Overview
The Air Force Historical Foundation stimulates interest in America’s air power history and heritage by sponsoring awards that honor the making – and documentation – of Air Force history.
The Foundation's newest awards, created in 2007, are the Major General I.B. Holley Award for the documentation of Air Force history during a lifetime of service; and the General Carl "Tooey" Spaatz Award, for sustained, significant contributions to Air Force history.
Below are the latest awards sponsored by the Air Force Historical Foundation, which are open to cadets in commissioning programs, to officers undergoing professional military education, and to authors who write for publication in periodicals or history books:
- Air Power History Best Article Award
- Air Force ROTC Scholarship Award
- General Bryce Poe II Award
- School of Advanced Air and Space Studies Award
- Air Command and Staff College Award
- Air Force Academy Award
- Best Air Power History Book Award
- Two Air Forces Award
- Maj Gen I.B. Holley Award
- Gen Carl "Tooey" Spaatz Award
Air Power History Best Article Award
Awarded to the author of the best article published in Air Power History during a calendar year, and selected by an independent panel of judges.
The award consists of an engraved plaque, a letter from the President of the Foundation, and a one-year membership in the Foundation.
Award Recipient:
Thomas Wildenberg
“The A-1C Gunsight, A Case Study of Technological Innovation in the United States Air Force”
Read more about the Air Power History Best Article Award.
Air Force ROTC Scholarship Award
Recognition of leadership, citizenship, and outstanding academic and military achievement to reward individual’s demonstrating potential for future contributions in the nation interest and to the Air Force.
This award includes an engraved plaque, a letter from the President of the Foundation and a one year membership to the Foundation.
Award Recipient:
2Lt Andrew J. Passey
General Bryce Poe II Award
Awarded to the author(s) of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) thesis judged to provide the most significant contribution to an understanding of the historical factors affecting an Air Force or Department of Defense problem, event or process. This award is named in honor of the Foundation’s ninth President, General Bryce Poe II (term of office: 1987-1996).
The award consists of an engraved plaque, a letter from the President of the Foundation, and a one-year membership in the Foundation.
Award Recipient:
Major Timothy J. Bode, USAF
Major John A. Ferko, USAF
Major Larry D. Gunn, USAF
For “A Case Study: Learning Principles From An Effective Software-Intensive System-Of-Systems”
School of Advanced Air and Space Studies Award
Awarded to the student who writes the best thesis of major historical interest to the United States Air Force during the year.
The award consists of an engraved plaque, a letter from the President of the Foundation, and a one-year membership in the Foundation.
Award Recipient:
Major Ryan Link, USAF
For “Dragooned Into A Joint War: American Airpower In the Mediterranean And Operation Dragoon”
Air Command and Staff College Award
The Air Command and Staff College Award for Research and Writing is awarded for the outstanding paper in military history.
The award consists of an engraved plaque, and a letter from the President of the Foundation.
Award Recipient:
Major Ainsworth O'Reilly, USAF
"The Better Blitzkrieg: A Comparison of Tactical Air Power Use by Guderian and Patton"
Air Force Academy Award
Awarded to a cadet in the First Class (Senior) at the U.S. Air Force Academy who writes the most significant research paper for the academic year contributing to an understanding of air power.
The award consists of an engraved plaque, a letter from the President of the Foundation, and a one-year membership in the Foundation.
Award Recipient:
C/1C Daniel J. Jackson
The Forgotten Squadron: The 449th Fighter Squadron and the American Air War in China
Best Air Power History Book Award
Awarded to the author of the best book on an air power topic of historical interest during the calendar year, and selected by an independent panel of judges.
The award consists of an engraved plaque, a letter from the President of the Foundation, and a one-year membership in the Foundation.
Award Recipient:
Dr. Stephen P. Randolph (Col, USAF Ret)
Two Air Forces Award
This award was established in cooperation with the Royal Air Force Historical Society as a joint award with each organization nominating and selecting a junior officer from its service. The selection is made for the best article written during the year that drew on the USAF-RAF heritage and history.
The award is an engraved plaque provided to both nominees by the Air Force Historical Foundation and a congratulatory letter from both the President of the Air Force Historical Foundation and the Chairman of the Royal Air Force Historical Society.
Award Recipient:
Wing Commander Bryan Hunt MSc MPhil RAF
“Air Power and Psychological Warfare Operations, Malaya 1948-1960”
Maj Gen I.B. Holley Award
Awarded in recognition of a sustained, significant contribution to the documentation of Air Force history during a lifetime of service.
The award consists of a certificate, trophy and the inscription of the winner's name on the permanent trophy.
Award Recipient:
Herman S. Wolk
Gen Carl "Tooey" Spaatz Award
Awarded in recognition of sustained, significant contributions to the making of Air Force history during a lifetime of service.
The award consists of a certificate, trophy and the inscription of the winner's name on the permanent trophy.
Award Recipient:
Lt Gen Thomas P. Stafford, USAF (Ret)
