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 award, created in 2011, is the James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle Award for sustained, distinctive contributions to the history and heritage of the United States Air Force.
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
- James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle Award
Air Power History Best Article Award 2010
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:
Dr. Benjamin S. Lambeth
“Reflections on the Balkan Wars”
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:
2nd Lt Jason B. Gabriel
AFROTC Detachment 340
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA
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 Benjamin W. Bishop, USAF
"An Assessment of Napoleonic Command and Control Principles in Air Force Network Defense Operations"
School of Advanced Air and Space Studies Award 2010
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 Karl A. Schrader, USAF
"A Giant in the Shadows: Major General Benjamin Foulois and the Rise of the Army Air Service in World War I"
Download the award-winning thesis in PDF format.
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 Paul M. Wuench, USAF
“Helicopter Operations in Counterinsurgent Warfare”
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:
Cadet Christopher D. Cassidy
“Air Power Origins: Rising to New Heights, Sometimes”
Best Air Power History Book Award 2010
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. Robert S. Ehlers
“Targeting the Third Reich, Air Intelligence and the Allied Bombing Campaigns”
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:
Lieutenant Colonel A. M. Roe
“Pink's War- Applying the Principles of Air Control to Waziristan
9 March - 1 May 1925"
Maj. Gen. I.B. Holley Award 2011
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:
Joseph D. Caver
Gen. Carl "Tooey" Spaatz Award 2011
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:
Lieutenant General James R. Clapper Jr.
James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle Award
Awarded in recognition of sustained, distinctive contributions to the history and heritage of the United States Air Force.
It is named after aviation pioneer James H. Doolittle, who served as a brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, and earned the Medal of Honor for valor and leadership as commander of the famous Doolittle Raid.
Award Recipient:
The Fourth Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina
