The aviators of our nation’s armed forces are a force to be reckoned with. These highly trained men and women sacrifice more than meets the eye – putting their lives in harms way for deployments and years on end. Unfortunately, they also sacrifice in a way that they never intended to. Now, thanks to legislation that was passed on August 14th, new awareness on the other risks they face is gaining much needed attention.
The ACES Act stands for Aviation Cancer Risk Study, and is a new law that requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to study not only the cancer and mortality rates amongst current and former military aviators, but also their aircrew that served in and around fixed-wing aircraft.
While the law was just passed earlier this month, the arduous work that got this important piece of legislation to this point has been years in the making.
The Initial Loss that Sparked Questions
In 2018, Naval Aviator and Test Pilot Jim Seaman unfortunately lost a battle with lung cancer - despite never being a smoker.
Jim’s wife, Betty, pressed for more information and began to connect the dots. As she reached out to fellow aviators she uncovered an alarming trend: clusters of aviators battling cancer.
Even more concerning? Four consecutive Commanding Officers that all held command at the same base: NAWS China Lake, were amongst this group.
Soon after, Betty and Tom “Boot” Hill began to search further. They gathered stories, while gathering families into the conversation and building a database that no aviator ever wanted to be a part of.
Families Take Up the Fight
For Lauren and Aaron Ochalek, cancer wasn’t just a statistic—it was their reality.
Aaron, a Navy F-18 pilot, had already beaten testicular cancer when, in 2020, he was diagnosed with melanoma.
Their lives were turned upside down, and their story echoed what so many in the aviation community had quietly feared for years: that time spent in the cockpit might come with hidden costs.
That same year, Lauren and Aaron connected with Betty and Tom, and together they founded the Military Aviators’ Cancer Action Network (MACAN)—giving a voice to aviation families walking through cancer.
The First Study
Grassroots advocacy began to gain real traction in 2021. Thanks to early efforts from families and organizations like the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandated the very first military aviation cancer study.
Conducted by the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM), the study confirmed what so many families already knew in their hearts: aviators faced higher rates of melanoma, lymphoma, and prostate, thyroid, and testicular cancers. For families like the Seamans, the Hills, and the Ochaleks, it was long-overdue validation.
Hard Data, Harsh Truths
By 2023, the Department of Defense released Phase 1 results of a much larger aviation cancer study.
The findings were sobering: aviators had significantly higher rates of multiple cancers compared to the general population, and ground crew also faced increased risks.
What families had long suspected was now indisputable. Phase 2, still in progress, will focus on identifying potential causes and risk factors.
Coming Together
For years, proposed bills aimed at addressing aviation cancer had stalled. But in 2024, something shifted.
A new coalition was formed—the Military Aviator Coalition for Health (MACH)—led by Ret. Air Force Colonel Vince Alcazar.
By bringing together groups like VFEA, MACAN, and others, MACH gave spouses, Veteran survivors, and families one strong, united voice. That collective push finally moved the effort closer to the finish line.
The ACES Act Becomes Law
On August 14, 2025, years of advocacy, testimony, and unrelenting determination paid off. The ACES Act was signed into law.
This legislation directs the VA to partner with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study cancer incidences and mortality rates among aviators and aircrews who served in the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
This legislation works to improve the understanding of the link between military service and cancer risks among Veteran aviators, so as to provide more adequate care for Veterans.
Celebrating the signing of this legislation, Rep. Panetta released the following statement,
"With the ACES Act now signed into law, we can begin getting our aviators and their families the answers and care they deserve. This bipartisan achievement reaffirms our commitment to understanding these diagnoses and ensuring that military and VA providers have the data they need to better protect those who’ve served our nation.”
The legislation was introduced by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, a fighter pilot and colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
“As a former fighter pilot, I know first-hand the risks that airmen and women take every day when they step into the cockpit,” Pfluger said in a news release.
“After putting their lives on the line in the line of duty for their country, airmen and women deserve assurances that they will be taken care of and not put in undue danger. This legislation will play a vital role in protecting our servicemembers and advocating for health and overall well-being."
Why The ACES Act Matters
The statistics of these service related cancers aren’t just numbers. They signify Veterans and their families that have been forever marked and changed by a diagnosis.
For Betty, she is proud to honor Jim through continuing to raise awareness. For Lauren Ochalek, her mission has been clear from day one: to ensure that no other spouse has to navigate their partner's cancer diagnoses without recognition or support.
This legislation has recently passed the House of Representatives, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. It will be considered for inclusion in the final package pending reconciliation with the Senate's version of the NDAA.
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