Maj. Roy Barden has been selected as the next commander of the North Dakota Wing, with a change of command ceremony set for Nov. 16 in Bismarck, when he will succeed Col. Justin Baier.
Barden joined Civil Air Patrol in August 2012 as a member of the Hawaii Wing’s Honolulu Senior Squadron, where he later served as commander. Before Col. Thomas Theis, North Central Region commander, selected him as commander, Barden was North Dakota Wing inspector general. He previously served as inspector general for the Hawaii Wing and assistant inspector general of the Nebraska Wing.
He holds Master ratings in aerospace education and inspector general and is a CAP Volunteer University Instructor. A pilot, his emergency service ratings have included air operations branch director, ground branch director, operations section chief, mission scanner, and mission observer.
Barden retired from the U.S. Air Force after 21 years of service, the majority of that time as a military working dog handler. He now works as a regional explosive detector dog trainer.
His vision for the North Dakota Wing includes cultivating a dynamic and inclusive environment where every member feels valued, inspired, and empowered to contribute their talents towards the collective success of CAP’s three core missions — emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace education.
Barden believes in leading by example, guided by CAP’s core values of integrity, volunteer service, excellence, and respect, and is committed to empowering and developing the wing’s members to reach their fullest potential as leaders, professionals, and volunteers. _____Lt. Col. Pamela K. Leath Assistant Public Affairs Officer North Dakota Wing
