2023 General Membership Meeting and Election

On June 23, the CAF Nominating Committee put forth three names to fill positions that are expiring. The nominees presented by the Nominating Committee are Rodney Burchfield, Dan Fordice, and Kathy Mizell. Nominees will also be accepted from the floor during the Nov. 10 General Membership Meeting.

The 2023 General Membership Meeting will be held on Friday, November 10 in the Fred and Barbara Clark Telling Restoration Hangar, CAF National Airbase, Dallas Executive Airport, Dallas, Texas. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. and eligible voters may pick up a ballot beginning at 3 p.m. on the 10th. If you will be unable to attend and vote in person, you should request an absentee ballot by emailing ctuminaro@cafhq.org with your name and Colonel ID number. To confirm your request has been received, all emails will be acknowledge by CAF Headquarters. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 48 hours, please contact Craig Tuminaro at ctuminaro@cafhq.org or (877) 767-7175, ext.142.

In addition to the election and the Individual CAF Awards presentation, this year the General Membership Meeting will begin with a Swearing-In Ceremony for all new CAF Colonels.

Dates to Remember

• Nov. 6, 2023 - Last day to Request Absentee Ballots from ctuminaro@cafhq.org
• Nov. 10, 2023 - Election, 4 p.m. in Telling Restoration Hangar, CAF National Airbase at Dallas Executive Airport, Dallas, Texas
• Nov. 17, 2023 - Absentee Ballots mailed to those requesting one
• Dec. 11, 2022 - Last date to return Absentee Ballots
• Dec. 27, 2023 - Approximate date the election results are announced

*If you would like to mail in your request for an absentee ballot, please send to Craig Tuminaro, CAF, P.O. Box 764769, Dallas, TX 75376-4769

CAF GENERAL STAFF NOMINEE PROFILE INFORMATION FOR THE 2023 ELECTIONS

Rodney Burchfield Email
Colonel Rodney Burchfield has been a member of the Commemorative Air Force since 2018, and currently serves on the American Airpower Heritage Museum Board. He has over 25 years of experience in private and public sector commercial real estate development. He was instrumental in the Commemorative Air Force National Airbase relocation to Dallas, Texas, and later helped secure New Market Tax Credits for the development of the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center. Previously overseeing development for a leading multi-family real estate investment trust (REIT), Rodney managed nearly $750 million in new development, redevelopment, and presale projects in the Northeast U.S., Southeast U.S., and Texas. Rodney’s public-sector experience includes the City of Dallas Office of Economic Development, overseeing aviation business development and marketing for the Department of Aviation Airport Systems (Dallas Love Field, Dallas Executive Airport, and Dallas Heliport). Rodney currently serves as the Managing Director for Burchfield & Partners, constructing the largest private capital investment at Dallas Executive Airport.

As a resident of Dallas, Rodney has witnessed the significant impact the CAF has made in his community in just a few years. He is eager to bring his experience and business expertise to the General Staff to help guide the CAF in establishing relationships in different communities and highlight ways to build the organization nationally through local Units.

Rodney is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Executive MBA University of Texas-Dallas Jindal School of Business. He is also a proud U.S Army veteran.

DAN FORDICE Email
Colonel Dan Fordice joined the CAF in 2003 and is a Platinum Life Member. Dan’s father was a pilot, so he grew up in aviation. While in college, Dan got his Airplane and Glider Pilot ratings. Dan graduated from Mississippi State University in 1983 with a bachelor’s in construction engineering technology. Following graduation, he went on active duty with the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant, serving with the 3rd Infantry Division, 10th Engineer Battalion in Germany. After serving for four years, he returned to Mississippi to join his family’s construction company. Dan served in the Mississippi National Guard 2/20th Special Forces Battalion for six years and resigned his commission in 1994 with the rank of Captain. Dan currently serves as Vice President of Fordice Construction Company.

Today, Dan has over 7,400 flying hours in a variety of aircraft. He has a commercial pilot’s license and a seaplane pilot’s license and is instrument and multi-engine rated. He is currently working on his Rotor Wing Rating. He flies for business, pleasure and appears at airshows nationwide. He prefers older vintage airplanes, especially World War II trainers and fighters. In his time with the CAF, Dan has served as Mississippi Wing Leader, as National Nominating Committee Chair, and is currently a member of several CAF Units.

In addition to his involvement with the CAF, Dan founded two non-profit organizations. In 2005, he established the Southern Heritage Air Foundation, which operates a museum displaying local veterans' artifacts and maintains four airworthy warbirds. In 2013, he founded the Warrior Bonfire Program to improve the lives of post-9/11 Purple Heart veterans on their lifelong journey of recovery and healing.

Kathy Mizell Email
Colonel Kathy Mizell currently serves on the General Staff and is seeking reelection. She hopes to continue to offer her 40-plus years of commercial business experience to the CAF. She believes she can continue to bring a voice, ideas, and perspective in discussions and decisions to ensure the CAF remains a leader in the warbird community.

With 20-plus years as a CAF Colonel (16 years as a Life Member and 1 year as a Platinum Life Member), Kathy has had the opportunity to meet many other CAF members and become a member of multiple CAF Units. These contacts have provided her with a close-up view of how Units work internally, among other Units, and with CAF Headquarters. This experience has also allowed her to see how decisions made at various levels can affect others directly or indirectly.

Kathy fully supports the CAF’s current goals and objectives regarding education, aircraft, and membership. She hopes to continue to work on finding ways to increase membership and encourage “at-large” members to become active Unit members.

Kathy lives in Brenham, Texas.