Commemorative Air Force’s General Staff 2024 Updates
December 27, 2023, Dallas – The results of the Commemorative Air Force’s General Staff (Board of Directors) election confirmed the election of Kathy Mizell (2nd Term), and two new members, Rodney Burchfield and Dan Fordice will start their first terms in January.
The 11-person General Staff is the governing body of the CAF. They meet throughout the year to monitor the health and sustainability of the organization. General Staff members are voted on by CAF members 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 Incoming New Members
RODNEY BURCHFIELD 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 now serves as the Managing Director for Burchfield & Partners, now 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 Executive MBA University of Texas-Dallas Jindal School of Business. He is also a proud U.S Army Veteran.
DAN FORDICE 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 and 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.
