Commissioning Class of 2012

Pictured left to right (front row):  2d Lt Mitchell Young, 2d Lt Brandon Turnbough, 2d Lt Nathalie Costello, 2d Lt Ashley Thompson, 2d Lt Stephanie Vaughan, 2d Lt Tommy Le, (back row):  2d Lt Elijah Tramble, 2d Lt Lindsay Robinson, 2d Lt Jonathan Gerac, 2d Lt Samuel Overton, 2d Lt Justin Kelley, 2d Lt Daniel Abeln, 2d Lt Joe Williams, 2d Lt Daniel Wheeler

AFROTC Detachment 003 commissioned its largest class yet on May 13, 2013.  Over 200 guests were in attendance, including Guest Speaker, General Mike McClendon, USAF Ret.   

Commissioning Class of 2012 is a post from: Air Force Association

AFROTC Detachment 003 held its annual Dining Out on 13 Apr 2012 at the University of Houston Hilton.  It was attended by 90+ members and guests, to include Air Force Association Members, Col (ret) Sam Morthland, Lt Col (ret) WyKoff, and Maj (ret) Donald Keltner.  Colonel Peter C. Hunt, AFROTC Southwest Region Commander, served as the event’s guest speaker

University of Houston AFROTC Dining Out is a post from: Air Force Association

Great Seafood

  An unforgetible event on  March 29, 2012 at Landry’s Westheimer

On Thursday, 29 March 2012 begining at 6:00 PM (1800 hrs) sharp.

Enjoy a fine seafood dinner and listen to Lockheed officials review the F-35 program.

Dinner is $29.00 per person including gratudies (ROTC cadet cost/$15.00/individual).  Invite your active duty,  retirees, ROTC Air Force, Army and Navy cadets.

to an evening of fun and information.  Contact Tommy Thompson at  tncthompson@hotmail.com or call him at 281-491-7522 for reservations for the event.

Landry’s Westheimer
8816 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77063
Phone: (713) 975-7873
Fax: (713) 975-9320

Major Event – F-35 Presentation from Lockheed is a post from: Air Force Association

Crystal came to us from College Station

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a focus in Accounting and Management with a minor in Horticulture from Texas A&M University.  She began her career as the Accounting and Human Resource Manager at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas.  She is now the Staff Accountant for the Houston office of Jones Lang LaSalle.

MEET CRYSTAL ARNOTE is a post from: Air Force Association

Effective December 2011 our monthly meeting will be held on the first Tuesday of each month instead of the first Thursday.  The meeting time has  changed to 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 6 December.  The location has not changed and will remain the Stags Head Pub.  See the Monthly Meetings page for a map to Stags Head and other information.

NEW MONTHLY MEETING SCHEDULE is a post from: Air Force Association

Meet the Commander—Colonel Ken Wisian, Commander Texas ANG

Colonel Ken Wisian

Our own Colonel Ken Wisian has been selected to command the Texas Air National.  He is a proud member of AFA Houston and has supported us on every occasion.  He brings a depth of experience, knowledge and leadership to the Texas ANG that is unequaled.  We salute him.  Ken’s background explains in large measure why he was chosen for this job.  He graduated from the University of Texas in 1982 and received his commission as a distinguished AFROTC graduate.  He became a B-52G Navigator and Radar Navigator at Barksdale AFB and was then selected for the USAF Test Pilot School and became the Chief Test Navigator for the AC-130U Spectre (Spooky) Gunship. Taking time out to pursue his Doctoral degree, he thentransferred to the Texas ANG where he has served in operations and command positions prior to assuming command of the 147th RW at Ellington.  He has over 3800 hours in combat aircraft and combat time in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq.  You just can’t get more qualified than that.  He is married to Dr. Meena Balakrishnan and has one daughter, Danielle.  All of the members of AFA Houston, Chapter San Jacinto TX233 wish Ken the best in his new responsibilities as the Texas Air National Guard Commander.  He is a true leader.

Colonel Ken Wisian is a post from: Air Force Association

Dinner Tour on the Houston Ship Channel

19 August 2011

    An exciting and special informational trip hosted by the Port of Houston Authority

Aboard the good ship M/V Sam Houston

From 1700 to 2000 hours

An exciting and educational evening.  The Port Authority is sponsoring the dinner, soft beverages, wine, beer and mixed drinks.

There is no charge for this educational tour. However, it has been our custom to ask for a $10.00 or more donation from each attendee, from which the chapter will donate to the Houston Seafarers Center.

Reservations Required: This is a very popular event and you need to make reservations early. The boat will accommodate a maximum of 65 people.  We must have your reservations by no later than 12 August 2011.  For security and homeland defense we must provide the Port Authority with all names no later than 15 August. This is an adults (18 or older) event.  RSVP giving full name of all attendees in your party to Cal Perry, 281-280-1001,  or Email:

 jcalperry1001@aol.com.

Assembly at the Dock at the Visitors Pavilion: 1700 hrs. Board time: 1730 hrs. Departure: 1800 hours sharp.  Return: 2000 hours Directions: 7300 Clinton Drive, Gate 8, Houston. Route: Exit East Loop 610 at Clinton. Go west on Clinton past McCarty Street to Gate 8. Enter Gate 8 and follow the signs. NOTE: All occupants of the car must have a photo ID to get through the gate.

Ship Channel Tour is a post from: Air Force Association

Each year the Air Force awards distinguished unit citations and outstanding citations to AFJROTC units throughout the country.  The Houston area recently received an overwhelming 16 of these awards out of 32 units in the area. 

Houston Area High School Air Force Junior ROTC Programs Receive Air Force Recognition is a post from: Air Force Association

An Ellington reunion at Victory Base Complex, Baghdad featured two past presidents of AFA Houston.  In the picture L-R Colonel Rodney Horn, our immediate past president and 447th AEG Commander,  Major Antonio (Tony) Silvera, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission, and LtCol (Ret) Karl Schmidt , former AFA Houston president. 

AFA Houston- The Iraq Connection is a post from: Air Force Association

The AFA Texas Spring Meeting held at the Hilton NASA Clear Lake was full of many activities, great guest speakers and, oh yes, business.   On Friday when the golf tournament ended, everyone set off to Ellington Field and the 147th Recon Wing for a tour and briefing on the Predator.  The 147th conducts daily operations in Afghanistan flying the Predator from control centers inside 147th Operations.  The tour was conducted by Colonel Ken Wisian, Commander of the 147th and an AFA member assisted by Lt. Col. Shaunte Cooper, Wing EXO and also an AFA member.  At the Saturday luncheon, Ken again spoke to

to us about the importance of the Texas Air National Guard to Texas and to the nation,  Here he is shown with Kelly Jones, Air Force Association Texas President.  The briefing lasted well beyond the alloted time because of the enthusiastic questions from the members.

Next came USAF Colonel and Astronaut Lee Archambault , Mission Commander on STS119.

Lee took us on a ride into space on STS119 as he and his crew installed the final solar panels on the International Space Station.  It was exciting from the moment of liftoff filmed both inside and outside the shuttle.  Again the dinner ran well over the time alloted because of the many questions from the members.

Kudos go to our own Tommy Thompson who planned the whole event and executed it to perfection.

Texas AFA Spring Meeting A Success is a post from: Air Force Association