AAFES Expands Brand Offerings and Veteran Benefits Under Retiring Director Tom Shull
Tom Shull, the longest-serving director in the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) history and its first civilian director, has retired after 14 years. During his tenure, Shull significantly transformed AAFES's retail strategy, moving away from a heavy focus on private-label brands to include more name brands such as Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren. This shift was driven by a desire to provide service members with the same respect and opportunities available to their civilian counterparts. AAFES also expanded its offerings to include first-run movie premieres in deployed areas and name-brand eateries on installations. Shull's leadership saw the agency reduce its debt from $2.4 billion to zero, increase customer satisfaction to 95%, and expand online shopping benefits to all honorably discharged veterans. Additionally, since January 1, 2020, all veterans with service-connected disability ratings can shop in-store at military exchanges. 
