Marine Corps Aviation Association, Incorporated

What Marine Corps Aviation Association, Incorporated does

The Marine Corps Aviation Association, Incorporated (MCAA) is a 501(c)(19) nonprofit membership organization headquartered on Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, chartered in 1972 from the World War I-era First Marine Veterans Force Association. MCAA exists to recognize professional excellence in Marine aviation and to preserve the heritage and future of the Marine Corps aviation community. The organization administers 30 Marine Aviation Awards annually spanning aviators, Naval Flight Officers, unmanned aerial systems officers, enlisted aircrewmen, maintenance, supply, avionics, ordnance, command and control, and squadron-level categories, with recipients vetted through Headquarters Marine Corps.

MCAA's core offerings are publications, awards, events, and member services rather than technology. Products include The Yellow Sheet (published three times annually) and the MCAA Journal (annual publication) which highlight award recipients and provide summaries from the four Marine aircraft wings. Events include the Annual Symposium & MAROS (held each May, scheduled for Dallas in 2026 and 2027), the Bolden Dinner Series (a Capital Squadron seasonal dinner program), and the Big Iron Squadron Rendezvous in Pensacola. Membership tiers range from $25 digital, $25 active duty with magazine, $50 one-year standard, $125 three-year, $200 five-year, to $675-$750 life memberships, with free digital memberships for active duty Marines.

The business model combines individual membership dues (subscription recurring), corporate partnerships (over 50 defense industry partners including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, BAE Systems, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Sikorsky), event ticket revenue (e.g., $95 for Bolden Dinners), publication ad/stipend revenue, and merchandise sales through an online store. Distribution is multi-channel: a Z2Systems-powered national membership portal, 20+ local squadron chapters across the US and Okinawa providing grassroots engagement, direct event registration, and active social media presence. Leadership recently transitioned with Col Bob Deforge (USMC Ret) assuming the Executive Director role in July 2025.

Name

Marine Corps Aviation Association, Incorporated

Legal name

Marine Corps Aviation Association, Incorporated

Website

https://flymcaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Marine Corps Aviation Association is a 501(c)(19) nonprofit membership organization headquartered in Quantico, Virginia, that recognizes Marine aviation excellence through 30 annual awards, two publications, the Annual Symposium, regional dinner series, and a network of 20+ squadron chapters serving active duty, retired, and corporate defense industry members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Quantico

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: MCAA generates revenue through various membership tiers including annual, multi-year, and life memberships. Active duty Marines receive free digital memberships or discounted rates with magazines. Life memberships are available at $750 for those 59 and under, and $675 for active duty/reserve Marines.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from event registrations including the Bolden Dinner Series ($95 per ticket for DoD and civilians, free for active duty), annual symposium registrations, and Big Iron Rendezvous events including dinners and golf tournaments.
3. Corporate Partnerships: MCAA has over 50 corporate partners who sponsor events, professional military education, and the annual Symposium. Corporate members receive benefits including networking opportunities, event recognition, and complimentary individual memberships.
4. Publications: Revenue from The Yellow Sheet magazine (published three times annually) and MCAA Journal (annual publication) distributed to members as part of membership benefits, with article stipends paid to contributors.
5. Online Store: Merchandise sales through the MCAA online store including shirts, lapel pins, and other branded items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

MCAA is a 501(c)(19) nonprofit membership association that recognizes professional excellence in Marine Corps aviation through 30 annual Marine Aviation Awards and provides individual/life memberships, two publications (The Yellow Sheet and the MCAA Journal), major events such as the Annual Symposium & MAROS, the Bolden Dinner Series, and the Big Iron Rendezvous, plus a network of local squadron chapters across the U.S. and overseas.

