North Central Region Commander

Colonel Thomas B. Theis assumed command of the North Central Region on 2 June 2024 having served two terms as the North Central Region vice commander, under the command of Brig. General Regena Aye and Colonel John O’Neill.

Colonel Theis followed the CAP command structure for a majority of his 43-year CAP career. He joined CAP in 1980 and accepted his first command in 1981. He served as commander of nine Minnesota Wing squadrons (Bloomington, Viking, North Hennepin, West Metro, Valley, 130^th, St Cloud, Alexandria and Ft Snelling Squadrons), Group 3 HQ, and Minnesota Wing HQ from 2008 to 2011. Accepting command of NCR, Col Theis has begun his 13^th command.

He served as a National Headquarters volunteer staff member for two years, coordinating six National Cadet Special Activity Glider Flight Academies.

Theis is a retired 20-year Department of Defense civilian employee serving most of his time as a policeman and a 20-year Vietnam-era veteran in the U.S. Air Force. Duties included flying aboard the Looking Glass – EC135 and SAC’s underground Command Post at Offutt AFB, NE in the communications field.  He is also a FAA licensed ground instructor, fixed-wing and commercial helicopter pilot.

Theis is the executive vice president of the Air & Space Forces Association’s, Gen. E.W. Rawlings Chapter in St. Paul. He was recognized as the chapters’ Air & Space Forces Association Outstanding CAP Senior Member of the Year in 2023,

Theis’ other non-profit affiliations include the Minnesota Street Rod Association (MSRA), the St Croix Railroad, Hudson, Wisconsin and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

Civil Air Patrol is “family” for Colonel Theis. He is seldom seen without a CAP branded shirt whether escorting out-of-towners to the Mall of America, boating, flying, driving a steam engine or tinkering in his garage. He embodies the concept of OneCAP, its Core Values and is a strong advocate of the Wingman program.