Retired Brigadier General Lawrence Boyd Anderson, Previous Vice Chairman of AFA, Passes Away at 89 Years Old
Retired Brigadier General Lawrence Boyd Anderson, the former vice chairman of the Air Force Association (now Air & Space Forces Association) and final chairman of the Aerospace Education Foundation, passed away on February 6 at the age of 89.
A decorated military veteran, Anderson spent 33 years in the Department of Defense and retired in 1995 as a Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve. During his tenure, his last duty station was as the mobilization assistant to the commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah. He also retired from civil service at Ogden in 1994, having served as the chief of the manpower and organization office.
In his active-duty service, Anderson was stationed at Air Force Systems Command at Hanscom Field, Massachusetts, and in various airlift, fighter, and wing units. He contributed to the transition from the F-105 to the initial F-16s in the Air Force Reserve. He worked closely with managing the support for F-4 and F-16 fighters, Minuteman and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles, and materiel support for reconnaissance, training devices, and conventional munitions. As the manpower director for AFMC at Ogden, he justified and allocated some 21,000 manpower authorizations.
Retired Brigadier General Bernie Skoch, the current chairman of the board of the Air & Space Forces Association, praised Anderson's contributions. "Boyd served as the last chairman of the Aerospace Education Foundation (AEF) and led the evolution of the foundation to the current AFA Education Council (AEC)," Skoch said. The AEF and AFA were parallel organizations until their consolidation in the mid-2000s.
Beyond his duties at the Air & Space Forces Association, Boyd held significant roles in Utah's military and civic community. He was the chair of the Utah Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and served as the Utah State President of the Reserve Officers Association. He was also a member of the Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce and Utah Defense Alliance Board of Directors. Boyd provided advisory services to the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee and served on the Board of the Dee Shaw Stewart Museum at the Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park.
In recognition of his distinguished service, Boyd received the Department of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service in 2002.
Though specific details about the consolidation between the Air & Space Forces Association and Aerospace Education Foundation are not widely available, both organizations carry a rich history in aerospace and education. The Air & Space Forces Association, founded in 1946, supports the United States Air Force and United States Space Force by promoting public understanding of aerospace power's role in national security. The Aerospace Education Foundation was an affiliate organization focused on enhancing STEM education and careers in aerospace.
- As a retired Brigadier General, Anderson served as the vice chairman of the Air Force Association (now Air & Space Forces Association) and the final chairman of the Aerospace Education Foundation.
- In his defense career, Anderson worked closely with managing the support for fighter aircraft like the F-4 and F-16, intercontinental ballistic missiles such as the Minuteman and Peacekeeper, and materiel support for various aerospace industries.
- Beyond his Air Force duties, Boyd held significant roles in Utah's military and civic community, including being the chair of the Utah Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and serving as the Utah State President of the Reserve Officers Association.
- Recognizing his contributions, Boyd received the Department of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service in 2002.
- The consolidation between the Air & Space Forces Association and the Aerospace Education Foundation, despite having limited available details, marks a notable milestone in the industries of aerospace, defense, and education.
- In addition to promoting public understanding of aerospace power's role in national security, the Air & Space Forces Association supports the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, and the Aerospace Education Foundation initially focused on enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and careers in aerospace.
