Va. Wing Cadet Recognized with Spaatz Award

Cadet Col. Kathryn Homa of the Virginia Wing’s Leesburg Composite Squadron has earned the highest achievement a Civil Air Patrol cadet can attain – the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award, earned by less than one-half of 1%.

Homa, who joined CAP in 2016, has been the Leesburg squadron’s cadet commander since July. She has also served as cadet deputy commander, aerospace education officer, activities officer, operations officer, leadership officer, flight commander, group cadet advisory council representative and flight sergeant.

She also served as on the cadet staff at the Virginia Wing Encampment in 2019, the same year she attended Hawk Mountain Ranger School. She Region Cadet Leadership school in 2020 and participated in the Alaska Wing Powered Flight Academy this year.

“Cadet Homa is amongst the finest examples of how dedication and hard work to CAP can result in success,” said Maj. David Thornton, squadron commander. “Earning the Spaatz award is a testament to her steadfast determination, and the members of our squadron are all proud to see her complete this achievement and excited to see what Cadet Homa does in the future.”

She is the 84th cadet to earn the award in Virginia Wing and the third to do so this year.

Earning the Spaatz award requires passing a comprehensive leadership and aerospace test on topics learned throughout the cadet program and a physical fitness test and writing an essay on a specific topic.