Cadet Col. Olivia Morton of the South Carolina Wing’s York County Composite Squadron has been recognized with Civil Air Patrol’s top cadet honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award, achieved by less than one-half of 1% of all cadets.
Morton received the award May 3 from Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, CAP national commander and CEO and herself a 1992 Spaatz award recipient as a Kansas Wing cadet.
“Col. Morton epitomizes the core value of excellence,” Aye said during the award ceremony. “Her balance, her calm presence, and her commitment to the mission are hallmarks of a servant leader.
“She represents the very best of our cadet program.”
Morton, a senior at Fort Mill High School, balances honors classes, leadership roles in her school’s marching band and varsity track team with her CAP service. She has held positions from flight sergeant to cadet commander, most recently serving as cadet in charge of a support group at the South Carolina Wing’s Cadet Training Weekend.
Aye praised Morton’s ability to juggle rigorous academics, extracurriculars and CAP service with discipline and grace.
“Whether in a demanding school schedule, her calm approach to leadership challenges, or her focus on mentoring others, she shows a mastery of time management and humility. She’s the kind of person you want on your team,” the national commander said.
Morton, a CAP member since June 2019, joins an elite group in the South Carolina Wing as one of just seven active Spaatz cadets, said Col. James Brogan, wing commander.
“You’ve helped blaze a trail,” Brogan said, “and others will follow it.”
The cadet’s quiet leadership has left a loud legacy, said Capt. David Eisner, York squadron commander, who’s observed Morton throughout her CAP career.
“She’s the quiet one. The one who listens, pays attention, learns and leads by example,” Eisner said. “If you just watched how she moved through a room — you’d see someone always in motion, always helping, never idle.
“No one worked harder. She’s humble, driven, and genuinely kind. That combination is powerful — and rare.”
Spaatz award recipients must complete the CAP cadet program’s 16 achievements, then pass a rigorous cumulative battery consisting of a strenuous physical fitness exam, a written essay on a persistent moral issue, and two 60-question cumulative exams on aerospace and leadership.
Morton said the award would not have been possible without her wingman: Cadet Lt. Col. Kendal Fanning.
“Lt. Col. Fanning has been my ultimate inspiration through my time in CAP,” Morton said. “She is probably the hardest-working person I’ve ever met. I look up to her dedication, her commitment to excellence, her ability to come back from adversity, and all of those other attributes that she has that have guided her through the CAP program and gotten her where she is today.”
Fanning, who served under Morton’s leadership, also offered a heartfelt tribute to her friend and mentor, who she said “has always done more than exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
“Even with band, honors classes, and a packed schedule, she planned activities, mentored cadets. and made sure we all had a chance to lead and grow,” Fanning said.
“She leads from the front, but she never forgets those coming up behind her.”
Morton presented Fanning with the “Torch” Award, established to recognize mentors who had the most impact on a Spaatz award recipient
Morton will continue her leadership journey at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she has been accepted into Air Force ROTC and plans to pursue a commission as a military officer and pilot.
“This award isn’t the end — it’s an opportunity to serve more,” she said. “My goal now is to help the next cadet get here, too.”
In her remarks, Morton emphasized the importance of mentorship, consistency and resilience.
“The Spaatz award is not about the rank, but about the journey, and what you do with it,” she said. “It taught me that I’m capable of much more than I thought.
“And now, it’s my responsibility to give back—to help someone else see that same potential in themselves.”
Morton also shared three pieces of advice for younger cadets: Set your goals and commit daily, find a wingman to hold you accountable, and trust the process.
“To the cadets who are just starting or thinking about going for Spaatz — know that the results don’t come overnight. But if you’re consistent, and if you commit to your purpose every single day, you’ll get there.
“And it’ll be worth it,” she said.
Aye also noted Morton’s embodiment of the Year of Ownership, a theme for Civil Air Patrol in 2025.
“She’s taken ownership not only of her own development but of lifting others up. She has led in her squadron, her wing, at the region level and at national activities.
“That’s what legacy leadership looks like,” Aye said._____Lt. Col. Elizabeth PeacePublic Affairs OfficerSouth Carolina Wing
