CAP Mourns Balloon Challenge Ambassador

U.S. Air Force retired Col. Joseph Kittinger (at left with Civil Air Patrol's Susan Mallett) flew west at age 94 on Dec. 9. His legacy includes setting high-altitude balloon jump records, serving as a test pilot, surviving as a Vietnam POW, and challenging CAP cadets to learn more about space science.

His work as a research scientist set the stage for the space program, as he proved a person could survive the effects of high altitudes when protected in special suits. He also laid the groundwork for safety drogue parachute use in high-altitude ejections and slowing of space vehicles, which are still used today.

The Texas Wing's Col. Joseph Kittinger Phantom Senior Squadron is named for him, and he was the award benefactor of a $5,000 prize and the Kittinger Cup for the first two years of the new national AE high-altitude balloon challenge for cadets. He was quite proud to have the 2021 national cadet team winners visit him in Orlando as seen in the photo, but he was too ill to meet the 2022 national winners.

His was recognized in August with the 2022 CAP Frank Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Individual/Organization. His name will live on in future High-Altitude Balloon Challenges with the continuation of the Kittinger Cup.

Operation Pulse Lift Reaches 1,000 Days

Dec. 13 marked the 1,000th day of Operation Pulse Lift, Civil Air Patrol’s humanitarian blood-donation mission launched to assist the American Red Cross in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This mission is the largest and longest lifesaving effort in CAP’s 81-year history,” said Operation Pulse Lift’s national incident commander, Lt. Col. Bob Ditch (above left with Capt. John A. Bryant, a recent recipient of the National Commander's Citation for his squadron's mission contributions).

So far, nearly 18,000 units of blood have been collected, potentially saving about 54,000 lives.

Since then-Surgeon General Jerome Adams’ March 17, 2020, announcement of the need for blood and the pandemic-related closure of nearly 7,000 donation center, “Civil Air Patrol has been engaged in the coordination, planning, and execution of the longest series of blood donation center operations in the nation by a single organization,” Ditch said.

More About the Mission's Latest Milestone

Operation Pulse Lift

Every unit of blood collected through the combined efforts of Civil Air Patrol volunteers saves three lives, according to the Red Cross. So far in its mission quest for 18,000 units before the end of the 2022 calendar year, Operation Pulse Lift has collected this number of units:

Report Your Blood Donations to CAP

More Than 911: CAP's Cellphone Forensics Team Helps Locate Missing Colorado Hiker

Civil Air Patrol’s National Cell Phone Forensics team guided searchers Dec. 12 to a missing 72-year-old hiker who couldn’t find her way back to her car as darkness began falling in Montrose County, Colorado.

The CAP team responded after the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center received a request for assistance by the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office. The woman had set out on a sunny Sunday afternoon with temperatures in the 50s, leaving her heavy coat and hiking boots in her car.

More About Civil Air Patrol's Latest Save

True Grit: Throughout Cancer Fight, North Carolina Cadet 'Keeps Putting Others Ahead of Myself'

“Courage” is an overworked noun that lazy sportscasters and “happy talk” TV morning news anchors have beaten into submission to the point that it doesn’t effectively conjure the fortitude that wells inside some people — people like Cadet 1st Lt. Ally Davis of the North Carolina Wing's Union County Composite Squadron.

Still just holding on to her teen years, “grit” is a better word to describe Davis’ no-holds-barred bout with adversity that drives her to not only overcome obstacles but also achieve amazing things in the process — things most of us would think too daunting to try. even without a life-threatening battle at the door.

Consider this:

At 18, she’s in remission — for the second time — in her battle against lymphoma, a life-and- death struggle she’s waged since age 11. That journey also included a successful stem cell transplant.
While battling cancer full-time, she created the Team Ally Foundation, raising money for childhood cancer research, earning her recognition from regional and state chapters of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Concurrently, Davis graduated from high school, completed her associate degree, and entered nursing school at Wingate University.
And after only two years of service, she’s already a cadet first lieutenant in the Union County Composite Squadron in Waxhaw, North Carolina, having achieved the rank in early September.

