Two dozen cadets devoted the week of Aug. 3-10 to exploring aviation careers and business relations at Civil Air Patrol’s Aviation & Aeronautics Business Academy.
Cadets and staff came from 20 wings and all eight CAP regions, along with a squadron based in Germany. Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Queens, New York, hosted the academy — previously on hiatus since 2015 — for the second straight year.
The academy’s primary goal is to offer practical, real-world experiences within the aviation and aeronautics business fields while providing an educational environment and facilitating collaboration with businesses that present students with current research on scientific developments in the fields of engineering, aviation, aeronautics, and business.
This year featured many new aspects, including cadet staff. Previous participants were offered the opportunity to return as cadet staff to help guide and assist cadets throughout the activity.
“Coming back as staff has given me the opportunity to not only raise the generation of aviation leaders, but has also allowed me to learn more about myself as a mentor and a leader,” said Cadet Lt. Col. Timothy Ku, a 2023 graduate who belongs to the41st Iowa Composite Squadron.
Lt. Col. Hilda Pereyo. Pacific Region external aerospace education officer, served as activity director. She has been involved with the academy since 2010. _____Cadet Lt. Col. Ben McGarveyPublic Affairs officer2024 Aviation & Aeronautics Business Academy
Participants
Alaska Wing· Cadet 1st Lt. Lane Bryan Hillyer, Kenai Composite Squadron
California Wing· Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Johan Babu, San Diego Cadet Squadron 144
Florida Wing· Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Kyle J. Peterson, Boca Raton Composite Squadron
· Cadet Master Sgt. Esteban Joel Benavides, Pines-Miramar Composite Squadron
Iowa Wing· Cadet Lt. Col. Timothy J. Ku, 41st Iowa Composite Squadron
Missouri Wing· Cadet Master Sgt. Olivia Celeste Booyer, Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron
Montana Wing· Cadet Capt. Patrick David Grundler, Flathead Composite Squadron
New Jersey Wing· Cadet Capt. Evan A. Rollins, Gen. Jimmy Stewart Composite Squadron
New York Wing· Cadet Lt. Col. Benjamin Guy McGarvey, Rochester Composite Squadron
· Cadet Maj. Ethan Bailey Hillard, Col. Francis S. Gabreski Cadet Squadron
· Cadet Capt. Nicholas C. Gentile, 9th Suffolk Cadet Squadron
· Cadet 1st Lt. Alexander J. Gentile, 9th Suffolk Cadet Squadron
· Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Hunter T. Anderson, Dutchess County Cadet Squadron
· Cadet Master Sgt. Connor Lucas DiLauro, Academy Cadet Squadron
North Carolina Wing · Cadet 2nd Lt. Magnus Solomon Batts, Apex Cadet Squadron
· Cadet Tech. Sgt. Michaela C. Steele, Raleigh-Wake Composite Squadron
Oregon Wing· Cadet Capt. Alison Kaye Brewer, Aurora Composite Squadron
Pennsylvania Wing· Cadet 2nd Lt. Viraj Bagga, Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Composite Squadron 812
· Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jack Ryan Zander, Capital City Composite Squadron 302 Puerto Rico Wing· Cadet 2nd Lt. Ivan Soto, Arecibo Cadet Squadron
· Cadet Master Sgt. Mariana M. Burgos-Hernandez, Muniz ANG Cadet Squadron
Tennessee Wing· Cadet Capt. Elizabeth Autumn Moulton, McGhee-Tyson Composite Squadron
Texas Wing· Cadet Col. Isaiah Paul McGuire, Apollo Composite Squadron
· Cadet 1st Lt. Jochebed R. Huddleston, Majors Composite Squadron
Vermont Wing· Cadet Maj. Miranda Joan Gallagher, Green Mountain Composite Squadron
Virginia Wing· Cadet 2nd Lt. Qihong Liang, William P. Knight Composite Squadron
West Virginia Wing · Cadet Lt. Col. Esther Macias, Martinsburg Composite Squadron
Wisconsin Wing· Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Chancellor J. Clay, Eagle River Composite Squadron
· Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Seija S. Freiberg, Milwaukee Composite Squadron 5
Overseas· Cadet 2nd Lt. Mario Alberto Celis, Stuttgart Garrison Composite Squadron
Staff
Lt. Col. Hilda Pereyo, Pacific Region Headquarters — activity director
Lt. Col. Brendan P. Kearns, North Carolina Wing Headquarters — deputy director
Lt. Col. Jacqueline A. Sturgess, New York Wing Headquarters —finance officer
Maj. John P. Keel, Albuquerque Eagle Cadet Squadron, New Mexico Wing — transportation officer
Maj. Annette Leder, Bronx Aerospace Flight, New York Wing —transportation officer
Capt. Adam Zachary DeLitta, Rochester Composite Squadron, New York Wing — safety officer
1st Lt. Eden E. West, Roughrider Composite Squadron, North Dakota Wing — administration officer
1st Lt. Joshua C. Williamson, Albuquerque Eagle Cadet Squadron, New Mexico Wing — curriculum officer
