Here is your debrief from the 2026 National Conference! | |
As I reflect on our time together in Kansas City, I feel grateful and optimistic. The National Conference reminded me once again that Civil Air Patrol's greatest strength is our people. In every conversation, presentation, and hallway discussion, I saw dedicated volunteers and staff committed to making CAP stronger, more ready, more relevant, and more resilient. I also saw the difference our programs make in our members' lives and in our communities. The connections we built, the lessons we shared, and the best practices we exchanged will continue to strengthen our organization long after the conference.
I am especially optimistic about CAP's future. I believe we are more aligned than at any point in our history, with the Board of Governors, CSAG, Command Council, National Headquarters team, and our membership working together toward common goals rooted in the best Strategic Plan we have had in recent memory. That alignment gives us tremendous momentum. The future is bright if we choose to build it together, and I am inspired every day by the service, professionalism, and commitment I see across our organization. We are improving our organization and building the future on a strong foundation.
To everyone who made the National Conference a success, thank you. From the teams in Missouri and Kansas to our National Headquarters staff, volunteers, presenters, and countless members who worked behind the scenes, this event showcased the very best of CAP. Thank you for your dedication, ideas, and commitment to serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping the future. Together, we are building the future of Civil Air Patrol.
Major General Regena M. Aye, CAP
CEO/National Commander
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Gen. Aye Accepts One-Year Term Extension
At the 2026 CAP National Conference, the CAP Board of Governors unanimously voted to offer Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye a one-year extension as CAP's CEO and National Commander. She graciously accepted.
The decision was made to ensure continuity during a period of significant organizational, leadership, and governance transitions, while strategic initiatives remain underway. The unanimous vote reflects the Board's confidence in Gen. Aye's leadership and her continued commitment to advancing CAP's mission. We are proud to have her at the helm.
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The 2026 National Conference provided leaders across the organization with the opportunity to share progress, priorities, and initiatives directly with the membership. Updates covered a broad range of functional areas, reflecting the full scope of CAP's work and the alignment of our leadership team around a shared strategic direction.
Key themes included tech modernization via CAPNET and PLANELOGIX systems, cadet programs, career exploration, youth development, health services policies, member wellness, safety culture, risk management, legal compliance, aerospace education, and membership retention strategies.
Across every directorate, the message was consistent. CAP is moving forward and moving forward together.
| | A complete breakdown of all departmental updates presented at the 2026 National Conference is available in the linked document. | | | |
USAF Maj. Taylor "FEMA" Hiester
Commander and Pilot, U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team
A former CAP cadet from the Pennsylvania Wing, Maj. Hiester delivered a keynote that resonated with everyone in the room. His message was simple and enduring: trust your team, execute under pressure, make decisions with real consequences, and own the outcome. The environments may look different, but the principles remain the same.
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Joseph Acaba
Associate Director of Mission and Strategy, NASA Johnson Space Center
Before he ever set foot in a spacecraft, Joseph Acaba was a teacher, a Peace Corps volunteer, a Marine, and a scientist. His keynote explored what happens when curiosity, service, and persistence combine over a lifetime, and his path has a way of making you look at your own life with fresh eyes.
| | | The Conference Experience | | |
Senior Members
Senior members spent two full days in learning sessions covering emotional intelligence, crew resource management, mission safety, the CAP-USAF partnership, membership boards, orientation flight programs, health system updates, neurodiverse learning, cadet advisory councils, government relations, complaint resolution, volunteer retention, inspector general development, PLANELOGIX maintenance management, and much more.
Every session reflected the cross-functional spirit of this year's conference, and the sessions made it clear that no directorate operates in isolation.
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Cadets
Cadets had a conference experience built entirely around them, with dedicated tracks featuring career networking, emotional intelligence, sUAS pathways, personal branding, goal mapping, deliberate risk assessment, NASA's Helio Club STEM challenge, government relations leadership, encampment programs, team challenge facilitation, and a cadet-only session with Joseph Acaba.
The next generation of CAP leaders showed up, engaged, and made their mark throughout the weekend.
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Activities
Before sessions began, members from across the country gathered at Penn Valley Park for the National Conference 3K Fun Run, an informal run-and-walk celebrating wellness and camaraderie. Planners Maj. Liz Johnson, Cadet Maj. Johnson, and Dr. Katie Thurson, along with dedicated volunteers, kept the morning safe and energized.
Thank you to Lightspeed, General Aye, General Bailey, Secretary Anderson, the MOWG project team, and every early riser who helped make Saturday a fantastic start.
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Members who took part in recent CAP-NASA missions, including Aurora Watch and Aviation Skywatch, connected with NASA astronaut Joseph Acaba and other NASA representatives. Participants shared their mission experiences, swapped stories with others who answered the call, and saw firsthand how their work supports NASA's research.
It was a proud moment for the members whose contributions help strengthen one of CAP's most exciting partnerships.
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Members and their guests gathered for the Commander's Reception, an evening featuring hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and great conversation. Attire ranged from smart business casual to mess dress, reflecting the many ways members serve CAP and the pride they bring to it.
The reception offered a relaxed opportunity to reconnect with old friends, welcome new ones, and celebrate a remarkable weekend together.
| | A collection of photos from the 2026 Civil Air Patrol National Conference in Kansas City is available in the linked gallery. | | | |
The 2026 CAP National Conference was more than an event; it was a demonstration of what this organization is capable of when it comes together with purpose. From the opening address to the closing reception, Kansas City showed us at our best: united, energized, and committed to the mission.
To every member who attended, presented, volunteered, or followed along from home, thank you. You make Civil Air Patrol worth building.
The work does not stop here. Apply what you learned, use what you gained, and bring it back to your unit, your wing, and your community. That is how the National Conference pays dividends all year long.
We are grateful in Kansas City, and we cannot wait to see you in Orlando, Florida.
See you in Orlando | August 2027
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