Parkersburg Composite Squadron Welcomes New Commander
Parkersburg Composite Squadron Welcomes New Commander
MARIETTA -- Civil Air Patrol's Parkersburg Composite Squadron conducted a change of command ceremony on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at WASCO, Inc. in Marietta, Ohio. Senior member Wilma Winter assumed command from First Lieutenant John Goodin. The West Virginia Wing Commander, Colonel Debbie Butler-Case served as the presiding officer for the ceremony and the Wing’s Vice Commander, Major Jason Hudak spoke at the ceremony on the tradition of the change of command ceremony. Other guests in attendance were the Wing’s Inspector General, Major Sixto Velez and Wing Transportation Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Kathleen Dawson.
Civil Air Patrol members have been volunteering their services to the organization since the 1930s. In 1936, Gil Rob Wilson, World War I aviator and New Jersey Director of Aeronautics returned from Germany convinced of impending war. Wilson envisioned mobilizing American civilian aviators for national defense. Many others shared his idea. In 1941, Civil Air Defense Services (CADS) became a reality. Civil Air Patrol’s (CAP) rich history is based on volunteerism. Its mission has changed over the years, CAP members no longer search for Nazi submarines, but members do provide countless hours in community support.
You can learn more about CAP’s history and organization at gocivilairpatrol.com. Members range in age from 12 to adults of any age. Member skills range from former military members, pilots, teachers, parents, accountants, health workers, etc., and retired individuals who have a heart for volunteering can become a productive part of Civil Air Patrol. Parkersburg Composite Squadron meets every Tuesday, 6 p.m. at their temporary location 340 Muskingum Drive, Marietta, OH.
About Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is the longtime auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a valued member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and 1,550 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). It performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 82 lives annually. CAP’s 66,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Operating as a nonprofit organization, CAP also plays a leading role in STEM/aerospace education, and its members serve as mentors to 28,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.CAP.News or www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.
POC: Wilma Winter
