Warbird Information Exchange

MIDLAND, TEXAS (Oct. 2, 2007) – Stephan C. Brown has been named president and chief executive officer of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). A former Army aviator and private pilot with more than 1,800 hours logged in military and civilian aircraft, Brown will assume his new post on Oct. 17, 2007.

“The CAF’s Board of Directors looks forward to working with Steve Brown in furthering the mission of the Commemorative Air Force” said CAF Chief of Staff Gordon Stevenson. “We believe he will continue our tradition of capable leadership that began with our founder, Lloyd Nolen, in 1957.”

Brown brings almost 25 years of marketing and management experience to the CAF, including four years in senior management with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in Oshkosh, Wis.

“I am very honored to have been chosen to lead CAF into the next phase of this organization’s proud history,” Brown said. “The CAF is uniquely qualified and enthusiastically committed to fulfilling its mission of preserving the military aviation history of this country through flying aircraft.”

After graduating from Penn State University in 1983, Brown served as an Army commissioned officer and helicopter pilot, earning the rank of captain. Upon his discharge from the Army in 1988, Brown began a career in consumer products, retail sales and marketing. He began at Humminbird Fishfinders in Eufaula, Ala., and quickly rose through the ranks from territory sales manager to vice president of sales, marketing and product development.

In 1997, he left Humminbird to become vice president of the Consumer Products Division for Valley Recreation Products, Inc., in Saginaw, Mich. When the opportunity came along a short time later to work at EAA – and reconnect with his passion for aviation – he quickly accepted the position of executive vice president and chief marketing officer and remained with the organization for nearly five years.

“Steve Brown was recruited by EAA in 1998 to bring the organization into the future regarding marketing,” said David R. Pasahow of Blue Line Advisors, an executive search and management advisory firm specializing in general and business aviation, who is also a member of EAA’s Board of Directors. “Under Steve’s leadership, a web presence was developed, a branding effort was implemented and what is today known as AirVenture was solidified.”

In 2002, Brown launched his own business: RSVP Wisconsin, a direct mail marketing publication. He continued to direct this operation while serving in his present position as president and chief operating officer of Chi-Mar Construction, LLC, in Destin, Fla.

“Our primary goal going forward is to spread the word and the mission of the CAF to a much larger audience,” Brown stated. “Tom Brokaw accurately described World War II veterans as the ‘Greatest Generation.’ We need to honor them – and all our aviation veterans – by involving the next generation.”

Brown and his wife, Terri, are the parents of three children: Heather, age 21; Lauren, 17, and Austin, 14. He succeeds Bob Rice, who has accepted the position of executive director of the American Red Cross of Southwest Texas after serving the CAF for 16 years. During that time, the CAF grew to more than 9,000 members with units in 28 states and four foreign countries, operating more than 175 airplanes in what has become the world’s largest collection of classic military aircraft. The organization has also expanded its mission, programs and facilities, gaining international recognition in the aviation community.

The American Airpower Heritage Museum has added several galleries including the Aviation Nose Art Gallery, a conservation lab, a research library and the Dynamics of Flight Discovery Center. In 1997, the museum received accreditation by the American Association of Museums and in 2007 achieved another milestone by becoming a Smithsonian affiliate. The Robert E. Reiss Memorial Holy Family Chapel was dedicated during FINA-CAF AIRSHO 2007. The World War II Ground Transportation Vehicles Museum is set for completion this year.

The Commemorative Air Force is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the men and women who have served, or who are serving, America by maintaining a flying museum of classic military aircraft.

For more information on CAF, access the organization’s Web site at www.commemorativeairforce.org or call Kay Crites, CAF director of public relations at (432) 567-3007.

Great to see another Army Aviator in the mix. It wasn't but a few weeks ago that I asked for the Army wings to be added .