ABOUT US
The Association is organized, operated and dedicated to extending and preserving the spirit and camaraderie among persons who have been assigned or associated with the AAF/USAAF/USAF Air Rescue forces in the past, those presently serving, and those who may serve in the future.
ARA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHRIS BARNETT
President
Chris Barnett is presently a consultant advising top government officials to include the United States Air Force and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. He retired in November of 2017 as a USAF Colonel after 26 years of service. His final assignment was as an instructor of Leadership and Warfighting as a member of the Warfighting Department at the Air War College. He joined the AWC faculty in the summer of 2016 after serving as the Vice Commander, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, and Vice Commander, 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, Ramstein AFB, Germany. Chris Barnett is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in a variety of H-60 aircraft.
VIC PEREIRA
Vice President
Vic " Bobo" Pereira is a retired USAF Colonel and former 355th Vice Wing Commander. He is currently the Pima County Public Health Deputy Director.
BRAD DOW
Secretary
Brad is a retired USAF Lt Col and former Command Pilot with 20 years of AF Rescue experience. He retired from HQ AETC In 2017 where he continues work as a civil servant.
MIKE TILLEMA
Treasurer
Mike is a retired USAF Colonel with 26 years of AF Rescue experience. After his AF career he served as the NASA Chief of Flying Operations at Kennedy Space Center.
BOB REMEY
Historian
Bob is a retired USAF Lt Col and a former command pilot with 23 years of AF Rescue experience. He was most recently at NATO Headquarters Allied Air Command as Senior Joint Personnel Recovery Staff Officer in Ramstein Air Base Germany.
DAN BEATTY
Plans & Programs
Dan Beatty is a retired USAF Lt Col with over 3500 hours in USAF helos and 28 years in the USAF helo business. He was an Instructor / Flight Examiner in the CH-3 and HH-3E, and the H-60 and MH-60G. He also commanded the Undergraduate Helicopter Training unit at Ft Rucker and has logged IP time in the UH-1H. Dan led over 250 people in a civilian contract helicopter operation in Afghanistan for almost a year and also flew civilian EMS helos in Colorado for 6 years USAF.
Searching for new PR Director
Public Relations
Info coming soon
MANDY HUTCHISON
Editor
Mandy was an HH-60G Instructor Pilot with 16 years AF Rescue experience. After separating from AD, she served in various roles in the Rescue community including time as a schoolhouse academic and simulator instructor. She is currently the F-16 Flight Manual Manager at Hill AFB, UT.