Echelon Front's Rob Jones to Share Extreme Leadership Experience with Civil Air Patrol

Rob Jones will be the keynote speaker March 1 as part of Civil Air Patrol’s ongoing “Year of Ownership” initiative launched last month by Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye, CAP's national commander/CEO.

Jones will use his experience as a retired U.S. Marine, combat leader, Paralympian, and now Echelon Front instructor and speaker to provide valuable insights into the principles of Extreme Leadership and how they can be applied to enhance leadership and operational effectiveness within CAP.

“This session will empower you to embrace accountability, overcome challenges, and lead with confidence,” said Jared Peregoy, CAP's senior director of learning.

With the recent release of executive orders, Civil Air Patrol has created a "From the National Commander" webpage to share the most recent information, recommendations, and guidance as they pertain to Civil Air Patrol. There, you'll find frequently asked questions, official memos, and messages from Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye. We encourage stakeholders to visit the page periodically for information and developments. 

California Cadet Choosing Among 4 Military Academy Appointments

Cadet Maj. Brock Buak of the California Wing’s Eugene L. Cadet Squadron 85 has drawn on a combination of Civil Air Patrol community service, academics, and athletics to achieve appointments to four military academies this year.

Along with appointments to the Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine, the three-year CAP member also received a full Army ROTC scholarship should he choose that route.

50+ Years of Expert Flying

Earns CAP Pilots FAA Honor

The Federal Aviation Administration has honored Lt. Col. Craig Upton (right) of the North Carolina Wing and Maj. N. Gregory Soter (below, left) of the Utah Wing with the agency’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot award.

Upton, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, received the award from FAA Safety Team program manager Tim Haley during a Raleigh-Wake Composite Squadron meeting in a ceremony attended by distinguished guests, family, and friends.

Soter, the Utah Wing’s director of standardization/evaluation, received his award from Richard Jeffs of the FAA’s Salt Lake City Flight Standards District Office (pictured) at a Phantom Composite Squadron meeting. 

The Wright Brothers award recognizes “50 years of exemplary aviation flight experience, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment to aviation safety.”

South Carolina NCOs Focus on Duty, Performance

South Carolina Wing members who draw on their military leadership experiences in serving as Civil Air Patrol noncommissioned officers gathered Jan. 17-19 at Monks for their annual weekend of networking and discussing how to best support wing and squadron operations and grow as individual professionals and a guiding community.

The NCOs spent their Saturday sharing perspectives and applicable training to best follow their roles of directing, inspecting, and correcting fellow CAP volunteers.

New Jersey Cadets Spotlight Aviation for Girl Scouts

“Discovering Aviation” took center stage when the New Jersey Wing’s Twin Pine Composite Squadron hosted 45 sixth- through 12th-graders and 15 adults from the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey.

The Twin Pine leadership education officer, 2nd Lt. Lucy Couvertier, teamed with Tanya Toth, Girl Experience coordinator for the Scouts, to arrange for the evening to show the guests what a weekly squadron meeting looks like as well as to place aviation in the spotlight.

The cadet-led aerospace education activities, starting with a squadron-wide classroom session, involved requirements for the Girl Scouts Aviation Merit Badge.

NHQ News

Enhancing Mission Preparedness:

Security Directorate Launched

CAP has established the Security Directorate to address the evolving demands of its sensitive missions, reflecting the organization’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of security as it supports a wide array of U.S. Air Force- and other agency-assigned tasks.

Leading the groundbreaking effort is Lt. Col. Ed Wolff (above, left) as Security Directorate director and security manager for CAP, with Col. Randy Cohen (right) as deputy director. The specialized six-member team reports directly to Michael Nunemaker, national chief strategy officer/chief programs and missions officer.

The directorate is tasked with working directly with the 42nd Air Base Wing and other federal and military agencies safeguarding .

Celebrate Matching Gifts Month with CAP

February is Matching Gifts Month, and we’re excited to double the impact of your generosity.

Did you know many companies match their employees’ donations or volunteer hours? This means your contribution can go twice as far in supporting our mission.

Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Donate: Make a donation and check if your employer offers a matching gift program.
2. Spread the Word: Matching Gifts can be designated to squadrons or programs.

Together, we can make a bigger difference.

Join the CAP/NASA 2025 Weather Mission

The CAP/NASA 2025 Aviation Weather Mission is an aerospace education activity that builds on the knowledge gained during the 2023 and 2024 CAP Solar Eclipse missions.

During this mission, data collection teams will collect data that will help NASA scientists better understand humidity levels at attitude, with an emphasis on increasing our understanding of how humidity levels impact aviation.

For more information and to register, visit this CAP/NASA Portal link.

Artwork Series Returns with Alexander 'Eaglerock'

Maj. Ron Finger's second series of vintage aircraft artwork — the Silvered Wings Series — returns this year with its 22nd installment, featuring the Alexander “Eaglerock” A-15.

Debuting in August 2022 and continuing into 2025, the Silvered Wings Series features the work and writing of Finger, a volunteer staff member on the Marketing and Communications national team who serves as Civil Air Patrol's national artist.

Check out the latest vintage CAP aircraft in the series, as posted on CAP.news:

Last Chance to Apply for Volunteer Staff Positions

National Headquarters is accepting applications for three national volunteer staff positions for CAP — National Logistics Manager, National Supply Manager, and JanEX Innovation Cell Member.

Applications must be received by Feb. 16.

For details and the desired requirements for these and other volunteer positions, visit this link.

For more information, go to Operation Pulse Lift's webpage on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. There you will find the latest Blood Donation Center schedules, instructions on how to set up a BDC, and other mission information.