About US
The Waterman-Twining Chapter supports the mission of the Air and Space Forces Association (AFA), shown below.
AFA Mission
Our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air & Space Forces as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support our Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect our enduring Heritage. To accomplish this, we: • EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unrivaled aerospace power and promote aerospace and STEM education for a technically superior and professional workforce to ensure national security; • ADVOCATE and promote aerospace power to favorably shape policy and resourcing decisions to guarantee the strongest aerospace forces in the world; • SUPPORT Airmen, Guardians, and the families of the Total Air Force and Space Force, including Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, civilians, families, and members of the Civil Air Patrol. The Chapter covers an area which includes Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties. The Waterman-Twining Chapter activities are meant to support the AFA mission at the local level. We provide support for airmen and guardians at MacDill AFB, the USF AFROTC unit, especially Arnold Air Society cadets, local AFJROTC and CAP units, Stewart Middle School, AFA STEM Education programs, and the AFA Teacher of the Year program. You will find details about each on our Website.
Please click to view the President Bill Yucuis letter.
Chapter Meetings and Newsletters
Chapter Meetings and Newsletters
The Waterman-Twining Chapter meets at least quarterly, sometimes in person, sometimes virtually, and sometimes in a hybrid fashion, with both in person and virtual simultaneously. The most recent approved and draft Meeting Minutes are shown below.
The Chapter has not had an official Newsletter since June 2019, but we hope to have one in June 2022. If anyone has experience producing quality Newsletters, please contact Bill Yucuis at fl316.waterman.president@afa.org
Waterman Chapter MTG Minutes 1-14-2023
Waterman Chapter MTG Minutes 5-14-2022
Chapter History
Jerome “Jerry” Waterman established the first AFA Chapter in the Tampa area, initially called the Florida West Coast Chapter, and renamed the Jerry Waterman Chapter in 1970. Jerry was instrumental in helping secure the use of MacDill Field and Drew Field (now Tampa International Airport) for use by the Air Corps prior to WWII. You can click on his biography below. Jerry was a member of an influential Tampa family, the Mass Brothers, which founded a department store in Tampa. The Maas Brothers history is also shown below and expounds on Jerry Waterman’s influence in the Tampa area.
The John C. Meyer Chapter originally included northern Pinellas County plus Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, and Sumter County areas. In 2008, the Meyer Chapter closed, and Chapter members were reassigned to several Chapters, including the Gen. Nathan F. Twining Chapter (southern Pinellas County) and the Jerry Waterman Chapter (Hillsborough County).
The Twining Chapter was named after General Nathan F. Twining, who entered the Army Air Corps in 1915 and then served in the Air Force from 1947 – 1960. He was the third Air Force Chief of Staff and served two terms as the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2012, the Twining Chapter merged with the Waterman Chapter to officially become the Waterman-Twining Chapter. As of June 2022, The Waterman-Twining Chapter has over 1100 members, stretching through Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Citrus, and Hernando counties.
