General Larry Spencer, US Air Force (Ret)

General Spencer serves as president for the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) and 5Star Life Insurance Company. AFBA provides survivor benefits and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. 5Star Life is the primary underwriter of the AFBA member policies and is a growing provider of group and worksite insurance products.

Retiring as a four-star general, Spencer spent over 40 years in the Air Force. His last assignment was as the Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC. In this capacity, Spencer was the second highest-ranking military member in the Air Force. He presided over the Air Staff and assisted the Chief of Staff of the Air Force with organizing, training, and equipping 690,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas.

Spencer began his career in the enlisted ranks and received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology from Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale.  Spencer was commissioned through Officer Training School in 1980 as a distinguished graduate.  He has commanded a squadron, group, and wing, and he was Vice Commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center.  He was the first Air Force officer to serve as the Assistant Chief of Staff in the White House Military Office.  He served as the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Mission Support at two major commands and held positions within the Air Staff, Secretariat, and the Joint Staff.  Prior to his assignment as Vice Chief of Staff, the general was Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, reporting directly to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Spencer participated in contingency Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Desert Thunder, Desert Fox, Allied Force, and Iraqi Freedom.  Spencer has two Master of Science in Business Management from Webster College and Industrial Resource Strategy from the National Defense University.  He also completed post-graduate courses at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from SIU.

General Spencer has two named awards: The Air Force General Larry Spencer Innovation Award and the Air Force General Larry Spencer Special Acts and Services Award.  General Spencer is the author of two books:  the 2016 book, The Green Eyeshades of War, a historical review of financial management during war and the 2022 book, Dark Horse: General Larry O. Spencer and His Journey from the Horseshoe to the Pentagon, an autobiography of his rise from inner-city Washington D.C. to E-1 Airman to 4-Star General.

General Spencer served as the Air Force Association’s top executive; where he set records for revenue generation, membership growth and technology symposium revenue, sponsorships, exhibit sales, and attendance.  He currently sits on the Boards of Whirlpool Corporation and Haynes International.  Larry and his wife, Ora, reside in Lorton, Virginia.