About us

The Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation (RAFMAF)

In war and in peace, the Royal Air Force and the air forces of the United States of America have stood together to defeat the enemies of freedom. 

The Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation (RAFMAF) was founded in July 2002 and is based on the celebration of the shared values that have joined together the fighting airmen and airwomen of our two great nations in the past, present and future in the spirit of close cooperation and understanding.

The Foundation exists to ensure the shared aviation heritage of the USA and the UK is kept alive in the memories of our two nations, and works to provide funds, and other means, to underpin the RAF Museum’s programs of acquisition, conservation, interpretation, education and training.

By building Anglo-American bridges of opportunity through youth and education initiatives, and within exhibitions, research, publications, professional training, media ventures and museum partnering, it looks to encourage future generations toward lively understandings of aerospace disciplines and an appreciation of science and social history expressed in technology.

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RAFMAF is a non-profit and registered charitable organization. Donations may be tax deductible.

Our mission

• To provide funds and other means for underpinning the Royal Air Force Museum's programs of acquisition, conservation, interpretation, education and training.
   

• To build Anglo-American bridges of opportunity through youth and education initiatives and within exhibitions, research, publications, professional training, media ventures and museum partnering. 
   

• To encourage future generations toward lively understandings of aerospace disciplines, and toward an appreciation of science and social history expressed in technology.
   

• To champion those common values that permit the services of the two countries to respond together to the challenges to freedom and peace.

Fundraising

The Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation seeks to raise funds to support its stated objectives through personal contacts with potential donors and through surface and electronic means. It does not raise funds through direct mailing solicitations or similar means.

RAFMAF encourages support of the Museum's educational programs and capital projects. It also seeks long-term and lasting support via endowment and legacy gifts.

The Foundation places great emphasis on bilateral education programs and projects, especially those that benefit American and British collaboration. It will accept donations for general support of the Museum, funds for particular projects, and gifts in kind that relate to future projects.

Board of directors

Directors

Kevin W. Billings

Chief Executive,
Legation Strategies;

Hon Grp Capt, 601 Sqn Royal Auxiliary Air Force 

Roberto I. (Bert) Guerrero

Deputy Assistant

Secretary of the Air Force, Operational Energy

Gary L. Halbert

Partner,
Holland & Knight LLP;

Col (Ret.) USAF

Nicola “Niki” Johnson

Vice President, Government Affairs, Strategic Communications & Marketing, General Atomics – Aeronautical Systems
(GA-ASI)

Matt Keegan

President and CEO,

Leonardo Electronics US, Inc.

Tim Manna

Sir Stuart Matthews

Fellow, Royal

Aeronautical Society

Christine Mau

F-35 Contract Instructor Pilot, Lockheed Martin;
Lt Col (Ret.) USAF

Jane Middleton 

Chairman, Airlines UK and Hon Air Commodore,

606 (Chiltern) Squadron

Darryl Roberson 

Senior Vice President, Defense Business Development, Rolls-Royce North America plc;
Lt Gen (Ret.) USAF

John Sessions

Chairman,
Historic Flight Foundation

Directors Emeritus

Craig McVay 
Senior Vice President, Military Strategic Systems, 
Rolls-Royce North
America, Inc.

Alan Spence

Chief Executive,

Integrative Media LLP

Robert Tullius

Executive Director

Angela M. Coleman

Member, Royal
Aeronautical Society

Ex-Officio Directors

Air Commodore

Jez Attridge OBE MSc RAF

Air Attache, British Embassy, Washington D.C.

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Maggie Appleton MBE

Chief Executive,

Royal Air Force Museum

The Royal Air Force Museum

The Royal Air Force Museum was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in November 1972. The Museum exists on two public sites at Hendon (London) and Cosford (Birmingham) to preserve and exhibit the history of the Royal Air Force and its wider relationship to aviation.

As a national institution, the Museum's operations are provided at around 70% by the UK government, with the remaining annual costs found through income-generation initiatives and trading. Additional capital requirements for future expansion and for special projects and programs must be found through fundraising and corporate sponsorship activities. For further information, visit the RAF Museum website.