COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE’S GENERAL STAFF 2025 UPDATES
Dallas, TX (November 15, 2024) – The results of the Commemorative Air Force’s General Staff (Board of Directors) election confirmed the re-election of current General Staff members Denise Walker, Buddy Cooksey and Bob Stenevik. Robert “Bob” Lawrence was newly elected to the Board. Their term begins in January 2025.
The 11-person General Staff is the governing body of the CAF. The members meet throughout the year to monitor the health and sustainability of the organization. General Staff members are elected by CAF Colonels through an election process that is overseen by Weaver & Tidwell, LLP. Meetings of the General Staff are open to all CAF Colonel members. Agenda items are available on request. To request an item be added to the agenda, contact the Chief of Staff, CAF President, or Diana Bueno at dbueno@cafhq.org. To contact members of the General Staff, see upcoming meeting times, and read past meeting minutes visit https://commemorativeairforce.org/pages/GeneralStaff-Minutes
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON RECENT MEMBERS ELECTED TO THE 2025 GENERAL STAFF
L.C. "BUDDY" COOKSEY
A26.pilot@gmail.com
Colonel Buddy Cooksey has been a member of the CAF since 1972. He retired from a career as an international corporate pilot and took a position with FlightSafety International as a ground and simulator instructor and program manager. Cooksey joined the CAF Headquarters Staff as Chief Pilot and Director of Operations in 2013. In 2015, he returned to his calling as a ground and simulator instructor at FlightSafety International. In 2017, Cooksey was sought out to return to his position on the Headquarters Staff. He retired from that position in August 2021. Cooksey was instrumental in helping the CAF Operations team achieve three years with no accidents.
During Cooksey’s 50 years as a CAF Life Member and as a member of the Headquarters Staff, he gained CAF senior ratings in the T-34, AT-6/SNJ, A-26, and B-17 aircraft. He is a member of multiple CAF Units, including TORA. Cooksey is uniquely positioned to support current CAF missions, including education, New Unit Initiatives, strong aircraft support, and air crew safety.
Cooksey has completed one full term as a member of the CAF General Staff and attended every yearly CAF member meeting at CAF Headquarters. Cooksey feels participation is extremely beneficial and is an important opportunity for all CAF members to meet and share useful information with the General Staff, Headquarters Staff, and other members in attendance. These meetings play a vital role in moving the CAF forward.
Cooksey lives in Mansfield, Texas, with his wife Charlotte, who is also a CAF Colonel.
ROBERT LAWRENCE
rlawrence@unitedfsi.com
Colonel Bob Lawrence has been a Life Member of the CAF and a Missouri Wing member since 2009. He has served on the Missouri Wing Staff since 2010, with three years as Executive Officer, nine years as Unit Leader, and is currently serving as the Development Officer. He served on the CAF General Staff from 2016-2021, a role he believes increased his knowledge and passion for the organization. Through the years, at the Missouri Wing, he collaborated with Unit Staff and members to modernize the facility, improve the Unit’s visibility in the community, and instill fiscal responsibility. Lawrence has been a stalwart in implementing innovative programs to ensure the Unit’s health and growth. Lawrence wants to focus on growing the membership, increasing revenue, doing more educational outreach, and providing opportunities for members to serve and feel a part of the organization.
When not at the Wing, Lawrence runs his distribution business, which he founded in 2000. He uses his business acumen to navigate solutions for the Wing, such as partnering with a diverse collection of industries to look for additional revenue sources and funding opportunities.
“Although I am not a pilot or a mechanic, I was inspired at an early age by my mother and father, who instilled a deep passion for World War II, aviation, and military history. My history and, the heroes celebrated in my childhood, and the aviation machines that supported them connect me to this dedicated organization.”
Lawrence lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with his wife, Stephanie. They have two children and six grandchildren.
BOB STENEVIK
rstenevik@att.net
Colonel Bob Stenevik feels he has been blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the CAF and is extremely fortunate to serve on the General Staff as a member and a past employee. He started in the position at the CAF as the Director of Safety and Flight Operations in 2005 and was later promoted to Vice President of Safety, Operations, and Maintenance in 2008. He is very grateful for all the help he received from many people in the Units, fellow staff members, and the General Staff during the nine years in that position. In those years, he managed to visit all but 4 CAF Units before retiring in 2017.
In retirement, Stenevik continued to serve as the Chair/Co-Chair of the Living History Flight Experience (LHFE) Industry Group, participated as a member of the 2020 Arsenal of Democracy planning group, helped with some of CAF Operations’ projects, and participated in various industry and FAA meetings. In 2018, he was honored to step in as the interim CEO and President of the CAF. This call back to work only magnified his commitment to and passion for being a part of this special organization. The most significant thing to him in all these experiences was his induction into the CAF Hall of Fame in 2018.
Stenevik retired again in 2019 and continues his involvement as he did after his first retirement. He lives with his wife Libby and their dog Smokey in Joshua, Texas.
DENISE WALKER
texflyers@gmail.com
Colonel Denise Walker has been a CAF Member since 2015. She currently serves on the General Staff and is seeking reelection. In addition to serving on Staff, Walker is the lead narrator for TORA and belongs to several Units including the Marshalling Detachment, the Gulf Coast Wing, the TORA Bomb Squad, and is the Secretary/Treasurer for the newly re-formed TRARON. Walker holds a BS degree in Aviation Sciences and has over 30 years of experience as a pilot.
Her passion for warbirds began in her early 20s during AirPower West training, where she flew in an AT-6/SNJ and Stearman. Before having children, she worked as a corporate pilot in Fort Worth, Texas. She recently acquired an L-17 Navion with a warbird paint scheme that she flew in the trainer parade at the CAF High Sky Wing AIRSHO. Currently she is working on her formation rating and training to be an Airboss.
Walker’s job is volunteering, and her passion is aviation. She believes in setting a good example for youth by being active and giving back as a volunteer. She hopes to inspire young people to follow in her footsteps in aviation and history. As a team builder, she enjoys being part of the General Staff and aims to grow the membership and promote member retention. Walker also seeks to solidify the CAF's leadership within the Warbird community.
Walker lives in Palestine, Texas with her husband Chris and two of their four children on 63 acres with a grass strip in the backyard.
