Military Aviator Coalition for Health
THE MISSION CONTINUES . . .
OUR MISSION
MACH is a 501(c)3 nonprofit coalition of veteran aircrew nonprofits, NGOs, legislative champions, and individual stakeholders marshaling the full spectrum of U.S. military flying experience to protect the health of every past and present crew member. Based on the Red Flag model of shared planning and decisive execution, we fuse data, tactics, and advocacy to drive systemic change. By turning cockpit-tested ingenuity into research-backed policy, MACH’s mission is to unlock definitive research, shape legislation, and deliver programs that protect and improve the health of every U.S. military aviator and crew member.
OUR PRIORITIES
POLICY
Our flagship objective for the 119th Congress is passage of the bipartisan Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act commissioning an independent National Academies study and paving the way for stronger screening and treatment protocols for every military aircrew member.
PARTNERS
Our partners give MACH both credibility and capacity: credibility through subject-matter authority and real-world stories, and capacity through a nationwide grassroots network that keeps pressure on Congress until aircrew health reforms are law.
RESEARCH
MACH advocates for rigorous, independent research to uncover the full scope of cancer risks among military aviators. We support expanding access to DoD and VA health data, and funding longitudinal studies on occupational exposures to mitigate future risk.
HAPPENING NOW
MACH and Women Military Aviators - Public WMA at @womeninaviation WAI 2026 — Military Health & Wellness
Invisible Battles
Confronting Aviator Cancer
📅 March 19
🕚 1100–1200
📍 Texas B
Retired fighter aviator.
Breast cancer survivor.
National health advocate.
Colonel Shelly Mendieta shares how aviators and families turned lived experience into legislative victory — including the historic ACES Act.
Safer skies start with awareness.
#WAI2026 #WomenMilitaryAviators #AviationHealth #MACH
MACH and Women Military Aviators - Public at Women in Aviation International 2026
✈️ Invisible Battles: Confronting Aviator Cancer and Transforming the Future of Flight Health
📅 Thursday, March 19
🕚 1100–1200
📍 Texas B
Behind the uniform, behind the cockpit, behind the mission — some battles are invisible.
Retired fighter aircrew and breast cancer survivor Colonel Shelly Mendieta will share the hidden story of cancer among military aviators and what the aviation community is doing about it.
As Communications Team Lead for MACH, Shelly helped drive the passage of the ACES Act and inclusion of rotary-wing aircrew study in the NDAA a — ensuring no aircrew member is left behind
This session blends personal story, legislative impact, and actionable steps to support safer skies and healthier crews.
Come learn how community voices are shaping national policy and what is on the horizon.
#wai2026 #womenmilitaryaviators #Mach #aviationhealth
MACH Partner Spotlight: Veteran Families for Education & Awareness
When one serves, the whole family serves.
Veteran Families for Education & Awareness (VFEA) recognizes that military environmental exposures don’t just affect veterans — they impact spouses, children, and caregivers too.
Their mission is rooted in education, advocacy, and awareness — helping families:
▪️ Understand potential exposure-related health risks
▪️ Navigate complex medical diagnoses
▪️ Access credible information
▪️ Advocate for research and accountability
Because no family should have to face exposure-related illness alone.
Learn more about VFEA and their work:
🌐 www.vfea.org/
Follow them:
X: x.com/veteranfam
Facebook: www.facebook.com/veteranfam
Instagram: www.instagram.com/vfeaorg
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/vfea/
#MACHCoalition #MilitaryFamilies #VeteranHealth #ToxicExposure #PartnerSpotlight
IN THE NEWS
- Military Aviator Cancers: The Hinge Point | JAN 2026
- Report Will Target Cancer Rates in Aircrews, But Toxic-Exposure Work Is Far From Finished | SEP 2026
- Aviator cancer study law is a win, but there's still more to do for toxic-exposed veterans. | SEP 2026
- ACES Act Becomes Law: A Milestone for Military Aviators’ Health | AUG 2025
- SIGNED INTO LAW: The ACES Act | AUG 2025
- Rep. Pfluger's ACES Act Passes Through the House | MAY 2025
- Cancer rates in military pilots and other aviators could get a closer look | JAN 2025
- Panetta, Pfluger Seek to Lower Military Aviation Cancer Rates | JAN 2025
- Military Aviator Cancers: The Aces Act | MAY 2024
- Military Aviator Cancers: The 2023 DOD Study | APR 2024
- Military Aviator Cancer: The USAF Pathfinder Study Changes The Discussion | MAR 2024
- Military Aviator Cancers: The Campaign Roots | MAR 2024
- Military Aviator Cancers: How Did We Get Here?| MAR 2024
- New Paper on Military: Soldiers Exposed to Radar and Full Body RF Have Higher Cancers | OCT 2022
IN THE MEDIA
FLIGHT PLANS
ACES ACT
- ZIntroduce H.R. 530 - The ACES Act
- Z Pass House Subcomittees
- ZPASS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- ZPASS THE SENATE
- ZFINALIZE BILL IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- ZACES ACT SIGNED INTO LAW
- ZACES Act cancer study CONTRACT SIGNED BY NASEM & THE VA
ROTOR ACT
- ZIntroduce H.R. 4704 – The ROTOR Act
- VAdvocate for H.R. 4704 in the Senate
- VPass the House of Representatives
- VPass the Senate
- VFinalize Bill in House of Representatives
- VROTOR ACT SIGNED INTO LAW