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Alumni group promotes NASIC family, expands member base

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • National Air and Space Intelligence Center Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Nearly 20 years ago a group of National Air Intelligence Center alumni decided to create a social organization designed to honor the legacy of those who had gone before them. Throughout the years the group expanded to nearly 600 members with the goal of preserving a sense of a National Air and Space Intelligence Center family.

“There are a lot of people who gave their life to NASIC, when they leave its hard for them to pull the blinds over their previous career,” said Larry Benson, NASIC Alumni Association senior operations advisor.

NASICAA is a way for them to stay connected to the center and with one another. The association board hosts annual events designed to embrace the organization’s history while allowing members to reconnect.

“We are fundamentally a social organization," Benson said. “But we are looking for ways to expand the organization.”

One of the ways NASICAA leadership hopes to do this is by increasing their membership base to include active duty service members.

“We want to take advantage of them while they are here and build a base for our future,” Benson said.

Previously, group membership was open to those who retired from NASIC or corporate representatives with an interest in promoting the welfare of NASIC. The decision to open membership up to active-duty service members was made with a hope of connecting the younger NASIC community with the center’s heritage.

“I believe the younger generation at NASIC can gain insights into lessons learned from previous long- and short-term employees of NASIC and the broader intelligence community,” said Wayne Wolfe, NASICAA vice president. “I am sure that current alumni would welcome the opportunity to discuss their career ups and downs with them and perhaps offer mentorship to the next generation.”

Organization members work on projects big and small which range from the beautification of NASIC to hosting large-scale fundraising events. The group holds an annual NASICAA Scholarship Open each September which grew out of the group’s desire to improve the organization.

“A group of people wanted to figure out how to make the organization better,” Wofle said. “We were thinking what do people love and will help people when we came up with the idea of beefing up the scholarship program with a golf outing.”

In 2014, the annual golf tournament raised $9,600 for scholarships benefiting children and grandchildren of current and past NASIC and predecessor organizations employees. This year group leadership presented 21 scholarships worth $9,900.

In addition, NASICAA leadership is planning a speaking engagement featuring author Wolfgang Samuel during October. Samuel, a German born in 1935, immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager after his mother married an American service member. He later joined the Air Force and flew reconnaissance against the Soviet Union in the Cold War years and combat against North Vietnam. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross three times and numerous Air Medals.

Active-duty service members who join NASICAA receive free membership until they retire. New civilian members pay no dues their first year with the organization. After the first year, dues are $10 a year with the option to purchase a life time membership with the cost based on age.

For more information about NASICAA, visit http://www.nasicaa.org/index.html.