Air Force Public Affairs
Hall of Fame

Saluting the Pioneers of the Public Affairs Profession

The Air Force Public Affairs Hall of Fame recognizes those Public Affairs professionals who have made unique, significant, and lasting contributions to the United States Air Force.

Members of the Hall of Fame, whether enlisted, officer, or civilian, were groundbreaking leaders in one or more of the specialties encompassed by the Air Force Public Affairs career field — Band, Broadcasting, Visual Information/Combat Camera, and Information/Public Affairs. They secured their places of honor in the history and traditions of the Air Force by their ceaseless and eminently successful efforts to earn it the trust, confidence, and appreciation of the American people.

The Hall of Fame has both a physical and virtual location. On April 22, 2025, the physical location became a reality with the unveiling of the Hall of Fame wall display at the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Maryland. The display, pictured in the story below, features the “Pioneers” – the original fifteen members of the Hall of Fame. The virtual Hall of Fame on this website features both the Pioneers and the nineteen more members who have been inducted since the Hall of Fame began in July 2021.

To read about the accomplishments of the distinguished professionals who have been honored as Hall of Fame inductees, see the list below.

Know someone, living or deceased, who you feel is worthy of this unique honor? Go here to learn how the nomination and selection process works.

Hall of Fame Display Unveiled

By: Clem Gaines
Fort Meade, MD
April 22, 2025


The Air Force Public Affairs Hall of Fame display was unveiled here today at the Defense Information School (DINFOS). The display is in the Air and Space Force corridor at the school.

The dedication ceremony and unveiling was recorded. You can watch it below.

Joining both the DINFOS and Army Hall of Fame displays, the new display highlights individual accomplishments in the public affairs, bands, broadcasting and audiovisual career fields throughout the history of the Air Force.

DINFOS HoF Display


The display, funded by the Air Force Public Affairs Association (AFPAA), highlights the Pioneer Class of the original fifteen officers, enlisted, and civilians selected by the Association in coordination with the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs. Each of the Pioneers dedicated their careers and used their skills to tell the continuing story of what was then the youngest military service.

The Pioneers include: General Henry “Hap” Arnold who was taught to fly by the Wright Brothers and, through his outstanding aviation career, became a General of the Air Force (in 1949) which was the first such commission granted. He was also an accomplished writer and spokesperson from the 1920s through World War Two; Alice Price who came from a family of artists and, as a civilian, rose to become the chief of the Air Force Art and Museum branch; Ken Hackman, fondly remembered as the “godfather” of visual information as well as an outstanding teacher; and Buzz Rizer who, during a fifty year career, became the director of the Armed Forces Information Service with responsibilities for the for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service, Stars and Stripes, and the Defense Information School.

Eric Schnaible, president of AFPAA, said “Today is a very special day for both the Air Force and our Association as we honor the men and women who were the trailblazers of the Air Force Public Affairs career field. We established the Hall of Fame in 2021 to recognize and honor those who made significant and lasting contributions to the creation, growth and operation of the Air Force Public Affairs family of career fields.”

Since that time, thirty-four officers, civilians and enlisted personnel have been inducted in the Hall of Fame.

Brig. Gen. Allen Herritage, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Air Force Public Affairs, said “I thank the Association for your foresight, dedication and hard work in making this Hall of Fame display a reality – what a tribute to those who helped make us what we are today! I want to give a special shout-out to the Army Public Affairs Association for their counsel and assistance in creating the display.”

The general highlighted one of the career field Pioneers – Brig. Gen. Jerry Dalton who was the first career public affairs officer to reach general officer rank. “I’m sure General Dalton is looking down at all of us with his big smile,” he said.

Maj Gen Pat Ryder, Brig Gen Allen Herritage, BGen Ron Rand, and
            AFPAA President Eric Schnaible at the Hall of Fame Dedication
Maj Gen Pat Ryder, Brig Gen Allen Herritage, BGen Ron Rand, and AFPAA President Eric Schnaible at the Hall of Fame Dedication Ceremony


The wall display at DINFOS also includes a QR code that connects to this virtual Hall of Fame page, where visitors can learn more about the Pioneers, as well as the wider list of people selected for this prestigious recognition. For a closer look at the details of the display, check out the second video below.

The Hall of Fame is strategically placed in a hallway along with the existing Air Force Public Affairs Heritage display, which you can view in the third video below. Every year, more than 2,000 students, from all services, pass through it on their way to the main registration room to start their classes.

Dedication Ceremony

The Air Force Public Affairs Hall of Fame Dedication Ceremony at DINFOS featured comments by AFPAA President Eric Schnaible, DINFOS Deputy Commandant Lt Col Kim Bender, and SAF/PA Director Brig Gen Allen Herritage. The emcee for the event was former AFPAA Chairman Clem Gaines.





For a close-up look at what DINFOS students will see every day as they walk by the Air Force Public Affairs Hall of Fame, watch the video below.





The Hall of Fame is located directly across the hallway from SAF/PA's Air Force Public Affairs display. You can view that display in the short video below.



Air Force Public Affairs
Hall of Fame
Inductees

These Are the PA Professionals Who Defined Excellence

To view the list of all the members of the Hall of Fame, click or tap on the "All Inductees" tab. You can also search for an inductee either alphabetically by the first letter of their last name, or by when they were inducted.

Click or tap on an inductee's picture to learn more about their accomplishments and their lasting contributions to the Public Affairs profession.


All Inductees

Pioneers

2021 Class

2022 Class

2023 Class

2024 Class

A to F

G to L

M to P

Q to Z

How to Nominate a Candidate for Induction


If you are a member of the Air Force Public Affairs Association, the Combat Camera Association, the Air Force Musicians Association, or the Air Force Broadcasters Alumni group, and know of a deserving candidate for induction into the Hall of Fame, you can submit a nomination to the Hall of Fame Committee by completing the nomination form below.

Selections for induction into the Hall of Fame are made on an annual basis. The deadline for submitting a nomination is December 1st of each year.

The Hall of Fame Committee consists of representatives from AFPAA, the Combat Camera Association, the Air Force Musicians Association, and the Air Force Broadcasters Alumni group. The committee reviews all nominations received and makes recommendations for each year’s class of inductees. The committee’s recommendations are then shared with the SAF/PA Director for his or her input, prior to a final selection decision by the AFPAA Board of Directors.

The members of the Hall of Fame Committee are:

If you need additional information about the Hall of Fame or the nominating process, please send your questions to the committee via email to: hof@afpaaa.org.

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of Nomination Form