The flag of a CAP brigadier general. It served as the flag of the national commander until 1 December 2002, when it became the flag of the national vice commander.
The National Commander works in close collaboration with Civil Air Patrol–U.S. Air Force (CAP-USAF), 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 agencies, and ensuring U.S. Air Force and other U.S. Government support to CAP.[2]
History
From its creation on 1 December 1941 until 31 August 1975, the National Commander of CAP was an appointed active dutycommissioned officer — typically a general officer — of the United States Army Air Forces (until September 1947) or the United States Air Force (after it became an independent service in September 1947). This National Commander was usually the sitting Civil Air Patrol-United States Air Force Commander.[3]
Upon adoption of the CAP Constitution and Bylaws on 26 May 1948, the CAP was incorporated and officially became the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and the CAP National Board was redesignated as the National Executive Board (NEB).
CAP Colonel George Andress Stone was the sitting CAP National Board Chairman, therefore became the Chairman of the NEB. Colonel Stone died in an aircraft accident while returning home from a NEB meeting in August 1948.[3] Retired U.S. Air Force GeneralCarl A. Spaatz assumed the position of Chairman about a week after Colonel Stone's death, and is widely regarded as the first Chairman.[4] The board became the National Executive Committee (NEC) on 26 April 1960, with the position of Chairman continuing to serve as the head of CAP. The Chairman continued to answer to the National Commander, who was still the CAP-USAF Commander.[3]
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,[5] 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.[5]
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.[3]
On 1 December 2002, the National Commander position was elevated to the rank of major general, with the national vice commander becoming a brigadier general.[5] 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.[5] 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.[5]
Since 2012, the National Commander of the CAP also has served as the chief executive officer of the CAP Corporation.[a]
The current National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol is Major General Regena M. Aye.[6]
Civil Air Patrol-United States Air Force
Civil Air Patrol-United States Air Force (CAP-USAF) is the U.S. Air Force command responsible for ensuring the CAP is organized, trained, and equipped to fulfill Air Force-assigned missions.[2] Operating alongside 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.[2] CAP-USAF personnel are also the primary function interface between other federal agencies and the CAP.[2]
CAP-USAF was established on 28 August 1948[7] under the U.S. Air Force Headquarters. CAP-USAF was transferred to Continental Air Command on 1 January 1959. Following Continental Air Command's inactivation in 1968, CAP-USAF was realigned back to U.S. Air Force Headquarters.
On 1 July 1976, CAP-USAF was realigned under Air University. It would become aligned under Air University's Jeanne M. Holm Officer Accession and Citizen Development Center on 11 June 2009. On 16 June 2016, it would be realigned to the First Air Force under Air Combat Command, as part of an effort to better integrate CAP as a Total Force Member.[8]
CAP-USAF currently runs a program known as the Civil Air Patrol Reserve Assistance Program (CAPRAP). This program is for Category E Reservists, those who participate for reserve "points" towards retirement but without pay, to act as a liaison between the Air Force and local CAP units. Individual Mobilization Augmentees and Traditional Reservists (two other reserve categories) are also eligible to participate in the program as a way to earn additional "points".[9]
List of officeholders
No.
Portrait
Name (birth–death)
Term of office
Took office
Left office
Time in office
U.S Army Air Forces / U.S. Air Force CAP National Commanders (1941-1948)[3]
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.[3]
^On December 1, 2002, the Air Force Chief of Staff, General John P. Jumper, announced that the position of National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol would be promoted from a Brig Gen to a Maj Gen. Subsequently, the Vice National Commander Position was promoted from a Col to a Brig Gen.[27]
^On August 6, 2007, the Civil Air Patrol Board of Governors suspended the CAP national commander, Maj Gen Antonio J. Pineda, for a period of up to 180 days. Brig Gen Amy S. Courter, CAP national vice commander, assumed the duties of the National Commander during this period.[29]
^On October 2, 2007, the Civil Air Patrol Board of Governors voted 9-1 to remove Antonio Pineda from his position as National Commander. He was removed from the CAP and stripped of his grade after NEWS OF THE FORCE, a military news e-zine based in Tampa, FL., first broke the story that Pineda had cheated on his Air Force Air Command and Staff College tests.[30]
^Maj Gen Amy Courter was unanimously elected to the position of National Commander on August 7, 2008, during a live webcast. [31]
^Brig Gen Harwell was promoted to Maj Gen via CAP PANHQ Order 33, 24 Aug 1988. The National Vice Commander was also promoted to Brig Gen. He would be the only National Commander to hold this rank until 2002.
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