Lt. Col. Eric Davis is the Kansas Wing’s next commander, Col. Thomas Theis, North Central Region commander, has announced.
Davis will succeed Col. Mark Lahan, wing commander since May 2022.
Davis joined Civil Air Patrol as a cadet in 1980 in the Oklahoma Wing’s Stillwater Composite Squadron, where he attended several encampments, participated in National Blue Beret in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and earned his solo wings.
After serving a tour of duty with the U.S. Army, he rejoined CAP as an adult member, serving as deputy commander of cadets for the Oklahoma Wing’s Broken Arrow Composite Squadron as well as a pilot and mission observer until he graduated from college.
Davis returned to CAP in 2012, followed by stints as a squadron commander in the Iowa and Kansas wings as well as in several Kansas Wing staff positions, including deputy commander.
He holds Master ratings in the Command, Communications, Aerospace, and Safety specialty tracks. An active mission pilot and flight instructor, he has participated in several encampments and National Cadet Special Activities.
Davis is employed as a principal engineer with Collins Aerospace in Lenexa, Kansas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering, with 30 years of aerospace industry experience.
