New COO a Familiar Face at National Headquarters

A longtime Civil Air Patrol member with nearly three decades of National Headquarters experience — John W. Desmarais Sr. — is CAP’s new chief operating officer.

The Board of Governors named Desmarais to the top executive post at National Headquarters in January, and he officially became COO on March 31, succeeding John Salvador.

Desmarais, known in CAP circles as “Moose” because of his physical stature and his call sign, has served on the senior staff at National Headquarters the past 18 years — most recently as director of operations.

“Over the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to spearhead many strategic initiatives that remain today and are truly foundational to what our members do every day,” Desmarais said. “I routinely partner with all areas of the Civil Air Patrol team and have worked to observe, listen, and learn, truly developing the skills and experience necessary to support and lead the entire team and serve as the next chief operating officer.”

Salvador was promoted to CAP colonel upon his retirement, and will continue service as a volunteer in the Alabama Wing.

Geospatial Team Helps Gauge Tornado Impact

Eleven Civil Air Patrol members from nine wings and five regions teamed up online March 26 to evaluate damage to 5,520 structures in the wake of a deadly tornado that struck Mississippi two days earlier.

The CAP members were part of the organization’s geospatial program. They were responding to a Federal Emergency Management Agency request to plan and coordinate storm damage assessment efforts.

While commercial aircraft and satellites gathered vital data March 25, the CAP members sought out open-source video and photography data online, assessing and recording the damaged structures on the ArcGIS web application.

Their efforts helped reinforce a speedy federal disaster declaration for the affected Mississippi counties.

CAP National Artist Honored by Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame

In observance of National Volunteer Month, Civil Air Patrol recognizes Maj. Ron Finger, who serves as CAP’s national artist on the Marketing and Strategic Communications team. Finger, honored over the weekend by the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, is one of 270 national staff volunteers who work alongside CAP’s paid staff and contribute greatly to its programs and initiatives.

Finger, a 13-year veteran the Minnesota Wing's Crow Wing Composite Squadron, was honored April 1 in Minneapolis for his artwork in CAP’s Timeline Flight and Silvered Wings initiatives, which captures for future generations the iconic aircraft of the U.S. Air Force auxiliary’s 81 years.

60 More Air Force Airmen Take Flight During Spring Session of Rated Preparatory Program

Sixty U.S. Air Force airmen hoping to qualify as pilots after training with Civil Air Patrol completed the Rated Preparatory Program March 17-31 at Denton Enterprise airport in Texas. In all, CAP provided more than 400 flight hours involving 23 instructors, 17 staff, and 22 aircraft in two week-long sessions. 

 Through the program, now in its fifth year, CAP has provided flight training for 390 aspiring Air Force pilots — including 2nd Lt. Matthew Ladd and Master Sgt. Careen Lewis (pictured above with their instructor, CAP Lt. Col. Tom Hyer of the Oklahoma Wing).

Participants in each one-week session receive about 7½ hours of flight instruction and at least 2½ hours of simulator instruction and associated ground instruction. Airmen are required to complete an online ground school before participating in the program. 

For more information about the Rated Preparatory Program, email RPP@capnhq.gov.

Cadets Aim High, Set CAP Balloon Altitude Record

A high-altitude balloon launched March 18 by cadets in the Connecticut Wing’s 399th Composite Squadron climbed to 121,660 feet — 23.04 miles — to set a record for Civil Air Patrol.

The balloon was launched at 10:14 a.m. and landed at 12:30 p.m., traveling 129.6 miles from Warwick, New York, to Storrs, Connecticut, and capping a two-month aerospace education project.

(The Connecticut flight wasn't related to the CAP Aerospace Education High-Altitude Balloon Challenge, which involves scientific experiments tested through balloon flight. Registration for the 2023 challenge is ongoing. Visit this GoCivilAirPatrol link to find out more about the challenge and to sign up for it.)

NHQ News

New ACE Program Record: 97K Students Impacted in 2022-2023 School Year

For the second straight academic year, Civil Air Patrol's K-6 Aerospace Connections in Education program has impacted a record number of students.

"ACE supports Civil Air Patrol's mission/vision statement by helping shape the futures of close to 100,000 students nationwide," John Salvador said last week in his final message as chief operating officer to CAP's corporate employees and national volunteer staff.

During the 2022-2023 school year, the ACE program far exceeded last year’s former record with 97,272 students and 598 teachers in 550 schools involved.

Even more impressive is the fact that 88% of the ACE public schools are Title l schools. The CAP program provides its teacher members with 21 grade-specific, life-shaping lesson plans in character development, physical fitness, and academics revolving around an aerospace theme.  

Want to Save on Taxes While Supporting CAP?

Did you know you can donate stock to help you save on your finances as you make a lasting impact on Civil Air Patrol's future?

CAP has partnered with FreeWill to provide a free and secure online tool that guides you through the process of donating stock in about 10 minutes. Check out how easy it is to donate stock today.

Quarterly Newsletter for NCOs Now Available

A new online newsletter for Civil Air Patrol's 398 noncommissioned officers has been launched by National Command Chief Todd H. Parsons.

Described as “a newsletter for NCOs, written by NCOs,” the National Command Chief Quarterly Newsletter is edited by Senior Master Sgt. Frank A. D'Angelo Jr.

CAP's Logistics Team is Growing; 3 Staffers Added

The National Headquarters' Logistics team is expanding.

Recent hires include a new supply and real property program manager (Charles Cofer) and the appointment of two national staff volunteers (Lt. Col. Calvin Chandler Jr. and Maj. James Bertz) to key managerial positions within the directorate.

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