National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol

From its creation on 1 December 1941 until 31 August 1975, the national commander of CAP was an appointed active duty commissioned officer — typically a general officer — of the United States Army Air Forces (until September 1947) or the United States Air Force (after it became an independent service in September 1947). The national commander chaired the CAP National Board.

Upon adoption of the CAP Constitution and Bylaws on 26 May 1948, the CAP was incorporated and officially became the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, the Chairman of the CAP National Board became the national commander, and the CAP National Board was redesignated as the National Executive Board (NEB), with the national commander as its chair. General Carl A. Spaatz, USAF, became the first chairman after the incorporation of the CAP after he retired from the Air Force in 1948.[3] The board became the National Executive Committee (NEC) on 26 April 1960, with the national commander continuing as its chair.

On 1 September 1975, the position of chairman of the national board was redesignated as national commander, held by an active civilian CAP member with the CAP rank of brigadier general,[4] with only sitting and former national commanders who served in the position on or after 1 September 1975 holding the CAP rank of brigadier general.[4] At the same time, the former U.S. Air Force-appointed national commander position was redesignated as the executive director of the CAP. On 8 March 1995, during a reorganization of CAP National Headquarters, the title of executive director was changed to senior Air Force advisor.

On 1 December 2002, the national commander position was elevated to the rank of major general, with the national vice commander becoming a brigadier general.[4] Current and former national commanders who held the position after 1 December 2002 are the only CAP members who hold the CAP rank of major general.[4] Former national commanders who held the position prior to 1 December 2002 and sitting national vice commanders and those who held the position of national vice commander on or after 1 December 2002 are the only CAP members who hold the CAP rank of brigadier general.[4]

Since 2012, the national commander of the CAP also has served as the chief executive officer of the CAP Corporation.[lower-alpha 1]

The current National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol is Major General Edward Phelka.[5]

Civil Air Patrol-United States Air Force (CAP-USAF) is a U.S. Air Force command responsible for ensuring the CAP is organized, trained, and equipped to fulfill Air Force-assigned missions.[2] Operating alongiside the CAP's civilian leadership, CAP-USAF provides day-to-day support, advice, and liaison to the CAP’s more than 60,000 members and provides oversight for CAP programs, with emphasis on safety and program requirements.[2] CAP-USAF personnel are also the primary function interface between other federal agencies and the CAP.[2]

As of 2020, CAP-USAF was staffed with approximately 200 active-duty, United States Air Force Reserve, and civilian personnel at CAP National Headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base and locations in New Jersey (Detachment 1, McGuire Air Force Base), Maryland (Detachment 2, Andrews Air Force Base), Ohio (Detachment 3, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base), Georgia (Detachment 4, Dobbins Air Reserve Base), Minnesota (Detachment 5), Texas (Detachment 6), Colorado (Detachment 7, Peterson Space Force Base), California (Detachment 8, Beale Air Force Base), and Florida, as well as in Puerto Rico and at several overseas Air Force installations.

U.S. Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force national commanders of the CAP prior to its 1948 incorporation are considered part of the lineage of the command history of CAP-USAF.

• Maj Gen John F. Curry, USAAF, Dec 1941 – Mar 1942
• Col Earle L. Johnson, USAAF, Mar 1942 – Feb 1947[11]
• Brig Gen Frederic H. Smith Jr., USAF, February 21, 1947 – September 30, 1947[12]
• Maj Gen Lucas V. Beau, USAF, October 1, 1947 – December 31, 1955
• Maj Gen Walter R. Agee, USAF, January 1, 1956 – March 31, 1959
• Brig Gen Stephen D. McElroy, USAF, April 1, 1959 – December 15, 1961
• Col Paul C. Ashworth, USAF, December 15, 1961 – July 31, 1964
• Col Joe L. Mason, USAF, August 1, 1964 – April 30, 1967
• Brig Gen William W. Wilcox, USAF, May 1, 1967 – October 31, 1968
• Maj Gen Walter B. Putnam, USAF, November 1, 1968 – October 31, 1969
• Brig Gen Richard N. Ellis, USAF, November 1, 1969 – October 31, 1972
• Brig Gen Leslie J. Westberg, USAF, November 1, 1972 – August 28, 1975
• Brig Gen Car S. Miller, USAF, August 29, 1975 – Nov 1977
• Brig Gen Paul E. Gardner, USAF, Nov 1977 – July 31, 1980
• Brig Gen H. W. Miller, USAF, August 1, 1980 – Aug 1981
• Brig Gen David L. Patton, USAF, Aug 1981 – May 1984
• Col John T. Massingale Jr., USAF, May 1984 – October 31, 1989
• Col Clyde O. Westbrook Jr., USAF, November 1, 1989 – Jun 1990
• Col Joseph M. Nall, USAF, Jun 1990 – Aug 1992
• Col Ronald T. Sampson, USAF, Aug 1992 – Mar 1995
• Col Garland W. Padgett Jr., USAF, Mar 1995 – May 1998
• Col Dennis B. Parkhurst, USAF, May 1998 – Jul 2001
• Col Albert A. Allenback, USAF, Jul 2001 – Jul 2002
• Col George C. Vogt, USAF, Jul 2002 – Oct 2005
• Col Russell D. Hodgkins Jr., USAF, Oct 2005 – Apr 2009
• Col William R. (Bill) Ward, USAF, Apr 2009 – June 31, 2011
• Col George H. Ross III, USAF, July 1, 2011 – October 4, 2011
• Col Paul D. Gloyd II, USAF, October 4, 2011 – May 2014
• Col Jay Updegraff, USAF, May 2014 – Aug 2014
• Col Michael D. Tyynismaa, USAF, Aug 2014 – Apr 2019
• Col Mark A. Wootan, USAF, Apr 2019 – Aug 2023[13]
• Col Aaron D. Reid, USAF, Aug 2023 - Present[14]