What’s your family history with Civil Air Patrol?
I’ve been a member for 18 years, including 6 years as a cadet. Out of 7 kids, my 5 youngest have all been in CAP. It all started with my daughter wanting to be a pilot and astronaut, so I said CAP is the best place to start. Ask her any time and she will share her experience and tell how much of her success is due to what she learned in CAP. All of my kids achieved their Earhart Award, except my youngest who is 14 and C/TSgt. He also has autism, which has really improved since joining. My wife is also a cadet sponsor.
I am also third-generation Air Force. My grandfather served in WWII in the Army Air Forces then 30 years in USAF as an electrician. My father served four years as a medic. I served as Security Police K-9.
Current Career?
Senior Application/Product Support at AT&T. Working currently in the Product Development Engineering department supporting broadband internet data quality control within the customer's home via wired and WiFi access.
What specific CAP experiences have influenced your career/life?
Until I came back as a senior member and took on the role of Deputy Commander for Cadets, I never really associated my success with CAP. Now that I'm back, I see how over the years CAP has helped me as a leader in various management roles, including running my own business. Interviewing for jobs. Having self-discipline in all areas of my life. Seeing the quality of our Learn to Lead volumes, especially as cadets go through Phases 2-4. As a Business Management major in college, I see college-level education being implemented in our cadet program. You won't see that anywhere else.
My reward as a senior member is watching my cadets succeed as they enter adulthood. I keep up with as many as possible. Some are well on their way in life, with one flying C-130s in Germany with his wife and kids and another now working for Qantas Airlines after graduating from the Australian Defense Forces Academy and serving in the Australian Navy assigned to protecting the coast of Africa from Somali terrorists. CAP in general has affected all areas of my life through self-determination to always do better and be successful in no matter what I do. I try my best to exhibit all the traits I learned as a cadet including volunteering in my community and supporting numerous nonprofit agencies financially. So far, my greatest achievements in CAP have been receiving my Garber Award, 3 Balsem Awards, and receiving the Quality Cadet Unit Award 6 consecutive years.
