On the Passing of Senator James M. Inhofe

Yesterday, our nation misplaced an awesome patriot and a real good friend of America’s Air and Area Forces: Senator James M. Inhofe.  

It was lower than two years in the past that the Air & Area Forces Affiliation was deeply honored to current to him our highest civilian award: the W. Stuart Symington Award. Named after the primary Secretary of the Air Power, it has been introduced to 2 presidents. No particular person deserved this award extra. 

Since Senator Inhofe was first elected to the Senate in 1994, not an hour glided by during which the Senator didn’t consider the way to higher the capabilities of our Air and Area Forces. And when he was not fascinated about that, his thoughts turned to figuring out one of the best methods to reduce the heavy burden of service for our Airmen, Guardians, their Households, and veterans. “How are the army households doing?” was typically the query he put to our nation’s most senior leaders.  

Senator Inhofe’s whole profession was devoted to a easy precept: making a distinction. Due to his a long time of selfless sacrifice our Air and Area Forces have higher plane and area programs. Our Airmen, Guardians, their Households, and veterans have higher lives. Merely put, our nation is stronger due to Senator Inhofe.  

It has typically been remarked from probably the most senior ranges of the Division of the Air Power right down to the most recent recruit, that when the chips had been down and the Division was on the ropes, it was Senator Inhofe who saved the day.  

His dedication to service was not simply directed to our nationwide safety, it was additionally targeted on serving to others. No larger instance of this was his help to the folks of Africa. In reality, Senator Inhofe was on a primary title foundation with lots of the most senior leaders of that continent. Utilizing the complete affect of his workplace, Senator Inhofe ensured that those that unfold violence and destruction on that continent had been confronted and confronted the complete weight of america.  

However making certain peace and justice was only one a part of his quest to higher the lives of the folks of Africa. We can’t depend the variety of growth packages he supported, particularly the development of dams and different electrification tasks.

To know Senator Inhofe was to know that he was a household man. Nobody cherished his spouse extra and, regardless of all his onerous work, his first ideas had been all the time of his spouse Kay, his kids, and 12 grandchildren. We all know that we’re joined by all 118,000 AFA members in saying we’re grateful for Senator Inhofe and grateful for his service.

Bernie Skoch
Chair of the Board

Lt. Gen. Burt Discipline, USAF (Ret.)
President & CEO