Successful Missouri Wing Conference 2022!
Missouri Wing Conference 2022
Over 120 members participated in Missouri Wing’s first fully in-person wing conference in two years, held March 18-19, 2022, at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri.
The morning session’s featured speakers included: Missouri Wing Commander Col. Thomas Martin, North Central Region Commander Col. John O’Neill, CAP-USAF North Central Liaison Region Commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Meyers, USAF, CAP National Executive Officer Col. R. Jason Bailey, and Assistant Missouri National Guard Adjutant General and commander of the Missouri Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Kenneth Eaves. Master of Ceremonies was Capt. Quinn Evans of the Wentzville Composite Squadron. Col. Bailey presented the national headquarters’ briefing reviewing CAP’s successes over the last year and future endeavors.
The afternoon session consisted of multiple breakout sessions including presentations on CAP and Missouri Wing history, public affairs update, the new inspector general inspection program, communications, small unmanned aircraft systems operations, innovation, cadet programs, emergency services mission staff positions and responsibilities, and a commander’s call with the Missouri wing commander.
100 members and guests attended the annual Saturday evening banquet and awards ceremony featuring Brig. Gen. Eaves as the guest speaker. General Eaves spoke about servant leadership and how to avoid common mistakes most young leaders make.
Special guests during the day’s events included: Col. Keith Butler, USAF, 509th Operations Group commander, 509th Bomb Wing; Col. Gene Hartman, former Mid-Atlantic Region commander; Col. William Hienz, Minnesota Wing commander; Lt. Cols. Danielle and Stephen Michaels, Wisconsin Wing; CMSgt. Jessica Settle, Missouri Air National Guard Command Chief; CMSgt. Robert Dandridge, former CAP National Command Chief; and SMSgt. John Vanderhoof, Minnesota Wing command NCO.
North Central Region staff in attendance included: Col. Erica Williams, North Central Region Director of Education and Training; Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Donald Mikitta, North Central Region Chaplain; Lt. Col. David Miller, North Central Region Director of Public Affairs; Lt. Col. Kevin Oliver, North Central Region Director of Development and Assistant Government Relations Advisor; Lt. Col. David Sewell, North Central Region Director of Finance; Maj. Nelson Colon, North Central Region Historian; Maj. Steve Vogt, North Central Region Communications Engineering Officer; And CMSgt. Michael Mudry, North Central Region Command Chief and Assistant Transportation Officer.
Highlights from the conference included:
• Certificates of Appreciation to Missouri Statewide Wireless Interoperability Network (MOSWIN) members: Bryan Courtney, Missouri Interoperability Center director; David Sterman, radio technician; and Kristy Goans, special systems administrator.
• Commander’s Commendation Award: CMSgt Charlene O’Neill, Missouri Wing Headquarters, in recognition of her service to the Oregon Wing Winter Encampment.
• General Billy Mitchell Award and promotion to Cadet 2d Lt.: Cadet Svetlana Ehlers, Platte Valley Composite Squadron.
• Promotion of Maj. Michael McCrady to Lt. Colonel, and Capt. Nelson Colon to Major.
• Paul E. Garber Award and completion of CAP Senior Member Professional Development Level 4 training: Maj. Nelson Colon, Fort Leonard Wood Composite Squadron.
• Gill Robb Wilson Award and completion of CAP Senior Member Professional Development Level 5 training: Lt. Col. Lanna Fletcher, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron; Lt. Col. Houston Kendrick, Springfield Regional Composite Squadron; Lt. Col. Michael McCrady, Group III Headquarters; and Maj. Kurt Glaesemann, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• 2022 Cadet Competition Results: 1st Place Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, 2nd Place Springfield Regional Composite Squadron, 3rd Place Laclede County Composite Squadron, 4th Place Sedalia Cadet Flight, and 5th Place Platte Valley Composite Squadron.
Annual Missouri Wing unit award winners included:
• Unit with the Best Social Media for the Year: Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Unit with the Best Website for the Year: Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Unit with the Best Newsletter for the Year: Ft. Leonard Wood Composite Squadron.
• 2021 Quality Cadet Unit Award: Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron and Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Cadet Program of the Year: Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Senior Program of the Year: Gateway Senior Squadron.
• Squadron of Merit Award: Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Squadron of the Year: Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron.
Annual Missouri Wing individual award winners included:
• Recruiting and Retention Officer of the Year: Capt. Jessica Rice, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Personnel Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Victoria Van Horn, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Legislative Officer of the Year: Maj. Dorothy Caudle Berry, Missouri Wing Legislative Squadron.
• Communications Officer of the Year: 1st Lt. Lester Mitchell, Fort Leonard Wood Composite Squadron.
• Professional Development (Education & Training) Officer of the Year: 2d Lt. Damon Overboe, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Public Affairs Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. David Miller, North Central Region Headquarters.
• Safety Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. Mary DiMarsico, Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron.
• Incident Staff Member of the Year: Lt. Col. Charles “Keith” Harter, Group II Headquarters.
• Orientation Pilot of the Year (Powered): 2d Lt. Damon Overboe, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Orientation Pilot of the Year (Glider): 2d Lt. Michael Haynes, Harry S. Truman Composite Squadron.
• Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Cadet: C/Lt. Col. Taran Fletcher, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Senior Member: Lt. Col. Charles Stone, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award – Lifetime Achievement: Col. Gene Hartman, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron.
• Chaplain of the Year: Chap. (Capt.) Mark Bradshaw, Barry-Lawrence Composite Squadron.
• John V. “Jack” Sorenson Cadet Programs Officer of the Year: Capt. Liz Johnson, Sedalia Cadet Flight.
• Cadet NCO of the Year: C/CMSgt. Anieli Delgado, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Cadet Junior Officer of the Year: C/2d Lt. Tate Mabie, Lee’s Summit Composite Squadron.
• Squadron Commander of the Year: Lt. Col. Jason Smallfield, Lake Ozark Regional Composite Squadron.
• Torch Award: Lt. Col. Shannon Brown, Harry S. Truman Composite Squadron.
• Cadet of the Year: C/Col. Justin Holt, Harry S. Truman Composite Squadron.
• Senior Member of the Year: Lt. Col. Jered Horn, Col. Travis Hoover Composite Squadron.
• Lt. Col. John Otradovec Lifetime Achievement Award: Col. Erica Williams, North Central Region Headquarters.
Photo link: https://www.facebook.com/ncrcap/posts/1523905528011035