Candidates for National Officers and Directors. The Nominating and Governance Committee met by video conference in April 2026 and selected eight candidates to send forward for open National Officer and National Director positions on the Board of Directors.
Vice Chair of the Board, Field OperationsNominated to serve as Vice Chair of the Board for Field Operations. National Director, East AreaNominated to a three-year term. National Director, At LargeTwo At-Large seats are open; each is elected to a three-year term.
Voting Window
OpensSaturday, Sept. 12 · 3:00 p.m. EST
ClosesSunday, Sept. 13 · 12:00 p.m. EST
Authorized delegates can cast their vote anytime, electronically, during this period.
Chris CanadaBellevue, Neb.Chris Canada joined AFA in 1980 through the Arnold Air Society and became an AFA Life Member in 1985. For the past 15 years Canada has served in elected Field Leader roles such as Chapter Executive Vice President and President, served as two state Presidents, Region President for six years, and currently as Vice Chair of the Board for Field Operations. His AFA committee experience includes Nominations; Bylaws; Awards; Nominating & Governance; and Executive, AIMS Steering Group, and the Field Council for five years prior to chairing it for the past three years. Canada’s AFA service has been recognized with the Medal of Merit, Exceptional Service Award, and the Chair’s Citation. He served in the Active-duty Air Force for 28 years as an aviator accumulating over 5,600 flight hours in 14 mission design series aircraft, as a staff officer at the Numbered Air Force, Major Command, and Joint Combatant Command levels, as a Commanding Officer at three levels, and as a Senior Military Advisor. Retiring from the Air Force in 2013, he continues defense service as a Senior Analyst at HQ U.S. Strategic Command. Canada was commissioned through AFROTC at the University of Tennessee.
Janelle StaffordShawnee, Okla.Janelle Stafford, an AFA member for over 20 years, has held numerous AFA positions including National Director, Region President, and roles serving on the Strategic Planning, Membership, Advocacy, and AIMS Steering Committees, as well as Chapter President, Vice President, Secretary, State President, and Treasurer. She currently serves as National Director, Central Area, serves as Chair of the Membership Committee, Co-Lead of the Emerging Leaders Program, and sits on the Field Council, Advocacy, and AIMS Steering Committees. AFA Awards encompass Chapter and State Community Partner of the Year (2017 to 2020), AFA Medal of Merit and Exceptional Service Awards, Chapter Officer of the Year, Chapter and State Person of the Year, and National Member of the Year (2024). Stafford has nearly 25 years in the aerospace and defense industry, with strong ties to Tinker Air Force Base and Oklahoma’s defense sector and believes in increasing membership and chapter participation, as well as increasing the involvement of younger members in our Chapters and Association.
Linda McMahonYorktown, Va.Linda McMahon, an AFA Life Member, has held numerous AFA positions, including Virginia State President, Vice President for the Central East Region, Chapter President of the Steele Chapter, and as a member of the Field Council’s Field Leadership Development Subcommittee, Field Tech Subcommittee, Nominating Committee, Region Presidents Subcommittee, and Space Working Group. She currently serves as Central East Region President and sits on the Education Council, Field Council, and the Heritage Committee. McMahon expertly led Virginia’s AFA organization through the pandemic, extending her tenure as State President for an additional year when the State President-elect decided not to take the role, and was recognized with the AFA 2022 Member of the Year award. She is a former Arnold Air Society/Silver Wings member and strongly supports today’s AAS/SW members as future AF/SF officers and AFA members.
Mark DouglasWilliamsburg, Va.Mark Douglas, an AFA Life member, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in military history and also earned his master’s in airline operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force before retirement as a lieutenant colonel, flying as an EC-130 Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot and serving in command and staff roles, including Commander of the 505th Training Squadron and Deputy Commander of the 505th Training Group. Douglas also served as lead planner for air component post-conflict planning during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He served as AFA’s Langley Chapter President, as state Aerospace Education Vice President, and Chapter Executive Vice President and Secretary. In 2016, he received the AFA Medal of Merit. Douglas now serves in the Defense industry.
Taona EnriquezIndialantic, Fla.Taona Enriquez is an AFA member whose connection to the Association began in 2012. Enriquez has made it a priority throughout her career to bring Airmen, civilians, enlisted personnel, officers, and spouses to AFA gatherings to provide future leaders direct exposure to senior leadership. She retired from the United States Air Force in September 2024 after 23 years of distinguished service, including roles as Commander at Hanscom AFB, Mass., overseeing a $175M annual operations budget and liaising for four Program Executive Offices; Director of Contracting at Hanscom, leading a 525-member organization supporting a $43 billion portfolio; as a Defense Legislative Fellow; and as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander of USAFE/AFAFRICA. She currently serves as Founder and CEO of Space Coast Solutions, LLC, driving strategic growth for innovative technology and defense firms. Enriquez holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Mexico and a Graduate Certificate in Congressional and Legislative Affairs from Georgetown University.
Todd FreeceOviedo, Fla.Todd Freece currently serves as National Director, East Area, and has previously served as a Chapter President. Freece holds three master’s degrees from the Naval War College, USAF Air Command and Staff College, and Troy University. He spent more than 26 years as a USAF officer with positions at all levels across a diverse set of organizations and assignments including Astronautical Engineer, Space Operations Officer, and Commander. His awards include Best Electronic Warfare Squadron of the Year and the Bernard Schriever Fellowship Award for Outstanding Support to Military Operations. Following his service, Freece led the Continuing Education and Professional Development Department of the University of Central Florida, which focused on professional certification & workforce education/re-education to expand opportunities. He is also the AFA Florida State and Region President and is currently working as a consultant.
Bill HardingEl Segundo, Calif.Bill Harding, an AFA Life Member, has held numerous AFA positions including President of AFA’s Schriever Chapter, helping lead the chapter to be named AFA’s Outstanding Large Chapter in 2022, and co-chair of AFA’s Space Working Group for more than two years. He currently holds the position of National Director, at Large. The Space Working Group was instrumental in providing AFA leadership with insight into space issues and influencing the ultimate rebranding of AFA to the Air & Space Forces Association. Harding served in the Air Force for 28 years and currently works as an independent consultant, continuing to prioritize AFA volunteer service because he believes in the mission.
Paul WeselohSan Antonio, TexasPaul Weseloh is an AFA Life Member and a retired Chief Master Sergeant with 29 years of Active-duty Air Force service. Weseloh is a past Texoma Region President, Texas State President, Alamo Chapter 234 President, and a 2015–16 Emerging Leader. He previously served AFA on the Emerging Leader Subcommittee, Field Council, and Field Leadership Development Team. His awards include the AFA Texas Medal of Freedom, AFA Texas Member of the Year, AFA Medal of Merit, AFA Exceptional Service Award, and the AFA Chairman’s Citation. An intelligence analyst by training, he has extensive experience in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. He holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from American Military University, where he majored in International Relations and Conflict Resolution. Weseloh deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield, Northern Watch, and Enduring Freedom. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Meritorious Service Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters. He is currently a Department of the Air Force civilian serving as Director of Safety for a Numbered Air Force at JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, responsible for the safety program which encompasses aviation, space, weapons, occupational, and risk management for more than 49,000 Airmen worldwide.