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PACAF bids farewell to IPAFA commandant

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kathy Duran
  • Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  

The Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy, originating in 2021 from a charter for joint enlisted development, offers programs on multinational collaboration and interoperability for partners and allies across the Indo-Pacific region.

 

Royal Australian Air Force Warrant Officer Anita Godfrey, IPAFA’s first commandant, was instrumental in IPAFA’s development since April 2024.

“She worked directly with partner nations to tailor programs and modules that address capability shortfalls and interoperability challenges,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Abelardo Rodriguez, IPAFA operations superintendent. “Her work creates professional and personal connections that will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation even as she continues her career in Australia.” 

Godfrey spearheaded a second combined rank program in November of 2024 that incorporated material from the USAF, the RAAF, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. This program identified the need to tailor content and discussions to specific rank ranges and became effective in 2025. These new programs are the Inter-Pacific Junior Enlisted Leader Forum (IPJELF) for ranks E-5 to E-6 and the Inter-Pacific Senior Enlisted Leader Seminar (IPSELS) for E-7 to E-8.

These programs continue to evolve with each session facilitating allied and partner collaboration and strengthening shared responsibility in the education and training of the enlisted force.

Her team went on to add national and service-related briefings that addressed a need to broaden strategic awareness between partner forces and subsequently would go on to create a framework for a bi-national leadership series. 

Godfrey's tenure included support for five multinational and a bi-national course offerings, forged stronger bonds with partner nations, empowered multinational participants to collaborate effectively, and developed essential skills to bridge communication gaps, all of which assisted in future mission coordination between organizations.

“I’m most proud of how IPAFA has evolved to build cultural competency and strategic awareness, enabling genuine connections that extend well beyond the program itself,” said Godfrey. “There is a genuine desire across the network to work together – not only to educate and train enlisted forces, but also to ensure a secure Indo-Pacific region for all.”

During her promotion to E-5, she was given advice that has stayed with her, “As a leader, you must ensure that you educate and train your subordinates to be better prepared than you when they one day sit in your chair”, and wherever possible, she would go on to share knowledge and wisdom to help others progress. 

After this current assignment, Godfrey is one of two senior enlisted leaders who has been hand-selected to attend the Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Australian War College, where she can continue to grow as a leader and inspire others.

“I feel honored to have been part of establishing IPAFA from the ground up and to have worked alongside incredible people from our allied and partner community,” said Godfrey. “Being part of that collective effort has been deeply meaningful, and I am proud of the foundation we’ve built together.”

The academy continues to collaborate with enlisted leaders from nations such as Japan, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, among others.

For more information on IPAFA and its programs, contact PACAF.A51.IPAFA@us.af.mil