National Award Winners: Colorado had multiple National Award winners this year, and those awards were presented at the National AFA Convention September 2023. Congratulations to these individuals and Chapters for their outstanding contributions to the mission of AFA. National Chapter Winners were:

• Aerospace Education Achievement—Mile High Chapter
• Aerospace Education Achievement—RE Huyser Chapter
• Aerospace Education Achievement—Mel Harmon Chapter
• Aerospace Education Excellence Award/Small Chapter—Mel Harmon Chapter
• Exceptional Service Award/United Forces and Families Programs—Mile High Chapter
• Outstanding Small Chapter—Mel Harmon Chapter
• National Individual Winners were:
•      Exceptional Service Award—Mike Sumida, Mel Harmon Chapter
•      Mary Anne Thomson Award—Linda Aldrich, Lance P. Sijan Chapter

State Award Winners: State President Cliff Klein presented awards to the AFA volunteers acknowledging that the list of contributions for each would take hours to read. As such there was time to acknowledge with a thank you and applause for these volunteers who donate their time, talent and treasure to educate, advocate and provide support for the Air and Space Forces and the military families. Members who were unable to attend received their awards at Chapter meetings.

• Chapter Citations:
•      Sijan Chapter:  Jeff Womelsdorf
• State Medal of Merit:
•      Mel Harmon Chapter:  Marv Blair
•      Mile High Chapter:  Charles Morgan, Mike Brunn
•      Lance P. Sijan Chapter:  Bruce Hall
• State Exceptional Service Award:
•      Lance P. Sijan Chapter:  Darius DeSpain
•      Mile High Chapter:  Emily Sawicki, Neil Burroughs
• State Presidential Citation
•      Lance P. Sijan Chapter: Jennifer Miller
• State Superior Excellence Award: 
•      Mel Harmon Chapter:  Mary Ann Blair, Henry Eichman, Mike Sumida, Mark  “Yak” Maryak
•      Mile High Chapter:  Kenn Bowens
•      RE Huyser Chapter:  Rick Peterson
•      Lance P. Sijan Chapter:  Felipe Rodriguez

State Member of the Year: The highlight of the State Awards for AFA volunteers is the announcement of the State Member of the Year.  Every year, very select AFA members are recognized for their consistently outstanding dedication, leadership, commitment, and service to the AF and our Air Force and now Space Force families. He or she is not a flash in the pan, but rather they cover the entire spectrum of service, many times in a little noticed, behind the scenes manner. They are always dependable and thus we call them the “Member of the Year.” Our 2023 Member of the Year is Mrs. Margaret Eichman.

Margaret has served in every capacity at Mel Harmon Chapter and prides herself on being “Chief Nag” to Chapter President, Mike Sumida.  Cliff described her as a One-Woman Powerhouse. Her ability to track what needs to be done is amazing and she seems to find resources for every project even when none seem to be available. If there’s an event in Pueblo that AFA can support, she makes it happen—including all the way through COVID and up until the present. There is no doubt that she is a major factor in the Mel Harmon Chapter being awarded the National Small Chapter of the Year for four years in a row.  Congratulations to our Member of the Year for being a true advocate for AFA, the Air Force and Space Force in every sense of the word.