Brief Organizational History

In August 1972, the Airmen gathered in Detroit, Michigan and voted to establish a nation-wide organization, National Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI) with membership open to all supporters. They elected, Terre Haute native, Lt. Col (Ret) John J. Suggs as the first “Commander” and authorized him to form committees and finalize the process. The National organization was incorporated February 25, 1975 in the District of Columbia as a “veterans” organization. In 1978, an organizational structure was adopted which replacing the position of “Commander” with a National President and the Articles of Incorporation were amended to read: “Charitable and educational organization”.