Col. Rick Greenhut of the National Capital Wing, former commander of the Northeast Region and New York Wing, has been recognized with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.
The award is bestowed on pilots with more than 50 years of aviation experience, professionalism, and accident-free flying as well as an impeccable safety record, free of violations or disciplinary actions.
Greenhut received the award from Brig. Gen. Richard Anderson, Civil Air Patrol national commander from 1993-1996, at the National Capital Wing’s annual conference.
Greenhut’s aviation career began in 1968 while he was still in high school, soloing in a Piper J-3 Cub from a small grass strip near his Cleveland home. He continued to fly in college and later started a company that leased back several twin-engine Cessna 310s to a charter company carrying bank checks, freight, and passengers. He also flew professionally for that company for several years.
Greenhut was an early participant in the FAA’s WINGS pilot proficiency program and served many years as a volunteer FAA Safety Team representative.
He joined Civil Air Patrol’s New York City Group in 1990, quickly becoming a mission pilot and rising rapidly through the ranks. After becoming deputy commander, he served as the Northeast Region’s safety officer.
After three years, he became commander of the New York Wing. After nearly three years as wing commander, he was named Northeast Region commander, responsible for almost 11,000 CAP members across nine wings and a fleet of 90 aircraft.
Just two weeks after Greenhut assumed command of the region, the 9/11 attacks occurred. Early Sept. 12, the region began flying photo missions for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state authorities. He dispatched the first aircraft to take photos of the World Trade Center devastation at the request of New York Gov. George Pataki.
After four years as the region commander, Greenhut served as CAP national director of homeland security. He presented numerous high-level briefings to senior Air Force and government leaders in that role, outlining CAP’s abilities to military and government stakeholders nationwide.
He later became national director of marketing and then national marketing adviser.
After a break in volunteer service, Greenhut rejoined CAP and serves as the National Capital Wing’s recruiting officer.
Greenhut holds an airline transport pilot certificate for multiengine aircraft with commercial privileges in single-engine land, single-engine sea, and multi-engine sea aircraft._____Lt. Col. Paul CiancioloPublic Affairs OfficerNational Capital Wing
