Lusaka, Zambia -- On Feb. 20-21, Gen. James B. Hecker, the U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa commander, attended the final two days of the 14th African Air Chiefs Symposium.
On Feb. 20, Hecker and the other attending air chiefs participated in a visit to Victoria Falls hosted by the Zambian Air Force. The visit offered the air chiefs an opportunity to better develop relationships through informal discussions while visiting Zambia’s most famous landmark.
On Feb. 21, Hecker met with Zambia Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Oscar M. Nyoni, the outgoing Association of African Air Forces chairman and AACS 2025 host, and Nigeria Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the incoming AAAF chairman and future AACS 2026 host. Their discussions focused on strengthening military partnerships, developing AAAF, and exploring other opportunities for collaboration across Africa.
Following the meetings, Hecker and his fellow air chiefs attended an executive session. During this time the air chiefs discussed commitments and contributions to the AAAF exercise series, command post exercise, and field training exercise in 2026. They also spoke about the next steps for the association.
Following the executive session, Hecker attended the closing ceremony, a transfer of chairmanship was conducted in which Abubakar accepted the AAAF chairmanship. The occasion was commemorated with the transfer of the new AAAF flag and the playing of the anthem, which were both adopted during an air chief vote earlier in the week.
To conclude the symposium Hecker, Abubakar, and Nyoni provided closing remarks.