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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.