New Commanders, Same Mission: The 2024 NCR and Iowa Wing Conference
New Commanders, Same Mission:
The 2024 North Central Region and Iowa Wing Conference
Lt. Col. Susan Blessman
NCR Headquarters
“Ladies and gentlemen, please find your seats. Please silence all electronic devices at this time. Please stand for the arrival of the official party, followed by the presentation of the Colors.” Months before these words were said by the general assembly’s master of ceremonies, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Toedebusch of Missouri Wing, conference planning began with an idea. The idea generated a conference planner, then a planning committee, and the idea became a reality.
Colonel Thomas Weston , North Central Region Chief of Staff, coordinated the North Central Region and Iowa Wing Conference held May 31 to June 2, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa. More than 160 members from all seven wings of the North Central Region, as well as members of Civil Air Patrol national staff, commanders from other regions, and the United States Air Force gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of many volunteers and participate as witnesses to Iowa Wing’s and North Central Region’s change of command ceremonies.
The official party consisted of: Major General Edward Phelka, CAP National Commander and CEO; Brigadier General Regena Aye, CAP National Vice Commander and incoming National Commander; Chief Master Sergeant Todd Parsons, CAP National Command Chief, Colonel John O’Neill, North Central Region Commander; Colonel Thomas Theis, North Central Region Vice Commander and incoming North Central Region Commander; Chief Master Sergeant Michael Mudry, North Central Region Command NCO; Lieutenant Colonel Michael Veltman, North Central Liaison Region, Detachment 5 Commander CAP-USAF; Colonel Jonathan Lartigue, Iowa Wing Commander; and Lieutenant Colonel Jason Erickson, Iowa Wing Vice Commander.
The conference hosted out-of-region guests and dignitaries including: Colonel Eugene Egry, Mid-Atlantic Region Commander; Colonel Rose Hunt, Great Lakes Region Commander; and Colonel James Ridley, North East Region Chief of Staff.
The changes of command were held at different times. In the morning’s general assembly, North Central Region’s Colonel John O’Neil officiated as Colonel Jonathan Lartigue, Iowa Wing Commander, relinquished his command to Colonel Sean McClanahan.
The evening banquet attendees witnessed Major General Edward Phelka officiate the region’s change of command as Colonel John O’Neill passed the North Central Region flag to Colonel Thomas Theis. Colonel Thomas Weston was the Master of Ceremonies.
And, in a first for North Central Region, a Region Command NCO change of responsibility ceremony also occurred with National Command Chief Todd Parson moderating and Colonel Thomas Theis receiving the region flag from CMSgt. Michael Mudry and passing it to CMSgt. John Vanderhoof, thus confirming his position as the new NCR Command NCO. CMSgt. Charline O’Neill, Missouri Wing Command Chief, served as flag bearer.
Mr. Diogenes Ayala , Emergency Manager and Director of Homeland Security for Madison County, Iowa, was welcomed to the podium to present Iowa Wing with a Certificate of Appreciation and a challenge coin. This presentation was due to the Wing’s exceptional response two years ago during the tornado disaster response mission in Madison County and Winterset, Iowa. According to Major McLaughlin, Iowa Wing, “The scope of our mission was [the] recovery of precious documents to include protected individual information that was lost during the tornado. Everything from photographs to legal forms to Social Security cards were found.”
Region “Of the Year” awards were announced or presented to the members in attendance and will be posted on the https://ncr.cap.gov website. The Cadet of the Year was Cadet Colonel Keon De Hoed, South Dakota Wing. Senior Member of the Year went to Major Leslie Seery, Minnesota Wing. The Squadron of Distinction was achieved by Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, Missouri Wing.
North Central Region Commander Colonel O’Neill recognized region staff members with twelve Exceptional Service Awards, eleven Meritorious Service Awards, and eight Region Commander’s Commendations. The Region Chaplain Corps honored two character development Instructors and three chaplains. Chaplain (Lt. Colonel) Jill Holm was recognized as the Region Chaplain of the Year.
The Region Staff Awards included a Level V Gill Rob Wilson Award to Lt. Colonel David Sewell. Lifesaving Award recognition went to Colonel Rick Franz and Lt. Colonel Robert Moore. Colonel David Winters received a Meritorious Service Award and his 50-year member plaque.
The 2023 National Legislative Day Awards went to seven members. The 2024 National Legislative Day Awards were given to 30 members, 24 of which were cadets ranging in grade from Cadet Colonel to Cadet Senior Master Sergeant, representing six of the seven wings comprising North Central Region.
The President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) is a civil award bestowed by the President of the United States. It was established by executive order of George W. Bush. This life time achievement, also known as the Call to Service Award, has been awarded to Americans to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. The PVSA was presented to Colonel Mary Donley, Colonel Jennifer Smith, Lt. Colonel Susan Blessman, Lt. Colonel Jay Sliwinski, and Chaplain (Lt. Colonel) Jeffrey Williams. Past recipients include: Major General Edward Phelka, Brigadier General Regena Aye, as well as the outgoing North Central Region Commander Colonel John O’Neill and his successor Colonel Thomas Theis.
A museum-quality display of past CAP uniforms and equipment including a Geiger counter, High Frequency Heathkit Radio HW-18 and Tracker Direction Finding equipment, was set up by the Kansas Wing Commander Colonel Mark Lahan, NCR Historian of the Year. With the help of Colonel Linette Lahan, NCR Inspector General, they arranged twelve mannequins with uniforms dating from 1945. Colonel Mark Lahan also led a presentation on the historian process, its duties, and reporting responsibilities in the squadrons.
A variety of training areas was offered for officers and cadets during the NCR/IA Wing Conference. Learning Labs began with a Town Hall meeting where Major General Phelka fielded questions from the audience. Simultaneously, a cadet session titled “Career as an Air Force Aviator” led by Lt. Colonel James Pate, 1st Air Force Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer was held. The new “ABSORB: Replacement for LMS/AXIS” session by Iowa Wing’s Major McLaughlin, a CAP Volunteer University instructor, was standing room only. Iowa’s wing administrator, Cierra Biles, provided an informational session concerning wing finances, and Iowa Wing’s Major Alex Paul spoke on the current status of wing operations. Colonel Rick Franz presented an in-depth look at the Remodeled Logistics Program while chaplains gathered to discuss regulations pertinent to the Chaplain Corps, especially changes in reporting. Other specific subject areas included: Effective Award Writing, FEMA, sUAS (small unmanned aerial systems or drones), the Legal Officer’s meeting, and an NCO meeting.
Cadets turned out for a special presentation by the Minnesota Wing’s Duluth Composite Squadron color guard, regarding its path to success as winners of the 2024 North Central Region Cadet Competition. Various team members relayed their team history. This team also presented the colors during the morning’s general assembly.
The Cadet Advisory Council, under the supervision of Colonel David Winters, NCR Deputy Chief of Staff for Cadet Programs, met for a rare in-person session. Their purpose was to discuss and develop ideas for committee assignments. The North Central Region CAC Chair is Cadet Lt. Colonel Austin Haubenstricker of Iowa Wing.
As most of the members, representing friendships new and old, departed for home following the conference festivities, one more meeting was held. Newly installed North Central Region Commander, Colonel Thomas Theis, met with his staff for a Sunday morning breakfast. Noting that his focus, his family, is the CAP volunteer, Colonel Theis resumed the business of the region that had paused briefly for the conference.
