THIS MONTH: Program updates - AE Safety Check -

News and Events - Curriculum

As of publishing this newsletter Nov..7, due to the government shutdown, shipping of all Aerospace Education materials -- including material orders, STEM Kits, and ACE Program materials -- has paused. However, members may still place orders for materials and register for the ACE Program at this time. Also note, Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) Flights have also been paused.

In addition, the entire AE team and majority of CAP employees will begin furlough effective Nov. 9. We are unable to respond to emails or calls at this time. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding during this period.

Should you require immediate assistance for an urgent matter, please contact Terry McCaffrey, Director of Operations/Interim Senior Director, at tmccaffrey@capnhq.gov. Otherwise, we will respond as soon as possible upon our return. 

For more information, updates can be found at the link below..

Students, educators and community leaders gathered n Temple Terrace, Florida, last month as Civil Air Patrol launched the 2025-2026 school year for Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE), its K-6 STEM program. The event was held at Florida College Academy, which swept CAP's top three individual ACE awards:

• ACE Teacher of the Year: Edie Dorrell
• ACE Student of the Year: Ben Chilcote
• ACE Coordinator of the Year: Jeri Martin

The launch ceremony featured retired U.S. Navy Capt. Winston Scott, a former NASA astronaut as keynote speaker. Click the link below to read the full CAP.NEWS story.

The fifth annual CAP Aerospace Education National High-Altitude Balloon Challenge concluded with more than 100 teams representing 41 wings across all eight CAP regions taking part in this year’s nationwide STEM competition. Over 1,000 cadets and 250 adult leaders participated in the six-month program, which culminated in the Nov. 6 awards presentation announcing the winner of the Col. Joe Kittinger Cup – the Virginia Wing’s William P. Knight Composite Squadron (pictured above). Click the link below to access the awards video and slide deck.

(These safety briefs are things to think about as you lead or participate in an Aerospace Education activity. The writer of this monthly feature is Lt. Col. Karen Cooper, who works in safety and risk management on the AE National Headquarters Staff and is also the Northeast Region DCS/Aerospace Education.)

If you have a safety topic you would like to be included in this space, please email kcooper@ner.cap.gov.

Cadets are invited to participate in new

CAP/NASA mission patch design challenge

AEOs: Cadets are invited to create a design for our next CAP/NASA Mission Patch. The Patch Design Challenge for the CAP/NASA 2026 Aviation Skywatch Mission will close soon.

The challenge rules are as follows:

• The deadline for submissions is 11:59 Mountain time on Nov. 15.
• Designs can be submitted by CAP cadets in good standing.
• One design can be submitted per cadet.
• Designs should be round.
• Designs should incorporate the date and the Civil Air Patrol logo.
• Designs should meet the standards laid out in the CAP Branding and Heraldry Guides.
• Designs should be the cadet's individual work (either hand drawn or using digital art; do no use AI)

Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education

Contact: Aerospace Education

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/ae