ARLINGTON, Va. — The Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced the recent passing of retired Air Force Lt. General Arnold W. Braswell, who served 10 years as president of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), one of AHRI’s predecessor organizations. General Braswell, who died March 15 in Virginia at the age of 96, was ARI president during the time Congress passed, and President Reagan signed into law, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which established the minimum energy efficiency program for many of the products and equipment manufactured by AHRI member companies.

Gen. Braswell was a decorated combat veteran, having flown 155 combat missions as a fighter pilot in the Korean War and an additional 40 missions during the Vietnam War. Following his return from Southeast Asia, General Braswell served in many different positions in the field as well as at the Pentagon, ending his career in 1983 as commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces.