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Curt LaFond, deputy director of cadet programs at National Headquarters, discusses the program with (seated, clockwise from left) Maj. Bob Radcliffe, incoming commander of the Montana Wing; Col. John Seten, South Dakota Wing commander; Col. Robert Bost, Rocky Mountain Region vice commander; Brig Gen. Joe Vazquez, national vice commander; Col. Rick Franz, Kansas Wing commander; Col. John Longley, Oregon Wing commander; and Lt. Col. Jo’Andrew Cousins, national diversity officer.
Photo by Susan Schneider, National Headquarters
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – Five Civil Air Patrol commanders, as well as a national officer, are honing their leadership skills during a three-day Wing Commanders Course that started today.
The graduate-level course will posture participants to be better commanders at the wing and region. Participants were selected for the course by their region commander and approved by Maj. Gen. Chuck Carr, national commander.
“Everything a Civil Air Patrol commander should know in order to be an effective leader will be discussed in these next three days,” said Carr, who addressed the new wing commanders this afternoon. “This course prepares our new commanders with the tools and leadership skills they will need to be successful.”
The program focuses on two main blocks of study -- leading the organization and making use of tools available for commanders. The curriculum features seminars, lectures and hands-on exercises in 14 sessions on such topics as ethics, safety, legal matters, managing volunteers, finances and other resources.
“By the time they graduate on Wednesday evening, participants will have a better understanding of CAP’s emergency services, aerospace education, cadet programs, information technology, public affairs, membership development, logistics and financial management,” said Bobbie Tourville, chief of professional development at National Headquarters.
Besides Carr, other guest speakers for the course include:
- Brig. Gen. Joe Vazquez, CAP national vice commander.
- Don Rowland, CAP chief operating officer.
- Col. Paul Gloyd, CAP-U.S. Air Force commander.
- Subject-matter experts from National Headquarters staff.
Wing Commanders Course participants
National Headquarters
- Lt. Col. Jo’Andrew Cousins, national diversity officer
Rocky Mountain Region
- Col. Robert Bost, vice commander
Kansas Wing
- Col. Rick Franz, commander
Montana Wing
- Maj. Bob Radcliffe, incoming commander
Oregon Wing
- Col. John Longley, commander
South Dakota Wing
- Col. John Seten, commander
