Air Force Historical Foundation

Our staff works hard daily to ensure that the Foundation is meeting its strategic goals and objectives, while meeting the key needs of our members, supporters, and various partners.
Staff
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    • Staff

    Dik Daso
    Co-Executive Director

    Dik Daso serves as the Executive Director of the Air Force Historical Foundation (interim). As the senior administrator for the Foundation, he is responsible for day-to-day operations and support for the Executive staff, members, and corporate partners. The Executive Director is the hub for communications for the Executive Board, the Board of Directors and Committee Chairs and is the lead planner for AFHF events and activities. He ensures that the Foundation meets or exceeds goals established in the long-range planning documents developed by the Executive Staff and the Board of Directors. 

    Daso is former adjunct faculty in the department of history at the University of South Carolina where he taught a variety of courses that focus on the history of technology and science. He retired from the USAF in 2001 and then served at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as the curator of modern military aircraft until retiring from that post in 2012. He earned his B.S. from the USAF Academy in 1981 and his doctorate in history from the University of South Carolina in 1996.

    Daso flew T-38, RF-4C, and F-15 aircraft during his service. He was assigned to the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board during the visionary New World Vistas S&T study in 1995 and also held the position of Chief, Air Force Doctrine, as a member of the Air Staff in the Pentagon. Lt. Col. Daso retired after 20 years of active service in 2001.

    Daso has authored several books and contributed chapters to several more. The books include, U.S. Air Force: A Complete History (Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, Inc., 2006), Doolittle: Aerospace Visionary (Brassey’s US, 2003), Hap Arnold and the Evolution of American Airpower (Smithsonian Institution Press, 2001; Special AFHF Edition, 2012; USAF 75th Anniversary Edition, 2022), Architects of American Air Supremacy: General Hap Arnold and Dr. Theodore von Kármán (Air University Press, 1997).

    Steve Newbold
    Co-Executive Director

    Col. Steve Newbold served for 26 years in the U.S. Air Force before retiring in 2005. He was an aircraft maintenance officer primarily supporting F-4E, F-111A, EfF-111A, and F-15C/D/E aircraft. Newbold served as a Squadron Commander three times, the 48th Maintenance Group Commander at RAF Lakenheath, UK, and is a veteran of Desert Storm.

    Upon retirement from the U.S. Air Force, Newbold worked for GE Aviation from 2005 to 2020, retiring as the GE Aviation Executive Director in support of U.S. Air Force aircraft engine programs.

    Newbold is 1979 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned an MBA from Golden Gate University.

    Angela Bear
    Office Manager

    For over 20 years, Angela Bear has worked closely with the Executive Director, Board Members, and the Executive Leadership Team to help promote and fulfill the overall goals and mission of the Air Force Historical Foundation. While Bear serves in many roles, her primary focus is on Payroll Management, Compliance, Membership and Member Communications, Special Events, and Tradeshow Support. She provides daily technical and logistical support on a variety of special projects and collaborates with Air Power History editor, Richard Wolf, to get the elite publication into the hands of its members and corporate partners.

    As a proud Air Force wife herself, she serves as a wealth of knowledge for the Foundation and has worked tirelessly throughout her career doing her part to help preserve both the history and legacy of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force.