Twenty-one new Civil Air Patrol commanders as well as the recently appointed chief of the CAP Chaplain Corps will hone their leadership skills Oct.25-27 at the 2021 Region and Wing Commanders College in Hartford, Connecticut.
The college will be a hybrid event this year, with both in-person and virtual attendance.
“The 2021 Region and Wing Commanders College is the largest group of students we have hosted during my tenure as director,” said Col. Rose Hunt, former Wisconsin Wing commander, who will oversee the three days of training. “The college is designed to help current and soon-to-be commanders transition from leadership at lower echelons to positions of senior responsibility.”
Participants in the graduate-level course are selected for the course by their region commanders and must be approved by Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP’s national commander/CEO.
The college uses presentations, case studies and practicums to help 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 resources.
By the college’s end, participants will have a better understanding of how to select and develop subordinate unit commanders as well as how to manage CAP’s emergency services, aerospace education, cadet, information technology, public affairs, membership development and logistics programs.
“We are looking forward to the region and wing commanders gaining the tools and insight necessary to guide and direct their members and embody the duties of loyalty and care as they fulfill the missions for the organization,” Hunt said. “The bonds created during this college last a lifetime in and outside of Civil Air Patrol.”
Course highlights will include presentations from Phelka and Brig. Gen. Regena Aye, CAP’s national vice commander.
Also scheduled are presentations by CAP-USAF’s commander, Air Force Col. Mark Wootan; John Salvador, Civil Air Patrol’s chief operating officer; and numerous directors, assistant directors and subject-matter experts at CAP National Headquarters.
The 2021 participants are:
Northeast RegionCol. Everett Hume
Pacific RegionCol. George Ishikata
Chaplain CorpsChaplain (Col.) Linda Pugsley
Connecticut WingCol. Matthew Valleau
Florida WingCol. Luis Negron
Idaho WingCol. Robin Vest
Illinois WingCol. Andrew Loy
Kentucky WingCol. Brian Schmuck
Massachusetts WingCol. Walter “Tim” Nelson
Michigan WingCol. Christopher Ballard
Mississippi WingCol. Robert Mims
National Capital WingCol. David Sterling
New Jersey WingCol. Andrew Liput
New York WingCol. John Jones
North Dakota WingCol. Justin Baier
Ohio WingCol. Peter Bowden
Oklahoma WingCol. Aaron Oliver
South Carolina WingCol. Christopher Peterson
Tennessee WingCol. George “Robert” Borsari III
Utah WingCol. Jason Hess
Vermont WingCol Richard Beach
Virginia WingCol. Elizabeth Sydow
