Why did you join Civil Air Patrol?
As with many kids in my generation, I was interested in many things from pirates, to dinosaurs, Star Wars, and of course aviation. Most notably World War II aircraft and the jet age. When I was 12, my dad knew the commander of the local squadron in Juneau, Alaska, who put him in contact with the deputy commander for cadets. Shortly after my 13th birthday I joined Civil Air Patrol and never looked back. The rest is history in the making.
What is your current career?
When I turned 17, I started a military career. I first joined the Army Infantry, then “crossed into the blue” becoming an Air Force Security Forces defender, fulfilling duties in law enforcement and security. Eventually I transitioned my law enforcement skill set into being a civilian police officer. I work for the Department of the Air Force as a civilian police officer with over 20 years’ experience in law enforcement, both military and civilian, and hold an Intermediate Peace Officers Certification in the state of Texas. I am also an Air Force veteran retiring after 33 years of service, reached the rank of senior master sergeant, and participated in several overseas deployments and operations.
What specific lesson/experience from CAP has influenced your career or your life?
At the time I joined the cadet program, I was interested in being a pilot, and movies like "Top Gun" and "Iron Eagle" had me believing I wanted to be a military aviator. As I got older, I figured out my eyesight was not favorable, so I focused on leadership laboratory and attended several encampments. I was also fortunate to participate in National Blue Beret and the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. By the time I was old enough to serve in the military, I joined the National Guard. I credit the cadet program for preparing me for basic training and a full military career.
CAP's cadet program is the best youth organization I can think of, even today. As I mentioned before, it prepared me for basic training and taught me the essentials to being a leader and professional senior noncommissioned officer. Attending National Blue Beret helped me with my confidence in dealing with the public, as those duties required directing aircraft to parking spots, crowd control for the Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde’s first time on display at the Oshkosh airshow, and a sense of purpose and attention to detail during search and rescue activities. CAP prepared me for a career of service.
I completed the cadet program at the grade of cadet lieutenant colonel. I have a strong belief every cadet should strive to complete what they started. For many cadets, that usually means at least the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award. But I feel this should mean achieving the Gen. Ira C. Eaker Award (Phase IV completion in my day) and completion of the program. And I highly encourage every cadet to test for the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award and achieve cadet colonel, as that is the pinnacle of the program. I took the Spaatz exam once before I transitioned to senior member. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it, but at least I took it. All in all, the cadet program taught me how to be a servant leader, a professional, and most of all, a mentor.
What else should we know about you?
Before I retired from the military, my last tour of duty was with CAP-USAF. This last tour was what I needed to reconnect with CAP. Before that, I filled roles as a CAP squadron commander, deputy commander for cadets and seniors, and earned my observer wings as a cadet in 1987. Due to my weak vision, I lost interest in becoming a pilot but am thrilled every time I hop into an airplane, whether as a passenger or an active crewmember.
I have also been an instructor at several Cadet Officer Schools and a few Region Cadet Leadership Schools. I am partnering with other subject matter experts in developing a group level Cadet Noncommissioned Officer School to bridge a learning gap in elementary and fundamental leadership principles that became challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I feel blessed CAP is a major part of my life. The knowledge picked up as a cadet and continued, expanded really, while in the Air Force, has developed me in ways I would never have imagined. In essence, my military career started when I was 13 and my continued service endures even after 33 years in the military and past retirement.
