THIS MONTH: Program updates - News and Events - AE Safety Check

 The time is close;

It’s getting near.

The time to start

A brand new year.

Mark August 1st;

Log on in.

Register for ACE;

It’s about to begin!

Teachers in grades K-6, Aug. 1 marks the opening of the Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) Program for the 2026-2027 school year. Click HERE to register for ACE, CAP's grade-specific K-6 STEM program. Registered teachers receive class sets of engaging educational items such as the foam glider for third grade (pictured below) If you have questions, email ace@capnhq.gov. Find out more about the program and the educational materials each grade receives by clicking the box below.

ACE Plus 2025-2026 registration opens Aug. 1

Teachers in grades 5-8 who register for the ACE program can have their classroom adopted by a local CAP squadron with adults and cadets coming into the classroom to teach ACE and other aerospace/STEM lessons! Registration opens Aug. 1. On the ACE Registration Form, classroom teachers who enter student numbers for 5th and/or 6th grades simply select the YES button to be adopted by a local squadron. NHQ staff will send teachers that selected YES a Request to Collaborate Form.

Interested teachers can complete the top of the Request to Collaborate Form and send to their state’s volunteer Director of Aerospace Education (DAE). Find your DAE contact information on the list HERE. The state’s DAE will connect the teacher to a squadron, which will complete the bottom portion of the form and submit to adopt@capnhq.gov for processing.

To find out about this amazing collaborative program, click HERE. Please feel free to email adopt@capnhq.gov with any questions.

AEX 2025-2026 Program deadlines are approaching

AEX Award completion deadlines for the 2025-2026 cycle are approaching for squadrons:  

Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX) completion counts toward earning the Quality Cadet Unit Award (QCUA) as well as the Squadron AE Achievement Award.

For credit for the QCUA, the AEX Completion Report should be submitted by Aug. 31. The deadline for the Squadron AE Achievement Award is Sept. 30. AEX program activities should take place from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 each year. Activities and resources are available in Absorb LMS and in AE Downloads and Resources - both accessible in eServices. Or you may use your own activities or lessons from a like-minded STEM education organization. Work conducted while participating in the CAP/NASA Missions, the High-Altitude Balloon Challenge, and STEM Kit lessons also make great activities to apply toward AEX completion.

To learn more about the AEX Program and the instructions for completing the program, click the link below. If you have any questions about AEX or filling out the completion report, please contact aex@capnhq.gov. We are here to help.

Reminder: Check out STEM Kit program

schedule for remainder of fiscal year

As we approach the end of the fiscal year, we would like to remind members of the March announcement regarding the planned August and September closure of the STEM Kit Program for educator members (AEMs).

Please review the schedule below for the planned closure timeline. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued support as we work through this transition to the new fiscal year. As the new fiscal year gets closer, we will update you on when the program will open for AEOs and AEMs.

Please note: Applications submitted during one month are reviewed the following month. For example, applications submitted in July will be reviewed in August.

If you have any questions, please reach out to STEM@capnhq.gov. We are excited to continue supporting our members in inspiring the next generation of aviation, space, and cyber leaders through STEM education.

Very respectfully,



The STEM Kit Committee

News and Events

Civil Air Patrol names Christopher Plamp

as Chief Operating Officer

Civil Air Patrol has named Christopher Plamp as its next Chief Operating Officer (COO), bringing the organization a seasoned leader with deep experience in military service, nonprofit operations, and mission-driven leadership.

Plamp joins Civil Air Patrol from the United Service Organizations (USO), where he served in senior leadership roles supporting service members and their families worldwide. A combat aviator and U.S. Air Force veteran, he brings a strong operational background and a career defined by service to others.

Connect with NASA at CAP's National Conference

One of the many unique opportunities available at this year's CAP National Conference Aug. 28-29 in Kansas City, Missouri, is the CAP-NASA Meet & Greet, a chance to meet face-to-face with NASA representatives and fellow members who have participated in recent CAP-NASA missions.

Have you taken part in Aurora Watch, Aviation Skywatch, or another CAP-NASA mission? Join us on Friday from 3:15-4:00 p.m. in the Pomona Room to share your experiences, make new connections, and learn more about how CAP and NASA work together.

This informal networking session brings together mission participants and NASA personnel for conversation, collaboration, and camaraderie. Even if you haven't participated in a CAP-NASA mission, this is a great opportunity for both cadets and adult members to learn more about CAP's partnership with NASA and the missions it supports.

Be sure to arrive early! A group photo with mission participants and NASA representatives will be taken during the first 15 minutes of the session.

The CAP-NASA Meet & Greet is just one of the many experiences that make National Conference a valuable opportunity to learn, connect, and engage with members and partners from across the country. We hope to see you there!

(Welcome to AE Safety Check! These are key reminders to think about as you lead or participate in an Aerospace Education activity. The writer of this monthly feature is Lt. Col. Karen Cooper, National AE Manager, 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@capnhq.gov.

Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education

Contact: Aerospace Education

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/ae