History

AFCEA: Built on a Foundation of Open Communication

AFCEA’s founders, a group of communicators led by David Sarnoff, experienced first-hand how open dialogue and strong relationships between government and industry in times of peace can help ensure effective communications during wartime.

In 1946, they established AFCEA from the U.S. Veterans Signal Association and the American Signal Corps Association with the goal of promoting communication, dialogue, and an open and ethical exchange of information between the public and private sectors. As the association’s outreach has broadened, this goal remains the pillar of AFCEA International.

 

The History of AFCEA International

Following the American Civil War, the U.S. Veterans Signal Association was formed from the original Signal Corps, which was established under Maj. Albert James Myer of the U.S. Army. Maj. Myer developed the wig-wag system of signaling and is known as the father of both the U.S. Army Signal Corps and the U.S. Weather Bureau.

This organization was active for many years, ultimately being augmented by veterans from the Spanish American War and World War I. Another World War I group, the American Signal Corps Association, merged with the U.S. Veterans Signal Association in 1918 and was active until 1944 (World War II).

In May 1946, Maj. Gen. Harry C. Ingles, Brig. Gen. David Sarnoff and a number of industrial leaders joined to found the Army Signal Association, absorbing the remaining chapters of its predecessors.

In 1947, with the unification of the services, the name was changed to Armed Forces Communications Association, and in 1954 the name evolved as the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association. In 2018, to reflect the association's expanding mission to serve the global security community, the board of directors voted to change the name to AFCEA International. 

AFCEA's first chapters in Europe were founded by U.S. forces associated with NATO, Combined and U.S. Headquarters in Paris in 1952, London in 1954, Naples in 1961, Belgium in 1968, Stuttgart in 1973, Kaiserslautern in 1976 and Worms in 1977.
 
U.S. corporate interest in the late 1970s led to the establishment in 1981 of the Brussels Symposia, which had begun as a chapter activity in 1979. This event expanded to become an exhibition primarily serving NATO C3 infrastructure improvements. The creation of an office in Brussels followed in 1982.

AFCEA International now has chapters across the globe.

AFCEA continues to build on the vision of its founders to connect great ideas with innovative people to produce the vital solutions for global security. Learn how you can engage with AFCEA.

Information about our 75th Anniversary

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