timothy A. Jones and the Senior NCO Command Sergeant Major Michael R. Marler. Pictured with MG David Petraeus, Division Commander, 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault Division, front left, are many, many members of the unit and their spouses. LTC Jones is far right and CSM Marler is holding the award on the right.

The final award was the Robert M. Leich Award, presented to the U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), Fort Eustis, Va. COL William M. Gavora, commander, and Ms. Sandy Hoff, the deputy commander, accepted the award on behalf of the directorate. Pictured flanking them are fellow directorate members and also co-winner DACs of the Year, Mr. Abejon, left and Mr. Dimitrov, right.

AAAA National President MG Andy Andreson (Ret.) wound up the event with a presentation of the AAAA Gold Order of Saint Michael to GEN Brown and then thanked all present for their support of the convention, the branch and the U.S. Army.

GEN Brown received the AAAA Gold Order of Saint Michael from MG Andy Andreson (Ret.).

MG David H. Petraeus, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell, Ky., opened the Friday morning professional program and laid down the lessons learned and tremendous accomplishments of the just returned division from OIF.

PEO Aviation MG Joe Bergantz added the acquisition perspective to the program.

BG Jim Pillsbury, CG Aviation and Missile Command, presented the critical logistics and sustainment piece on Friday morning.

GEN Paul Kern, CG Army Materiel Command, was the Friday Luncheon speaker. He also assisted in the presentation of the 2003 Air Traffic Services Unit of the Year award to Company E, 120th Aviation Rgt. Maine Army National Guard, Bangor, Maine and Fort Drum, N.Y., that had not been presented earlier in the year due to deployments. Copresenting the award was LTG Roger Schultz, chief of the National Guard Bureau, far left. Also pictured, left to right: SGT Moncrieffe, SFC Thompson, 1SG Steven Craig, CPT Jeffrey Bilodeau and GEN Kern.

Finally on Friday, LTG Schultz, chief of the National Guard Bureau, received the Order of Saint Michael Silver award in recognition of his support of Army aviation over the years. Pictured making remarks immediately after the presentation is MG Carl McNair who nominated Schultz for the award. MG Stephenson, MG Hennies, far left and AAAA president MG Andreson, far right, look on.

Saturday featured an outstanding panel chaired by MG J.D. Thurman, which looked at the results of the Aviation Task Force and the way ahead.

GEN Butch Saint, AAAA Senior Executive Associate, was the Saturday Luncheon speaker. He emphasized that time was of the essence in our rebuild of the branch. Months, not years, are the parameters for success.

The "Top Gun" award for the top AAAA membership recruiter was first. It was no surprise that Mr. John Bae of the Morning Calm Chapter once again took top honors, with 647 new members. Left to right are AAAA Senior VP and Chairman of the Membership Committee BG Tom Konitzer, Mr. Bae and AAAA President MG Andy Andreson (Ret.)

Second was Mr. William Cannon of the Aviation Center Chapter, who recruited 590 new members.

Third was CW3 Richard Tanner, Aviation Center Chapter, with 50.

Fourth was LTC Donald Galli of the Air Assault Chapter who did not attend, but LTC Mike McClellan, Tennessee Valley Chapter, who placed fifth was present to receive his award.

The Senior Chapter achieving the greatest net gain in membership was the Jimmy Doolittle Chapter, Columbia S.C. which grew by 39 members. Pictured left to right are AAAA Senior VP and Chairman of the Membership Committee BG Tom Konitzer, COL Lester D. Eisner, chapter president, and CPT Ray Davis, chapter VP membership, along with President Andreson.

The Annual "Top Chapter" award was presented to the Monmouth Chapter for all its outstanding work to support soldiers and their families during 2003. The chapter also raised $60,000 for the AAAA Scholarship program. Pictured is Chapter President Mr. Ron Kurowsky and AAAA Executive Director, Bill Harris (right).

MG Carl McNair, vice president of the AAAA Scholarship Foundation, accepted donation checks from a number of industry members including Mr. Pat Shanahan of Boeing, with the firm’s third installment of $10,000 toward third pledge of $50,000.

The Purdy Corporation donated $2,000 as part of its Chapter Matching Fund pledge of $10,000. Representing them was Mr. Dave Reichert.

Ron Kurowsky of the Monmouth Chapter presents a check to MG Carl McNair for the AAAA Scholarship Foundation.

The professional program began on Thursday morning when AAAA president MG Andy Andreson, (Ret.) brought the session to order.

Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch, CW5 Stephen Knowles addressed Warrant officer initiatives.

Army Aviation Branch Chief BG E.J. Sinclair brought a sharp focus to the event with his presentation on the Branch at war and the sacrifices made to bring us to success.

CPT Maggie Smith is one of eleven soldiers highlighted by BG E.J. Sinclair during his opening statements at the AAAA convention.

The Joseph P. Cribbins Department of the Army Civilian of the Year Award, went to co-winners: Mr. Alvin A. Abejon, PM Tactical Operations Center, Redstone Arsenal, AL and Mr. George Dimitrov, Chief Rapid Prototyping Division, U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, Fort Eustis, VA.

The James H. McClellan Aviation Safety Award, sponsored by GE Aircraft Engines. It was presented to CW3 Daniel S. Dotson, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, KY. Joining him (l to r) were BG Smith, LTG Cody, BG Sinclair, and CW5 Knowles.

The 2003 Aviation Soldier of The Year was SPC Joseph M Buffinton, TF 12th Aviation, B Company, 3d Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, APO AE, who is pictured with his mother, Deborah.

SGT Shawn S. Hope, 507 Medical Company, Fort Hood, Texas, was the Aviation Non-Commissioned Officer of The Year. He brought the house down with his remarks as CSM Beckman and LTG Cody looked on.

The last award of the morning was the Army Aviator of The Year Award, presented to CW4 Curtis R. Phipps, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. He is pictured with his wife Laura, daughter Maran and son Bryce.

LTG Dick Cody

A featured breakout session on the first full day was on soldier Issues by CSM Beckman, the branch command sergeant major.