Remembering Almerisio Lopes

Air & Space Power Journal, Summer, 2008 by Paul D. Berg

THE AIR AND Space Power Journal family mourns the loss of Mr. Almerisio "Al" Lopes, longtime editor of Air and Space Power Journal-Portuguese (ASPJ-P), who passed away on 14 January 2008. A native of Brazil, Al later became a US citizen and in 1974 began working as a translator for the Brazilian edition of Military Review, the professional journal of the US Army. In 1978 he took charge as editor of Military review's Brazilian edition, a position he held until 1989 when he became editor of ASPJ-P. He was an exceedingly meticulous editor who spared no effort to ensure that his journal brought the best cutting-edge scholarship to his international audience.

During over a third of a century of distinguished service, Mr. Lopes earned many honors, including the Superior Civilian Service Award from the US Army; the Medalha do Merito Aeronautico from the Portuguese Air Force; the Ordem do Merito Aeronautico, grau cavaleiro, and the Medalha do Merito Santos-Dumont, both awarded by the Brazilian Air Force; and the Ordem do Merito Militar, grau cavaleiro, Medalha do Pacificador, and Colaborador emerito do exercito, from the Brazilian Army.

These official awards were only the tip of the iceberg. Based on his generosity and spirit of service, Mr. Lopes built an extraordinary worldwide network of friends for the US military. For example, he sponsored numerous international officers while they attended Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and other Air University schools. Many of these officers were from Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil, Portugal, and Angola, but Al also spoke fluent Spanish and sponsored many officers from Argentina and elsewhere. Even if not formally sponsoring them, he was always eager to help international officers with anything from automotive repairs to enrolling their children in Alabama schools. The lengths to which he would go to help others needed to be seen to be believed. A number of these officers rose to high ranks and fondly remembered Almerisio's kindness. Al also made friends by helping Air University host many international delegations of visitors. He not only escorted dignitaries but also conducted impressive briefings for them in Portuguese, showcasing Air University's reputation as a world center of air, space, and cyber education. To understand the professional-development needs of his overseas readers and to solicit articles for ASPJ-P, Al traveled extensively to South America, europe, and Africa. He seemed to know almost everyone in the Brazilian and Portuguese Air Forces and visited the Angolan Air Force for the first time in 2007.

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I saw Al as a diplomat who surmounted language barriers and geography to make friends for the United States on a global scale. I knew him for about 12 years and watched him in action on four continents. He spoke several languages, but I think his real gift was a genuine charisma that helped him befriend both the mighty and the humble. Always graceful and eloquent, he was equally at ease with the most senior officers and the most ordinary folks. He patiently forged international understanding, something in short supply. After he died, condolences written in various languages poured in from all over the world. We will continue to publish the Air and Space Power Journal-Portuguese, which he ran for many years, but will always miss our dear friend Almerisio Lopes.

LT COL PAUL D. BERG, USAF, CHIEF, PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS