AFBA Appoints General Joseph L. Lengyel, USAF (Ret.) to Its Board of Directors
A proven leader with decades of service and strategic expertise
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) announced today the appointment of General Joseph L. Lengyel, USAF (Ret.) to its Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2025.
“It’s an honor to welcome General Lengyel to the board,” said General Craig R. McKinley, USAF (Ret.), AFBA Chair. “His extensive experience in the National Guard market will help guide our enterprise as we continue to protect future generations of servicemembers.”
General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.), President of AFBA, added, “We are steadfast in our commitment to supporting those who serve our nation. The addition of General Lengyel to the board ensures the continuation of this dedication.”
General Joseph L. Lengyel is a retired United States Air Force four-star general who last served as the 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau from August 2016 to August 2020. As chief, he was responsible for ensuring that nearly 460,000 Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel are accessible, capable and ready to protect the homeland and to provide combat capabilities to the United States Army and the United States Air Force. Lengyel is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours primarily in the F-16.
Prior to his last assignment, Lengyel served as the 10th vice chief of the National Guard Bureau. His previous general officer assignments include Senior United States Defense Official; Chief, Office of Military Cooperation; and Defense Attaché, Cairo, United States Central Command, Cairo, Egypt. He retired from the Air Force in 2020, after 38 years of service.
About AFBA
With the support of the General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) was established in 1947 in the basement of the Pentagon to ease the strain on military members and their families who, at the time, could not purchase life insurance that would pay a death benefit if the member was killed in combat. Today, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, AFBA continues to honor its mission, in war and peace, promoting the welfare of its members by providing survivor and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. AFBA has 915,000 members with $57 billion of death benefits in force and has paid $2 billion of death benefits since inception. AFBA death benefits are primarily underwritten by its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (a Lincoln, Nebraska domiciled company).
Earning recognition for the third consecutive year underscores the continued success of growth and customer experience strategy
ALEXANDRIA, VA – 5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) has achieved a significant milestone for the third year in a row by securing a prominent position on Forbes’ list of the World’s Best Insurance Companies 2025. This recognition is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., an industry ranking provider and a leading statistics portal. The complete list is available on the Forbes website.
“It’s a testament to the trust we’ve built in the marketplace and the success of our vision to deliver consistent growth and outstanding customer experiences,” said General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.), President of 5Star Life.
“We owe this recognition to the incredible efforts of our team. Their daily commitment to delivering exceptional service is what makes 5Star Life a trusted partner to so many,” said Mike Moser, Chief Distribution and Legal Officer.
The Forbes’ 2025 ranking of the World’s Best Insurance Companies stems from a comprehensive, independent survey conducted with Statista, a leading market research firm. This far-reaching survey gathered feedback from over 45,000 consumers across 15 countries about their satisfaction levels with various life insurance companies. Participants who had held a life insurance policy in the last three years shared insights on their satisfaction and willingness to recommend their insurer. They also rated insurers on criteria such as the quality of employee advice, customer service, and transparency. After analyzing the survey data, the top 145 insurance companies with the highest scores made it to the final list.
“Being recognized for the third consecutive year reinforces the strength of our enduring commitment to our partners and our relentless focus on service excellence,” stated Sal Campanile, Vice President, Worksite Sales for 5Star Life. “It energizes our drive to keep innovating and enhancing the service experiences that matter most as we continue this journey together.”
About 5Star Life
5Star Life Insurance Company is the life insurance underwriter for the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member benefits and a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary insurance products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance provider to individuals and organizations and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. 5Star Life was awarded on the Forbes World’s Best Insurance Companies 2023, 2024, and 2025 list.
AFBA and 5Star Life Insurance Company Appoints Xianmei Tang Chief Actuary and Senior Vice President, Actuarial
Tang brings deep actuarial insight and technical proficiency to the position
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA), and its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life), announced today the appointment of Xianmei Tang as Chief Actuary and Senior Vice President, Actuarial, effective June 13, 2025.
“We are pleased to welcome Xianmei to the AFBA and 5Star Life team, said General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.), President of AFBA and 5Star Life. “His deep actuarial knowledge will be a great asset as we continue to make financially sound decisions ensuring strategic alignment with our enterprise goals and the long-term sustainability of the enterprise.”
“Xianmei’s expertise and innovative approach will play a pivotal role in addressing the actuarial and accounting challenges of our industry while driving 5Star Life’s expansion through the development of new products,” said Kim Wooding, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of 5Star Life. “He is a great addition to our executive team.”
Xianmei Tang, FSA, MAAA, PRM, LTCP, is a seasoned actuarial executive with over twenty years of experience across life, annuity, and supplemental health insurance. He brings deep expertise in U.S. GAAP, statutory, and tax reporting, with a strong leadership track record in valuation, financial reporting, product development, reinsurance, and assumption governance. In his most recent position as Vice President and Valuation Actuary at Fortitude Re, Xianmei led onboarding and financial reporting for multi-billion-dollar reinsurance deals. Prior roles include Corporate and Appointed Actuary at Columbian Financial Group and leadership positions at Prudential, Genworth, Berkshire Life, and Lincoln Financial Group. Xianmei holds advanced actuarial credentials and degrees from the University of Connecticut and Peking University.
“I am honored to assume this position with AFBA and 5Star Life,” stated Xianmei. “I look forward to supporting the enterprise’s noble mission and strategic goals.”
About AFBA
With the support of the General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) was established in 1947 in the basement of the Pentagon to ease the strain on military members and their families who, at the time, could not purchase life insurance that would pay a death benefit if the member was killed in combat. Today, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, AFBA continues to honor its mission, in war and peace, promoting the welfare of its members by providing survivor and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. AFBA has 914,000 members with $59 billion of death benefits in force and has paid $2 billion of death benefits since inception. AFBA death benefits are primarily underwritten by its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (a Lincoln, Nebraska domiciled company). AFBA is not affiliated with any government agency.
About 5Star Life Insurance Company
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies and is also a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance advisor to individuals and organizations, and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American
Insurance Expert Promoted At Armed Forces Benefit Group
By Jack Rodgers
Law360 (April 18, 2025, 12:27 PM EDT) — An attorney who has worked for insurers for more than 20 years has been promoted to a senior role at the Armed Forces Benefit Association and its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Co., according to a recent announcement.
Erica L. Jenkins first joined the Alexandria, Virginia-based AFBA in 2023, working as assistant vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant board secretary, according to her LinkedIn profile.
The group was formed in the Pentagon’s basement in 1947 with Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s support, with a mission to provide benefits to the families of service members killed in action at a time when commercial insurers would not.
Jenkins’ most recent promotion to corporate secretary, senior vice president, is her second with the company. In January, she was promoted to vice president, general counsel and assistant board secretary, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Jenkins’ responsibilities largely focus on leading the insurance group’s legal and compliance teams, the group said in a Wednesday announcement. It’s work she’s done during her more than 20-year legal career, encompassing a range of roles with varying and similar responsibilities with insurers like State Farm, where Jenkins worked as a litigation attorney.
Jenkins has worked at other nationally recognized insurers, like Nationwide, where she advised on regulatory, procedural, product and claims matters, the announcement said.
Before joining the AFBA, Jenkins was a counsel III at Erie Insurance Group, a company based in Erie, Pennsylvania, according to her LinkedIn profile. In that role, Jenkins advised on legal issues, including organizational, compliance, regulatory impact and other matters.
In an interview with Law360 Pulse on Friday, Jenkins said she wanted to join the AFBA because she was looking for an opportunity to return to the Virginia area. But her decision to move her practice to the AFBA in 2023 also came at a time in Jenkins’ life when she was thinking about how to best capitalize on her range of legal experiences.
“Do I want to try and focus on scaling my experience to a different field or staying within my industry?” she said.
Jenkins said when she was first hired as deputy general counsel, it was the group’s goal to have her eventually transition to the general counsel role.
“I’ve been doing strategic work, but it’ll be more strategic work within the organization, doing projects that are a little broader than what I’ve been doing,” Jenkins said, noting that she was the assistant corporate secretary before becoming the corporate secretary. She described her focus as “guiding the organization into the future with my fellow leadership.”
Jenkins said she initially considered working on administrative issues, like as an administrative law judge on regulatory matters.
Administrative law is the career Jenkins thought she would have, she said, adding she also never thought that while earning her degree from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law, she’d wind up practicing insurance law.
“When I was going throughout my career and advancing, someone once told me, and I’ve found it to be true, that sometimes your career picks you,” Jenkins said. “It really does. And that’s what’s happened with me, and it’s been a joy.”
Having her clients’ trust is part of what makes her work rewarding and fulfilling, Jenkins said.
“Making sure that my client has the proper legal guidance to ensure that their business thrives, because when they thrive, I thrive,” Jenkins said of her aims. “And making sure my clients know they can come to me, and trust me and respect me, with the advice that I’m giving them.”
Jenkins started her legal career in insurance law with State Farm, where she litigated contract, premises liability and automobile accident matters, according to her LinkedIn profile.
