Flag of the National Vice Commander of the Civil Air Patrol

The National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol (

acronym An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in ''NATO'' (''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''), but sometimes use syllables, as ...

: CAP/CC) is the highest senior official in the

Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded mem ...

(CAP) — a

non-profit corporation A nonprofit corporation is any legal entity which has been Incorporation (business), incorporated under the law of its jurisdiction for purposes other than making profits for its owners or shareholders. Depending on the laws of the jurisdiction, a ...

Congressionally chartered to operate as the civilian auxiliary of the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...

— of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The national commander also serves as the

chief executive officer A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

of the CAP Corporation. In addition, the U.S. Air Force maintains Civil Air Patrol–U.S. Air Force, a U.S. Air Force command whose commander is responsible for overseeing CAP programs, liaison between the CAP and U.S. Air Force and other

United States Government The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America, composed of 50 states, a city within a fede ...

agencies, and ensuring U.S. Air Force and other U.S. Government support to the CAP.af.mil Civil Air Patrol-U.S. Air Force Accessed 14 October 2022
/ref>

History

From its creation on 1 December 1941 until 31 August 1975, the CAP national commander was an appointed

active duty Active duty, in contrast to reserve duty, is a full-time occupation as part of a military force. In the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations, the equivalent term is active service. India The Indian Armed Forces are considered to be one ...

commissioned officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...

— typically a

general officer A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...

— of the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

(until September 1947) or the

(after it became an independent service in September 1947). The national commander chaired the CAP National Board. Upon adoption of the CAP Constitution and Bylaws on 26 May 1948, the CAP was incorporated and officially became the civlian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, the Chairman of the CAP National Board became the national commander, and the CAP National Board was redesignated as the National Executive Board (NEB), with the national commander as its chair.

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

Carl A. Spaatz, USAF, became the first chairman after the incorporation of the CAP after he retired from the Air Force in 1948. The board became the National Executive Committee (NEC) on 26 April 1960, with the national commander continuing as its chair. On 1 September 1975, the position of chairman of the national board was redesignated as national commander, held by an active civilian CAP member with the CAP rank of

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

,Grade & Position Pamphlet - Charles Composite Squadron Accessed 11 October 2022
/ref> with only sitting and former national commanders who served in the position on or after 1 September 1975 holding the CAP rank of brigadier general. At the same time, the former U.S. Air Force-appointed national commander position was redesignated as the executive director of the CAP. On 8 March 1995, during a reorganization of CAP National Headquarters, the title of executive director was changed to senior Air Force advisor. On 1 December 2002, the national commander position was elevated to the rank of

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

, with the national vice commander becoming a brigadier general. Current and former national commanders who held the position after 1 December 2002 are the only CAP members who hold the CAP rank of major general. Former national commanders who held the position prior to 1 December 2002 and sitting national vice commanders and those who held the position of national vice commander on or after 1 December 2002 are the only CAP members who hold the CAP rank of brigadier general. Since 2012, the national commander of the CAP also has served as the

of the CAP Corporation. The current National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol is Major General Edward Phelka.

Civil Air Patrol-United States Air Force

Civil Air Patrol-United States Air Force (CAP-USAF) is a U.S. Air Force command responsible for ensuring the CAP is organized, trained, and equipped to fulfill Air Force-assigned missions. Operating alongiside the CAP's civilian leadership, CAP-USAF provides day-to-day support, advice, and liaison to the CAP’s more than 60,000 members and provides oversight for CAP programs, with emphasis on safety and program requirements. CAP-USAF personnel are also the primary function interface between other federal agencies and the CAP. As of 2020, CAP-USAF was staffed with approximately 200 active-duty,

United States Air Force Reserve The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commiss ...

, and civilian personnel at CAP National Headquarters at

Maxwell Air Force Base Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation under the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. O ...

and locations in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

(Detachment 1,

McGuire Air Force Base McGuire AFB/McGuire, the common name of the McGuire unit of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, is a United States Air Force base in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, approximately south-southeast of Trenton. McGuire is under the j ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

(Detachment 2,

Andrews Air Force Base Andrews Air Force Base (Andrews AFB, AAFB) is the airfield portion of Joint Base Andrews, which is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force. In 2009, Andrews Air Force Base merged with Naval Air Facility Washington to form Joint B ...

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

(Detachment 3,

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place just east of Dayton, Ohio, in Greene County, Ohio, Greene and Montgomery County, Ohio, Montgomery counties. It includes both Wright and Patte ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

(Detachment 4,

Dobbins Air Reserve Base Dobbins Air Reserve Base or Dobbins ARB is a United States Air Force reserve air base located in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb about northwest of Atlanta. Originally known as Dobbins Air Force Base, it was named in honor of Captain Charles M ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

(Detachment 5),

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

(Detachment 6),

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

(Detachment 7,

Peterson Space Force Base Peterson Space Force Base, previously Peterson Air Force Base, Peterson Field, and Army Air Base, Colorado Springs, is a United States Space Force, U.S. Space Force Base that shares an airfield with the adjacent Colorado Springs Municipal Airp ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

(Detachment 8,

Beale Air Force Base Beale Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. It is located outside Linda, about east of the towns of Marysville and Yuba City, and about north of Sacramento. The host ...

