Cadets from the New York and Tennessee wings are the new heads of the National Cadet Advisory Council.
Cadet Lt. Col. Ben McGarvey of the New York Wing’s Rochester Composite Squadron will serve as the council’s chair. He’s the New York Wing’s public affairs officer, the Rochester squadron’s cadet commander, and the Finger Lakes Group’s cadet communication officer. He has participated in five National Cadet Special Activities, including National Blue Beret, Cadet Officer School, and the International Air Cadet Exchange.
For the past four years, McGarvey has served at the Northeast Region Cadet Leadership School in many positions, including cadet officer in charge and chief of staff. He has supported 12 air shows as a part of CAP’s community outreach, serving in such positions as cadet commander, deputy commander, and public information officer.
McGarvey has participated in multiple ground search and rescue academies and holds qualifications as a public information officer, flight line marshaller, urban direction finder,mission radio operator, and mission staff assistant.
He was recognized as New York Wing 2023 Public Affairs Officer of the Year and 2024 Cadet of the Year.
McGarvey is attending Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, pursuing a master’s in divinity as part of his career goal of becoming a U.S. Air Force chaplain.
Cadet Col. Saul Andino of the Tennessee Wing’s Music City Composite Squadron will serve as 2025-2026 vice chair, moving up from National Cadet Advisory Council recorder as well as chair of the Southeast Region advisory council. He previously held the roles of vice chair and recorder at both the Puerto Rico Wing and Southeast Region levels.
In August 2024 Andino received CAP’s top cadet honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award — an accomplishment achieved by less than one-half of 1% of all cadets. He has been a CAP member since October 2021.
He has supported nine encampments across various wings, including serving as cadet commander for the Puerto Rico Wing’s 2024 Summer Encampment and the Florida Wing’s upcoming 2025-2026 Winter Encampment.
A graduate of five National Cadet Special Activities, Andino recently completed the Great Lakes Region Powered National Flight Academy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
He was a member of the Puerto Rico Wing’s National Cadet Competition first-place team in 2024 as a member of the Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron and was named Puerto Rico Wing 2024 Cadet of the Year. He has received Exceptional and Meritorious Service Awards in recognition of his contributions.
This fall, Andino begins college as a freshman and ROTC student, majoring in business management with a minor in French.
