Members of the William Byrd High School Air Force JROTC program attended the quarterly state meeting of the Virginia State Air Force Association on February 3 at the Holiday Inn. The JROTC Color Guard from William Byrd opened the dinner banquet.

According to Lt. Col. Joseph J. Thompson, the JROTC instructor at William Byrd, the cadets got a chance to meet and talk with the guest speaker, the Honorable F. Whitten Peters. He served under President Clinton as the 19th Secretary of the Air Force, Under Secretary and Acting Secretary of the Air Force, and Principal Deputy Counsel of the Department of Defense.

Cadets attending the event included Eric Oliver, Nathaniel Lee, Heather Cavacloglou, and Jasmine Allinson.

The Air Force Association is the voice for aerospace power and the Air Force family. It aims to connect service members, and the total Air Force family, through professional development, unique programs, and support initiatives before, during, and beyond their time in uniform.

The AFA holds national symposia, publishes Air Force Magazine, and disseminates information through outreach programs. It sponsors professional development seminars and recognizes excellence in the education and aerospace fields through national awards programs. The AFA presents scholarships and grants to active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members and their dependents; and awards educator grants to promote science and math education at the elementary and secondary level.