), and

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, as well as in

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

and at several overseas Air Force installations.

List of officeholders

U.S. Army Air Forces/U.S. Air Force commanders

*Maj Gen John F. Curry,

USAAF The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

, Dec 1941 – Mar 1942 *Col Earle L. Johnson, USAAF, Mar 1942 – Feb 1947 *Brig Gen Frederic H. Smith Jr., USAAF/USAF, February 21, 1947 – September 30, 1947 *Maj Gen Lucas V. Beau,

USAF The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...

, October 1, 1947 – May 1948

Chairman of the National Board (1948–1975)

*Gen Carl A. Spaatz, USAF (Ret), Aug 1948 – Apr 1959 *Col (later Brig Gen) D. Harold Byrd, CAP, Apr 1959 – Apr 1960 *Col (later Brig Gen) William C. Whelen, CAP, Apr 1960 – Apr 1962 *Col (later Brig Gen) Paul W. Turner, CAP, Sep 1962 – Oct 1965 *Brig Gen Lyle W. Castle, CAP, Oct 1965 – Oct 1968 *Brig Gen F. Ward Reilly, CAP, Oct 1968 – Oct 1970 *Brig Gen Samuel H. DuPont, Jr., CAP, Oct 1970 – Oct 1973 *Brig Gen William M. Patterson, CAP, Oct 1973 – Aug 1975

CAP National Commanders (1975–present)

USAAF/CAP-USAF Commanders

U.S. Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force national commanders of the CAP prior to its 1948 incorporation are considered part of the lineage of the command history of CAP-USAF. *Maj Gen John F. Curry,

, Dec 1941 – Mar 1942 *Col Earle L. Johnson, USAAF, Mar 1942 – Feb 1947 *Brig Gen Frederic H. Smith Jr., USAF, February 21, 1947 – September 30, 1947 *Maj Gen Lucas V. Beau, USAF, October 1, 1947 – December 31, 1955 *Maj Gen Walter R. Agee, USAF, January 1, 1956 – March 31, 1959 *Brig Gen Stephen D. McElroy, USAF, April 1, 1959 – December 15, 1961 *Col Paul C. Ashworth, USAF, December 15, 1961 – July 31, 1964 *Col Joe L. Mason, USAF, August 1, 1964 – April 30, 1967 *Brig Gen William W. Wilcox, USAF, May 1, 1967 – October 31, 1968 *Maj Gen Walter B. Putnam, USAF, November 1, 1968 – October 31, 1969 *Brig Gen Richard N. Ellis, USAF, November 1, 1969 – October 31, 1972 *Brig Gen

Leslie J. Westberg Leslie J. Westberg (June 23, 1920 – January 4, 1997) was a Brigadier general (United States), brigadier general in the United States Air Force. He piloted bombers on combat missions in both World War II and the Korean War and reconnaissance ...

, USAF, November 1, 1972 – August 28, 1975 *Brig Gen Car S. Miller, USAF, August 29, 1975 – Nov 1977 *Brig Gen Paul E. Gardner, USAF, Nov 1977 – July 31, 1980 *Brig Gen H. W. Miller, USAF, August 1, 1980 – Aug 1981 *Brig Gen David L. Patton, USAF, Aug 1981 – May 1984 *Col John T. Massingale Jr., USAF, May 1984 – October 31, 1989 *Col Clyde O. Westbrook Jr., USAF, November 1, 1989 – Jun 1990 *Col Joseph M. Nall, USAF, Jun 1990 – Aug 1992 *Col Ronald T. Sampson, USAF, Aug 1992 – Mar 1995 *Col Garland W. Padgett Jr., USAF, Mar 1995 – May 1998 *Col Dennis B. Parkhurst, USAF, May 1998 – Jul 2001 *Col Albert A. Allenback, USAF, Jul 2001 – Jul 2002 *Col George C. Vogt, USAF, Jul 2002 – Oct 2005 *Col Russell D. Hodgkins Jr., USAF, Oct 2005 – Apr 2009 *Col William R. (Bill) Ward, USAF, Apr 2009 – June 31, 2011 *Col George H. Ross III, USAF, July 1, 2011 – October 4, 2011 *Col Paul D. Gloyd II, USAF, October 4, 2011 – May 2014 *Col Jay Updegraff, USAF, May 2014 – Aug 2014 *Col Michael D. Tyynismaa, USAF, Aug 2014 – Apr 2019 *Col Mark A. Wootan, USAF, Apr 2019 – present

Notes

References

{{reflist Civil Air Patrol People of the Civil Air Patrol Lists of American military personnel