The Kentucky Wing’s commander and a Texas Wing cadet have been recognized as Civil Air Patrol’s Senior Member of the Year and Cadet of the Year in connection with the organization’s National Conference, held virtually Aug. 12-14.
Col. Brian W. Schmuck joined CAP as a cadet in the Indiana Wing in 1995 and has been a senior member since 1999. Before becoming Kentucky Wing commander in March, he held a variety of duty assignments at the squadron, group, wing and region levels in Indiana.
He holds the three master ratings, two senior ratings and a host of emergency services qualifications, including Incident Commander 1, and has completed Level V of the Senior Member Education and Training program.
During the past year he led his wing through the COVID-19 pandemic as the focal point for the planning task force. As incident commander, he served over 60 continuous days leading the response mission in which more than 100 members contributed more than 7,000 miles, providing more than 1.5 million meals to residents, driving more than 3,000 miles and saving the state nearly $250 million.
As chairman of the COVID-19 remobilization team, Schmuck developed relationships with the state Department of Homeland Security, Family and Social Services Administration and Army National Guard.
In addition, through CAP’s Aerospace Connections in Education program he worked with the local Air Force Association chapter to develop a program in collaboration with the Thrive Afterschool Program, which was recognized with the 2020 CAP National ACE Collaborative Program of Light Award. He also crafted CAP’s Adopt-a-Classroom program and serves as its national ambassador.
Cadet Col. Jackson B. Baker, a member of the Texas Wing’s David Lee Hill Composite Squadron, joined Civil Air Patrol in 2014 and quickly progressed through the cadet program, earning the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award — CAP’s top cadet honor, earned by less than one-half of 1% of all cadets — in April 2018.
He has earned 13 emergency service qualifications, received an Air Force Association flight scholarship, participated in four National Cadet Special Activities, served on the National Cadet Advisory Council, made a presentation to the Board of Governors, and represented his wing on Capitol Hill at three National Legislative Days.
As cadet commander and senior project officer for the Cadet Drill Instruction Academy in San Antonio. he was responsible for billeting, the dining facility, bus transportation, coordinating for building reservations, scheduling tours and planning with military personnel to provide cadets with instruction from active-duty personnel.
He helped build relationships with multiple groups at Joint Base San Antonio, which exposed cadets to the Airman Leadership School, military training instructors, emergency service working dogs, the Randolph physiology lab, the POW museum, and the Camp Bullis firing range.
Along with assisting senior members and cadets with training materials during the COVID-19 pandemic, he has totaled more than 80 volunteer hours with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and has worked as a storm spotter for the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Here is a complete list of the other national awards:
Squadron of Distinction/F. Ward Reilly Leadership AwardCapt. Jennifer C. Moon, Squadron CommanderWestchester Cadet Squadron 1New York Wing
Air Force Sergeants Association Cadet NCO of the YearCadet Chief Master Sgt. Hunter C. MamawalAlbuquerque Heights “Spirit” Composite SquadronNew Mexico Wing
Aerospace Education Teacher of the YearPatrick D. CarterIndiana Wing
Director of Finance of the YearLt. Col. Anthony E. RieglingKentucky Wing
Paul W. Turner Safety Officer of the YearLt. Col. Christian J. FeltonGreat Lakes Region
Frank G. Brewer Sr. CAP Memorial Aerospace Award — Lifetime Achievement AwardLt. Col. Paul A. WillardVirginia Wing
Frank G. Brewer Sr. CAP Memorial Aerospace Award — Organizational CategoryAllan C. TimmermanCEO of Jet Air Group FBOGreen Bay, Wisconsin
Frank G. Brewer Sr. CAP Memorial Aerospace Award — Senior Member CategoryCapt. Burton DichtPhoenix Composite SquadronNew York Wing
Frank G. Brewer Sr. CAP Memorial Aerospace Award — Cadet CategoryCadet Lt. Col. Ryan J. PorterAlaska Wing
Communicator of the YearLt. Col. James P. WeilandIllinois Wing
Senior Chaplain of the YearChaplain (Lt. Col.) Timothy H. MinerVirginia Wing
Squadron Chaplain of the Year AwardChaplain (Maj.) Linda B. BerezMilwaukee Composite Squadron 5Wisconsin Wing
Character Development Officer of the YearTech. Sgt. Gerald L. MartinCoeur d’Alene Composite SquadronIdaho Wing
George Texido Legislative Officer of the YearCol. Gary H. TobeyBlack Sheep Senior SquadronColorado Wing
Maj. Gen. Jeanne M. Holm Aerospace Education Officer of the YearFirst Lt. Robert J. RobertsGreenville Composite SquadronSouth Carolina Wing
John V. “Jack” Sorenson Cadet Programs Officer of the YearLt. Col. Jamie GriffithGreat Lakes Region
Property Manager of the YearMaj. Theodore R. WarnockVirginia Wing
Col. Robert (Bud) Payton Public Affairs Officer of YearLt. Col. David G. FinleySocorro Composite SquadronNew Mexico Wing
Col. David Kantor Operations Staff Officer of the Year AwardLt. Col. Stephen D. Sammons IIAlaska Wing
Norm Edwards Counterdrug Officer of the YearLt. Col. Terry HowlettTexas Wing
Inspector General of the YearCapt. Danny W. GreenMississippi Wing
Professional Development Officer of the YearCol. Mary F. DonleySouth Dakota Wing
Col. Dion E. DeCamp Ground Team of the YearLt. Col. Carlos M. Arroyo, Squadron CommanderGroup 2Puerto Rico Wing
Col. Edwin W. Lewis Jr.Incident Staff Member of the Year AwardCol. Leo BurkeMichigan Wing
Maj. Gen. Dwight H. Wheless Legal Officer of the YearMaj. Evan B. JonesKentucky Wing
Historian of the YearLt. Col. Andrew NotarfrancescoNortheast Philadelphia Composite Squadron 104Pennsylvania Wing
Lt. Col. T. Keith Riddle Aircrew Member of the Year AwardCol. Aaron E. OliverOklahoma Wing
