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.
Currently Vacant
Vice President
Vacant
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.
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.
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.
Greg Gaunt
Plans & Programs
Gregory Gaunt is a retired, 38-year USAF veteran, with all but 20 months
spent in Rescue Maintenance as a crew chief, QA Inspector and section chief.
Greg is currently working in the DoD as a QA Specialist with the Defense
Contract Management Agency in Tucson, AZ. He is also involved with the
Tucson chapter of TOMLF.
Gene Manner
Public Relations
Gene "Geno" Manner is a recently retired Lt Col after 21+ years in the USAF. He is the lone HC-130P/N rep on the board, and served as an evaluator pilot at the 71st & 79th RQS's, 550th SOS, HAF, AFRCC, and completed his career as the Deputy Div Chief for PR at ACC. He currently works for Deloitte Consulting assisting ACC's A35 efforts.
Ritchie Adams
Member at Large
Ritchie is a Vietnam combat veteran and a retired Senior Master Sergeant who served 6 years as an H-53 mechanic, 10 years as an H-53 flight engineer and 6 more as 1st Sergeant and Deputy Superintendent of a Family Support Center. He worked 20 years for California Department of Corrections in education and retired as Deputy Superintendent of the California Education Authority schools, under the California Department of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Justice. Current Affiliations: VFW Post 1487, Quartermaster, SIR Branch 98, Handicapper, Knights of Columbus, Event Ticket Sales, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Air Rescue Association.
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.