Col. Virginia P. Keller and Capt. Dominique Litchford, CAP's Senior Member and Cadet of the Year, respectively.
MARYLAND – The Oklahoma Wing’s vice commander, Col. Virginia P. Keller, was honored Saturday at Civil Air Patrol’s Annual Conference & National Board as the organization’s Senior Member of the Year, and Capt. Dominique Litchford of the Virginia Wing’s Roanoke Composite Squadron was recognized as Cadet of the Year.
Keller and Litchford head the list of CAP members presented with national recognition awards for service to the organization with exceptional commitment and effectiveness.
Keller, who joined CAP as an aerospace education member in 1985, has served as commander of the Stillwater Composite Squadron and, at the wing level, as assistant finance officer, public affairs officer and acting commander.
Litchford, who recently advanced from cadet colonel to senior member status, has been a CAP member since May 2003. A year ago she joined her sister, Capt. Katrina Litchford of the Roanoke squadron, as a recipient of the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award – presented to less than one-half of 1 percent of all cadets.
Here is a list of those recognized during the awards recognition ceremony and the banquet Saturday night:
Other Nominees for Senior Member of the Year
Lt. Col. Justin M. Carisio Jr.
Historian
Delaware Wing
Col. Joe E. Casler
Director of Emergency Services
Iowa Wing
Lt. Col. Harold A. Coghlan
Director of Safety
Alabama Wing
Maj. Richard A. Crepas
Director of Emergency Services
Michigan Wing
Lt. Col. Randal A. Leval
Commander
Maui Composite Squadron
Hawaii Wing
Col. William R. Morton Jr.
Government Relations Adviser
Wyoming Wing
Maj. Jack L. Shapiro
Emergency Services Training Officer
Connecticut Wing
Other Nominees for Cadet of the Year
Cadet Col. Nathaniel L. Chaverin
Heartland Cadet Squadron
Kansas Wing
Cadet Col. Joshua T. Hinson
Jacksonville Composite Squadron
Florida Wing
Cadet Lt. Col. Jonathan T. Lomberg
Kona Composite Squadron
Hawaii Wing
Cadet Capt. Rachel L. Murphy
Douglas Cadet Squadron
Colorado Wing
Cadet Lt. Col. Brian S. Neiheisel
Fox Cities Composite Squadron
Wisconsin Wing
Cadet Col. Evan B. Salisbury
Tigershark Composite Squadron
Texas Wing
Cadet Lt. Col. Christopher H. Slininger
35th Composite Squadron
Maine Wing
AFNORTH Commander’s Award
1st Lt. George D. Wilkinson
Safety Officer
1st Lt. Michael J. Wissing
Assistant deputy commander for cadets
High Desert Composite Squadron
Oregon Wing
F. Ward Reilly Leadership Award
Maj. Michael A. Crockett
Former Commander
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Composite Squadron
Maryland Wing
Frank G. Brewer Memorial Aerospace Awards
Cadet
Cadet Lt. Col. Michael R. Poussard
Fairfax Composite Squadron
Natonal Capital Wing
Senior Member
Maj. John Bezayiff Jr.
Columbia Composite Squadron
Oregon Wing
Individual/Organization
Dennis W. Bampton
St. Charles Flying Service
St. Charles, Mo.
Lifetime Achievement
Lt. Col. Clarence O. Hauck
Assistant Aerospace Education Officer
Col. Berta A. Edge Composite Squadron
Mississippi Wing
Maj. Gen. Jeanne M. Holm Aerospace Education Officer of the Year
Capt. William M. Blatchley
Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron
Colorado Wing
Aerospace Education Teacher of the Year
Cindy Byers
Rosholt School District, Wis.
John V. “Jack” Sorenson Cadet Programs Officer of the Year
Lt. Col. Janon D. Ellis
National Capital Wing
Senior Chaplain of the Year
Chaplain Lt. Col. Adma A. Ross
Connecticut Wing
Squadron Chaplain of the Year
Chaplain Maj. Elise L. Whitworth
Peachtree DeKalb Senior Squadron
Georgia Wing
Character Development Instructor of the Year
Maj. Myron J. Goins
Nighthawk Composite Squadron
Texas Wing
Communications Officer of the Year
Lt. Col. Mercer B. Richardson
North Central Region
Norm Edwards Counterdrug Officer of the Year
Col. Ernestus S. Schnabler
Washington Wing
Col. Edwin W. Lewis Jr. Incident Staff Member of the Year
Col. Timothy F. Hahn
Commander
Nevada Wing
Col. Dion E. DeCamp Ground Team of the Year
Timmerman Composite Squadron
Wisconsin Wing
Outstanding Drug Demand Reduction Wing
Wyoming Wing
Drug Demand Reduction Member of the Year
Lt. Col. Donna E. Bracken
New Mexico Wing
Col. Lester Hopper Historian of the Year
2nd Lt. Frank A. Blazich
Ohio Wing
George Texido Legislative Officer of the Year
Lt. Col. B. Keith West
Virginia Wing
Property Management Officer of the Year
Maj. Harvey H. Hawken
Washington Wing
Col. Robert V. “Bud” Payton Public Affairs Officer of the Year
Capt. Cindy E. Beck
Arizona Wing
Safety Officer of the Year
Lt. Col. Alex C. Kay
Pacific Region
Paul W. Turner Safety Award
Indiana Wing
Director of Finance of the Year
Maj. Catherine E. Spaulding
Maine Wing
Inspector General of the Year
Col. Virginia A. Thompson
Oregon Wing
Squadron of Distinction
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Composite Squadron
Maryland Wing
Other nominees for Squadron of Distinction
Cache Valley Composite Squadron
Utah Wing
Cecil Field Cadet Squadron
Florida Wing
Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302
Arizona Wing
Fort Benjamin Harrison Composite Squadron
Indiana Wing
Kona Composite Squadron
Hawaii Wing
Platte Valley Composite Squadron
Missouri Wing
Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron
Connecticut Wing
Air Force Sergeants Association Cadet Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Stephon J. Tonko
Fairfax Composite Squadron
National Capital Wing
Distinguished Aviator Award
Lt. Col. William N. Hughes Jr.
Headquarters
New York Wing
1st Lt. Monte J. David
Diamondhead Squadron
Mississippi Wing
2nd Lt. Sarah C. Rovner
Thunderbird Composite Squadron
Texas Wing
