North Central Region
Main Content

North Central Region Commander

 

Colonel John R. O'Neill

 

Colonel John R. O’Neill is the 27th Commander of North Central Region, as of 23 May 2020.

Colonel O’Neill most recently served as the Chair of the National Uniform Committee after commanding Missouri Wing from 2015-2019.
He oversees more than 4,500 members in the seven-state North Central Region. 

Colonel O’Neill was born in Bourne, Massachusetts. He graduated from Saint Leo University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems. He retired from the United States Army in 2008 after over 23 years of service, including tours in Iraq, Kuwait, Alaska, and Korea. 

Colonel O’Neill currently works as an Instructor for the US Army CBRN School, teaching HAZMAT Chemistry to the newest members of the National Guard’s Weapons of Mass Destruction/Civil Support Teams (WMD/CST). He is a certified HAZMAT Technician-level responder and HAZMAT Incident Commander. 

 

Colonel O’Neill first joined the CAP in 1977 as a cadet and completed the CAP cadet program earning its highest award, the General Carl A. Spaatz Award, in 1982.  Only two cadets in one thousand earn the Spaatz Award.   

Colonel O’Neill served as Deputy Commander for Cadets of the Lake of the Ozarks Composite Squadron, and Squadron Commander of the Fort Leonard Wood Composite Squadron.  He then served as Missouri Wing Director of Cadet Programs and Director of Emergency Services prior to his assuming command of the Missouri Wing in 2015.  Colonel O’Neill has served as an Encampment Commander, and on staff at the National Emergency Services Academy, National Blue Beret, North Central Region Staff College, Cadet Officer School, and as a Director of a Model Aircraft Remote Control Pilot Academy. Colonel O’Neill is a qualified Incident Commander, Ground Team Leader, Mission Observer, and Private Pilot. 

Colonel O’Neill’s Civil Air Patrol awards include the Distinguished Service Award, the Exceptional Service Award, two Meritorious Service Awards, two Unit Citations, and the A. Scott Crossfield  Aerospace Education Achievement Award. Colonel O’Neill has completed Level V of the Senior Member Professional Development program, being awarded the Gill Robb Wilson Award.  Col O’Neill was recognized with the 2018 Lt Col John Otradovec Lifetime Achievement Award from Missouri Wing. 

Colonel O’Neill is married to Charline, his wife of 23+ years, who is also an Iraq War Veteran and is a Bronze Star recipient. They have one daughter, Saunci (herself a veteran of the conflict in Bosnia), three grandchildren: Taylor, 19, Thalia, 18, and C/SSgt Boston, 16, and a great-grandaughter, Evelynn, 1. 

© 2024 Civil Air Patrol. All rights reserved.
×