CAP Foundation Welcomes New Member from FAA

When the Civil Air Patrol Foundation meets Feb. 16, it will officially welcome its newest trustee – Vanessa Blacknall-Jamison.

Blacknall-Jamison, change management adviser and leadership coach with the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, D.C., was appointed to the board in August. The virtual gathering will be her first on the foundation board, which provides general support for CAP and its programs and missions, direct financial support to CAP’s operations and scholarships to CAP members.

“It is an honor to serve on the CAP Foundation Board of Trustees,” she said. “I look forward to supporting CAP in maintaining its aviation membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles and occupations.”

Over the last five years, Blacknall-Jamison provides consultation, project support and individual skills development for the FAA-Aviation Safety-Flight Standards Service-Change Management Group on change management. She designed, developed and managed logistics for training more than 5,000 executives, middle and frontline managers and employees on change management. Blacknall-Jamison is also an associate certified coach through the International Coaching Federation. 

“Vanessa brings a strong understanding of not only the aviation community but also the importance of inspiring young people in aerospace education.” said Kristina Jones, CAPs chief of philanthropy and the foundation’s president/executive director. “We are so pleased to have her join as a trustee.”

Before joining FAA’s Flight Standards Leadership Development Branch in 2013, Blacknall-Jamison was as an aviation safety inspector in Fort Worth, Texas, for American Airlines and Eagle Airlines. Previously, she was manager of emergency procedures training and programs for United Airlines in Denver.

“We continue to add top advocates of CAP’s mission to the foundation board of trustees.” said Paul Graziani, the board’s chair. “We are fortunate Vanessa agreed to champion support for the foundation.”

Other foundation trustees include Graziani, CEO of AGI and a former member of CAP’s Board of Governors; Cols. Raj Kothari, managing director at Cascade Partners and commander of CAP’s Michigan Wing, and Curtis Boehmer, former Michigan Wing commander and a member of the Board of Governors; Lt. Col. Richard Flowers, retired attorney and member of CAP’s Florida Wing; retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Leon Johnson; Stacey Bechdolt, engineering and air safety counsel with the Air Lines Pilot Association; retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Kevin McLaughlin, president of McLaughlin Global Associates; Karl Geng, former president and CEO of Siemens Communications; and Martha King, co-chair of King Schools.