She spent a little more than four years there, then took a role as a regional assistant general counsel at Nationwide, advising on legal aspects of claims, corporate compliance and other regulatory matters. She spent over seven and a half years there, before joining Erie Insurance in 2013, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Larry O. Spencer, president of the AFBA and 5Star Life, said in a statement Wednesday that the group looked forward to having Jenkins in her new leadership positions.
“In her new role, Erica will lead our legal and compliance teams, and I am confident that under her leadership, the teams will continue to positively impact the enterprise while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and service,” he said in a statement.
–Editing by Daniel King.
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AFBA and 5Star Life Insurance Company Name Erica L. Jenkins Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary
Jenkins brings deep legal knowledge and expertise to position
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA), and its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life), announced today the promotion of Erica L. Jenkins to Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, effective March 14, 2025.
“In her new role, Erica will lead our legal and compliance teams, and I am confident that under her leadership, the teams will continue to positively impact the enterprise while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and service,” said General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.), President of AFBA and 5Star Life.
Erica joined 5Star Life in June of 2023 with more than 20 years of insurance industry experience. She began her legal career working for State Farm Insurance as a litigation attorney. She transferred her analytical and problem-solving skills to Nationwide as in-house counsel where she honed her regulatory and advisory skills and advised on regulatory, procedural, product and claims matters impacting the organization. Continuing the growth in her legal career, Erica transitioned to a role within the legal department of Erie Insurance where she advised on legal issues with organizational, litigation, compliance, internal audit, and regulatory impact, including advising her primary client, Erie Family Life, on various issues affecting their product development, contracting, litigation, claims, and other impactful legal matters.
“I am deeply honored to assume this new position with AFBA and 5Star Life,” stated Jenkins. “I look forward to supporting enterprise strategies and driving our mission forward.”
About AFBA
With the support of the General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) was established in 1947 in the basement of the Pentagon to ease the strain on military members and their families who, at the time, could not purchase life insurance that would pay a death benefit if the member was killed in combat. Today, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, AFBA continues to honor its mission, in war and peace, promoting the welfare of its members by providing survivor and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. AFBA has 915,000 members with $57 billion of death benefits in force and has paid $2 billion of death benefits since inception. AFBA death benefits are primarily underwritten by its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (a Lincoln, Nebraska domiciled company).
About 5Star Life Insurance Company
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies and is also a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance advisor to individuals and organizations, and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
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Underscores commitment to the National Guard, its members and history
ALEXANDRIA, VA. – On Friday, August 16, 2024, the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) was honored to present a check in support of the newly formed Center for the Study of the National Guard (CSNG), making AFBA the founding member for the Center and marking the beginning of a multiyear sponsorship.
“We are immensely proud to be the founding member of the Center for the Study of the National Guard. Our commitment to honoring and understanding the vital role of the National Guard in our nation’s history is unwavering. Together, we stand united in our dedication to preserving the legacy and the stories of these brave men and women who serve our country with distinction,” said General Larry O. Spencer, USAF (Ret.), President of AFBA.
National Guard’s history is scattered across the nation in armories, small museums, various state archives, and in the voices of Citizen Soldiers. Each component, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines have a center for data collection, archival preservation, and research productivity. The National Guard does not. Through collaborative efforts, The University of Southern Mississippi, The National Guard Association of the United States, and the National Guard Bureau have established the Center for the Study of the National Guard to fill this void. CSNG’s key missions are to build and maintain a repository for National Guard documents, histories, oral histories, and other related materials and to serve as a research center and think tank to facilitate the study of the National Guard and its history. This center will provide access for researchers and the National Guard community to study the National Guard from one consolidated location. Finally, the Guard can have an intellectual home where its story can be told.
“Preserving and telling the story of the National Guard and its impact on the United States is our goal, and this partnership with the Armed Forces Benefit Association is a fundamental step forward toward that end. AFBA’s support of the Guard is of longstanding and is unwavering, and this support is further demonstrated through their partnership with the Center for the Study of the National Guard,” said Dr. Andrew Wiest Founding Co-Director of CSNG.
About Armed Forces Benefit Association
With the support of the General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) was established in 1947 in the basement of the Pentagon to ease the strain on military members and their families who, at the time, could not purchase life insurance that would pay a death benefit if the member was killed in combat. Today, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, AFBA continues to honor its mission, in war and peace, promoting the welfare of its members by providing survivor and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. AFBA has more than 535,000 members with $40 billion of death benefits in force and has paid nearly $2 billion of death benefits since inception. AFBA death benefits are primarily underwritten by its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (a Lincoln, Nebraska domiciled company).
AFBA is not affiliated with any government agency.
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