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Illinois, Tennessee Cadets to Lead National Advisory Council
Cadet Lt. Cols. Soren Koh of the Illinois Wing and Zachary Barker of the Tennessee Wing are the new heads of the National Cadet Advisory Council, with Koh appointed chair and Barker vice chair.
Koh, a Civil Air Patrol member since April 2018, belongs to the Col. Charles Compton Composite Squadron. He represented the Great Lakes Region during the council’s 2022-2023 term after serving as the Illinois Wing’s primary representative on the region Cadet Advisory Council for the 2021-2022 term.
Koh has attended 12 encampments in the Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Montana, Ohio, and Oregon wings, 11 as a staff member. He has filled such positions as cadet public affairs officer in charge, cadet 
executive officer, cadet chief of staff, and cadet deputy commander.
He also participated in the Air Force Space Command Familiarization Course in Colorado, the Civic Leadership Academy. and National Blue Beret 2023. He is wing cadet public affairs officer and is active in emergency services.
Koh will attend George Washington University’s Elliott School of International
Affairs starting this fall. He hopes to become a U.S. Army officer through participation in ROTC.
As advisory council chair, he hopes to focus on continuity between terms and establish a focus on long-term planning. He wants the council to become a better platform for cadets to collaborate and have their voices heard.
Barker, a member of the Music City Composite Squadron, joined CAP in August 2017. He’s marking his second year on the National Cadet Advisory Council, following one year each on the wing and Southeast Region cadet advisory councils.
He has participated in three Tennessee Wing encampments and one Kentucky Wing encampment,
three National Cadet Special Activities – the Cyber Defense Training Academy, Model Aircraft and Remote Control Flight academy, and National Blue Beret – and three Regional Cadet Leadership Schools.
He has served in such positions as cadet flight commander, cohort leader, and encampment cadet commander.
Starting this fall Barker will attend Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee, and study entertainment business and management starting this fall. He hopes to work in the music industry as a tour manager and a front of house engineer.
His main focus as advisory council vice chair will be on ensuring the council completes quality proposals for meaningful and lasting change as well as working the council’s reach and image within 
the cadet corps.
The national council’s three purposes are to:
- Provide a forum where cadets gain leadership experience at higher organizational levels.
- Aid the national commander in monitoring and implementing the cadet program.
- Make recommendations to the national commander for improving and running the cadet program.