More About Cadet Davis and Her Achievements

Aviation Leader, Washington Wing Member, Joins CAP Foundation Board

Lt. Col. Carlos Zendejas, a Civil Air Patrol member since 2015 and a longtime leader in the aviation community, is the newest member of the CAP Foundation board of trustees.

Zendejas said he’s “truly humbled” to be selected as a board member. “CAP is a remarkable program for every facet of a person’s life, but I know firsthand the benefits and opportunities it offers our youth because all three of my children are members in this outstanding organization,” he said.

The Civil Air Patrol Foundation promotes and supports CAP by providing direct funding for the organization and its programs, missions, and operations, including strengthening squadrons and wings and providing scholarships for cadets and aerospace education. It also helps donors leave a legacy and a lasting impact.

“Over the last 3½ years, donors have invested more than $3 million in the foundation. These funds translate into direct support for cadet scholarships, aerospace education and strengthening squadrons,” said Kristina Jones, president and executive director of the foundation.

More About Lt. Col. Zendejas and the Foundation

Two More Project Mercury Graduates for CAP

Civil Air Patrol’s participation in the U.S. Air Force's innovation training program, Project Mercury, continues through Col. Anne Brechbuhl, Virginia Wing director of education and training, and Jared Peregoy, national deputy chief learning officer. Both recently completed the intensive 12-week innovation program sponsored by the Air Force and Innovatrium.

In addition, CAP Project Mercury alumni John Desmarais (director of operations), Kathy Conyers (chief information officer), and Joe Hall (deputy chief information officer) completed the coaches curriculum.

Peregoy and his team won the Project Mercury Showcase Award for their innovation community engagement proposal. Teams led by CAP Project Mercury coaches also received recognition for their exemplary work. Desmarais and Hall won Project Mercury Prismatic Awards, with Hall’s team also receiving the People’s Choice Award.

NHQ News

Donate by Dec. 31 to Shape Their Future

Your gift can help deserving Civil Air Patrol cadets attend encampments, create cadet scholarships, and fund teachers and aerospace and STEM education.

Your donation of…

$35 will pay to support a teacher in accessing our aerospace education curriculum;
$50 will pay for several school-aged children to participate in aerospace and STEM education;
$150 provides one hour of flying time for a cadet;
$250 funds a scholarship to attend an encampment;
$500 funds a cadet activity; or
$1,000 or more provides a full academic or flight scholarship for a deserving cadet.

Shape Their Future and Donate Today

New Aircraft Avionics Maintenance

Coordinator Joins Logistics Team

The Civil Air Patrol logistics team’s newest addition is Jeremy Dorn as aircraft avionics maintenance coordinator. No stranger to CAP, Dorn comes from a corporate and general aviation background.

“Over the years I have assisted CAP from a civil standpoint, doing maintenance as well as assisting with cadet training," he said. "I have enjoyed knowing that the goals and standards are based in tradition and a solid foundation of service, which I can easily support and encourage.”

Dorn's 25-year background in aviation service includes six years in the Air National Guard in avionics specialties and 12 years in avionics support and maintenance. He has also filled manufacturing and supervisory roles.

Digital Content Administrator Positions Announced

National Headquarters is accepting applications for multiple Digital Content Administrator positions with the Marketing and Strategic Communications team. This is a volunteer position and will report directly to CAP's marketing chief.

For details and the desired requirements for the position, visit this link.

Tweet of the Week @Civil Air Patrol

Photo of the Month

This photo was taken by Cadet Lt. Col. Annika Ziesmer of the Alaska Wing during the annual Arctic Thunder airshow in Anchorage. It shows the Thunderbirds flying in formation past the tail of a CAP aircraft. Thanks to Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Keena Bennett for sharing this photo with CAP.

If you have a photo you'd like to share, use this link to send it to us.