Civil Air Patrol recognized its top performers tonight in an online awards ceremony capping the organization’s first ever virtual conference, honoring 28 members, one region, two wings and one squadron for accomplishments during 2019.
The award recipients represented 19 wings and all eight regions.
A longtime member of the Colorado Wing, Lt. Col. Michael T. McNeely of the Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron, and an achievement-oriented Minnesota Wing cadet, Cadet Col. Iva Hammitt of the Anoka County Composite Squadron, are the top honorees as Senior Member of the Year and Cadet of the Year, respectively.
McNeely, a CAP member since 1996, is the Colorado Springs squadron’s deputy commander after twice serving as commander. During his tenure the squadron has received the Quality Cadet Unit Award 10 straight years
Before joining the Colorado Wing, McNeely served in leadership positions at numerous squadrons across CAP. As an active-duty U.S. Air Force officer, he has served in the Virginia, Wyoming, Rhode Island and California wings.
His contributions to CAP’s aerospace education mission have had a nationwide impact. He originated and authored the National Aerospace Education Program Satellite Tool Kit (STK) Program, and he has worked countless hours to design and implement the program to teach cadets about satellites and their orbits, missions, locations and the solar system. This work helped earn him the national Frank Brewer Memorial Aerospace Education Award in the Individual Category in 2001.
McNeely is a Ground Team Leader, Ground Team Member 3 and has been an Urban Direction Finding Team member for over 22 years. He has served as the activity director of the Advanced Technologies Academy for 15 years and has also attended 17 cadet encampments, serving in positions from training, advising and counseling officer to encampment commander.
Since joining CAP in 2015 Hammitt has served in several squadron positions from flight sergeant through cadet commander and executive officer.
She has attended four encampments and four Minnesota Leadership Academies; was on the National Cadet Competition team that placed fourth overall; staffed Cadet Competition at the wing and region levels;- and serves as the North Central Region representative on- the National Cadet Advisory Council. She is also the Ubuntu expert on the CyberPatriot team and is Ground Team Member 1 qualified.
Hammitt earned CAP’s top cadet honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award, in 2019. She also participated in the 2019 Civic Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C., as well as the Rocky Mountain Region Cadet Leadership School in Colorado Springs.
She took Advanced Placement and community college-level courses and graduated from high school with an associate’s degree from Anoka Ramsey Community College. She was on the Honor Roll every semester, and in 2015 she earned the Girl Scout Silver Award.
Hammitt also volunteers up to 50 hours to non-CAP activities a year, in addition to participating in choir, the student council, the National Honor Society, drama, track and field, Nordic skiing and cross country and serving as a peer tutor, all while maintaining a 4.378 grade-point average.
In addition to McNeely and Hammitt, awards went to:
Aerospace Education Teacher of the YearLt. Col. James D. PeaceEast Houston Cadet SquadronTexas Wing
Squadron of Distinction/F. Ward Reilly Leadership AwardApollo Composite SquadronMaj. James R. Glombowski, CommanderTexas Wing
AFNORTH Commander’s AwardWest Virginia Wing
Air Force Sergeants Association Cadet NCO of the YearCadet Chief Master Sgt. Dean M. Courtney IIAndrews Composite SquadronNational Capital Wing
Frank Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award, Cadet CategoryCadet Capt. Liam J. HoodMaj. Kevin A. Adams Memorial Composite SquadronMichigan Wing
Frank Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award, Senior Member CategoryCapt. James O. ClontsPeachtree City Falcon Field Composite SquadronGeorgia Wing
Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award, Individual/Organization Branson AirportMissouri Wing
Director of Finance of the YearFirst Lt. Terrance M. AldridgeAlaska Wing
Communicator of the YearMaj. Brian P. FoltzHeart of the Rockies Composite SquadronColorado Wing
Squadron Chaplain of the YearChaplain, Col. Kenneth W. ParrisEast Bay Cadet Squadron 18California Wing
Senior Chaplain of the Year Chaplain, Lt. Col. Robert W. HarrisNemet-Ryan Composite SquadronCalifornia Wing
Character Development Officer of the YearCapt. Christel M. HoustonSteamboat Springs Composite SquadronColorado Wing
Col. Dion DeCamp Ground Team of the YearSouthern Kentucky Cadet SquadronKentucky Wing
Counterdrug Officer of the YearMaj. James R. RedmonFallbrook Senior SquadronCalifornia Wing
Maj. Gen. Jeanne M. Holm Aerospace Education Officer of the YearFirst Lt. Lynda S. MacPhersonAlaska Wing
Col. Edwin W. Lewis Jr. Incident Staff Member of the YearLt. Col. Christoffer Trossen156 WISTAC FlightWisconsin Wing
Historian of the YearMaj. Karla K. WestSouth Dakota Wing
Inspector General of the YearLt. Col. Bruce L. RoyConnecticut Wing
Col. David Kantor Operations Staff Officer of the YearLt. Col. Aaron E. OliverOklahoma Wing
Col. Robert V. (Bud) Payton Public Affairs Officer of the YearCapt. Margot A. MyersArizona Wing
Professional Development Officer of the YearMaj. Kristen S. SantosBethesda-Chevy Chase Composite SquadronMaryland Wing
Property Manager of the YearMaj. Eric S. MillesKentucky Wing
Lt. Col. Keith Riddle Aircrew Member of the YearMaj. Ronald W. YoscakNew Castle Senior SquadronDelaware Wing
Safety Officer of the YearCapt. Bruce M. ClaytonCentral Alabama Senior SquadronAlabama Wing
John V. “Jack” Sorenson Cadet Programs Officer of the YearMaster Sgt. Kristopher C. MatthewsScott Composite SquadronIllinois Wing
George Texido Legislative Officer Of the YearLt. Col. Andrew LiputConnecticut Wing
Paul. W. Turner Safety AwardArizona Wing
Maj. Gen. Dwight H. Wheless Legal Officer of the YearLt. Col. Stephen L. TupperGreat Lakes Region