Product overview

Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA) is a 501(c)(19) non-profit membership organization headquartered in Quantico, Virginia. Rather than a technology platform, MCAA offers a portfolio of membership services, publications, awards programs, and events. The core offerings include two publications—The Yellow Sheet (quarterly magazine) and the MCAA Journal (annual publication)—along with the MCAA Aviation Awards program recognizing excellence across 30-35 Marine aviation categories. MCAA organizes major events including the Annual Symposium & MAROS, the Bolden Dinner Series, and the Big Iron Squadron Rendezvous. Members access career resources, squadron networks spanning the country and overseas, and professional development opportunities through corporate partnerships. Membership tiers range from digital ($25) to life membership ($675-$750).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 Marine Aviation Awards presented annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Adams Communication & EngineeringminorOthersCorporate partner supporting MCAA events, professional military education, and annual Symposium.
• AeroCore TechnologiesminorOthersCorporate partner and frequent hirer of individuals with Marine aviation experience. Regularly has openings aligned with transitioning Marine skill sets. Also featured on MCAA Career Resources page.
• AirbuscoreOthersMajor defense contractor corporate partner supporting MCAA mission and Marine aviation community through events and professional military education.
• Albers AerospaceminorOthersCorporate partner offering engineering internships and DoD SkillBridge program opportunities. Featured on MCAA Career Resources page.
• AmentumminorOthersCorporate partner supporting MCAA events and Marine aviation community.
• Anduril IndustriesminorOthersDefense technology corporate partner supporting MCAA mission.
• BAE SystemscoreOthersMajor defense contractor corporate partner supporting MCAA events, professional military education, and annual Symposium.
• BellcoreOthersAircraft manufacturer corporate partner supporting Marine aviation community through MCAA events and sponsorship.
• The Boeing CompanycoreOthersMajor defense contractor and corporate partner supporting MCAA mission, events, and Marine aviation community.
• Collins AerospacecoreOthersAerospace systems corporate partner supporting MCAA through events and professional military education.
• GE AerospacecoreOthersAircraft engine manufacturer and corporate partner. Featured on MCAA Career Resources page for current job openings. Supports MCAA mission and events.
• General Atomics Aeronautical SystemscoreOthersUAS manufacturer (Gray Eagle, Reaper) corporate partner supporting MCAA events and Marine aviation community.
• Leonardo HelicoptersminorOthersHelicopter manufacturer corporate partner supporting MCAA mission.
• Lockheed MartincoreOthersMajor defense contractor corporate partner supporting MCAA events, professional military education, and annual Symposium.
• Northrop GrummancoreOthersMajor defense contractor corporate partner supporting MCAA events and Marine aviation community.
• Pratt & WhitneycoreOthersAircraft engine manufacturer and corporate partner. Former Executive Director Bob Deforge previously worked 11.5 years at Pratt & Whitney as Director for Customer Requirements for Military Engines.
• Raytheon TechnologiescoreOthersMajor defense contractor (missiles, sensors) corporate partner supporting MCAA events and Marine aviation community.
• SikorskycoreOthersHelicopter manufacturer (UH-60, CH-53) corporate partner supporting Marine aviation community through MCAA.
• Textron AviationminorOthersAircraft manufacturer corporate partner supporting MCAA mission.
• Textron, IncminorOthersParent company of Textron Aviation corporate partner supporting MCAA.
• USAAminorOthersFinancial services company serving military community, corporate partner supporting MCAA mission.
• Navy Federal Credit UnionminorOthersCredit union serving Navy and Marine Corps community, corporate partner supporting MCAA.
• Flying Leatherneck Aviation MuseumcoreOthersMCAA awards program trophies are on permanent loan and displayed at the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation museum. MCAA provides custody, maintenance, and insurance of the trophies.
• L-3Harris TechnologiesminorOthersDefense communications and electronics corporate partner supporting MCAA.
• Rolls-RoyceminorOthersAircraft engine manufacturer corporate partner supporting Marine aviation community.
• Elbit Systems of AmericaminorOthersDefense electronics corporate partner supporting MCAA.
• Marine Corps Scholarship FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCAA Executive Director Bob Deforge previously chaired the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Dinner/Gala for seven years.
• Marine Shop (marineshop.net)minorOthersLinked from MCAA website as a partner offering Marine-themed merchandise.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Reserve Organization of America: ROA is a membership organization supporting reserve component service members across all branches. It shares MCAA's advocacy, member services, and defense industry engagement model but operates at a broader reserve-component level rather than aviation-specific.
• Marine Corps League: The Marine Corps League is a Marine Corps-focused veterans organization with detachments nationwide, analogous to MCAA's squadron structure but spanning all Marine occupational fields rather than aviation. It shares the Marine community identity and event-based member engagement.

Emerging players

• Women in Aviation International: Women in Aviation International is a membership nonprofit that holds an annual conference, offers scholarships, and supports career development across all aviation sectors. It overlaps MCAA in career resources, scholarships, and aviation-focused awards, though it is demographic-segmented rather than service-segmented.

Broad incumbents

• Air Force Association: AFA is a larger, broader aerospace-focused association serving the Air Force and Space Force community with Air Force Magazine, an annual convention, awards programs, and advocacy. It overlaps MCAA in mission and member demographics but operates at significantly larger scale across a broader uniformed service.
• Association of the United States Army: AUSA is the broader professional association for the entire U.S. Army with a major annual exposition, extensive industry sponsorship, and chapter network. Comparable to MCAA in industry sponsorship model and defense convention structure but operating across all Army branches rather than aviation-specific.
• Navy League of the United States: Navy League is a civilian organization supporting the sea services including Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. While not aviation-specific, it overlaps MCAA in its defense industry sponsorship model, advocacy role, and national convention programming.

Direct peers

• Tailhook Association: Tailhook is the Navy/Naval Aviation equivalent of MCAA, organized around carrier aviation professionals. It runs an annual symposium (Tailhook), membership tiers, publications, and career networking with defense industry partners serving naval aviation communities.
• Army Aviation Association of America: AAAA is the direct Army-service parallel to MCAA: a membership-based professional association that recognizes excellence in Army aviation through awards, publications (Army Aviation Magazine), and an annual convention (AAAA Summit). It uses the same community-led, squadron-equivalent chapter model for the Army aviation community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MCAAadmin1972
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Marine-Corps-Aviation-Association/230669146943180?ref=br_tf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marine-corps-aviation-association-incorporated
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcaa_hq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marine Corps Aviation Association, Incorporated