Donate
New Commanders Hone Leadership Skills at National HQ
Seventeen of Civil Air Patrol’s newest commanders are at CAP National Headquarters this week, honing their leadership skills in the 2023 Region and Wing Commanders College.
“This college is designed to provide new region and wing commanders the tools and resources needed for a successful command,” said Col. Rose Hunt, Great Lakes Region commander, who is overseeing the leadership training with Col. Joe Winter, deputy director.
Participants in the graduate-level course, set for Nov. 5-10 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, were selected by their region commanders and approved by Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP national commander/CEO.
Using presentations, case studies, and practicums, the college helps new commanders focus on three main blocks of study: leading the organization, wing commander responsibilities, and focus lessons. The curriculum includes seminars, lectures, and hands-on sessions on such topics as leadership, accountability, expectations of commanders, legislative affairs, safety, ethics, legal matters, finances, and communications.
“Our curriculum leverages education, training, and subject matter expertise to produce adaptable, creative, and knowledgeable commanders,” Hunt said.
Course highlights include presentations from Phelka and Brig. Gen. Regena Aye, national vice commander. Both were on hand for a Monday session on “Anatomy of a Successful CAP Leader.”
Also scheduled are presentations by U.S. Air Force Col. Aaron D. Reid, CAP-USAF commander; John Desmarais, CAP chief operating officer; and numerous directors, assistant directors, and subject-matter experts at National Headquarters.
“Participants will return home at the end of this week with a better understanding of how to select and develop subordinate unit commanders and how to manage Civil Air Patrol’s emergency services, aerospace education, cadet, information technology, membership development, and logistics programs,” Hunt said.
The participants are:
Southeast Region
Col. Jeffrey Garrett
Alabama Wing
Col. Brian Williams
Alaska Wing
Col. Derk MacPherson
Arkansas Wing
Col. Richard Smith
Arizona Wing
Lt. Col. Linda Yaeger
California Wing
Col. Craig Newton
Colorado Wing
Col. Michael Fay
Georgia Wing
Col, Michael Willis
Indiana Wing
Col. Aaron Angelini
Missouri Wing
Col. Jennifer Smith
Nebraska Wing
Col. Dale Wuster
Nevada Wing
Col. Brian Howard
New Mexico Wing
Col. Andrew Selph
North Carolina Wing
Col. Dennis Bissell
Pennsylvania Wing
Col. William Schlosser
Utah Wing
Col. John Wagner
West Virginia Wing
Col. Deborah Butler-Case