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(From left) Col. Larry Trick; his son, Cadet Lt. Col. David Trick of the Maryland Wing’s St. Mary’s Composite Squadron; and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David Gearhart at the 2009 Spaatz Association awards dinner. Gearhart and Trick were cadets together in the Pennsylvania Wing’s Erie Composite Squadron 502.
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Col. Larry Trick poses with one of his former cadets, U.S. Air Force Col. Randy Allen, shortly after Allen’s promotion to colonel in 2008. Both were members of Pennsylvania Wing’s Erie Composite Squadron 502.
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Col. Larry Trick was the last CAP cadet to receive the Frank E. Borman Falcon Award, which recognized those who had completed the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award and then taken steps to become dynamic Americans and aerospace leaders.
Mitzi Palmer
Contributing Writer
Colleagues of Col. Larry Trick know him as a leader and a mentor. His community acknowledges him as a dedicated volunteer. Civil Air Patrol regards Trick as the complete package who, through his leadership, dedication and exemplary service, has bettered the lives of many Americans.
Perhaps this is why Trick has been nominated for the 2010 Air Education and Training Command AETC National Public Service Award.
A born leader, Trick began his CAP career in 1972 when he joined the Pennsylvania Wing’s Erie Composite Squadron 502 as a cadet.
There, he held virtually every cadet staff position before becoming a senior member. Some of his most accomplished titles during those years included Pennsylvania Wing Cadet of the Year, Pennsylvania Wing Cadet Advisory chairman and cadet commander for the Pennsylvania Wing Cadet Officers School.
In addition, Trick earned the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award – the highest achievement a cadet can attain – and was the final recipient of the Frank E. Borman Falcon Award, a now-discontinued recognition honoring former Spaatz award recipients who took subsequent steps to become dynamic Americans and aerospace leaders.
After transferring to the Maryland Wing’s St. Mary’s Composite Squadron in the early ’80s, Trick served as the unit’s deputy commander for cadets and was also squadron commander four times.
On the Maryland Wing staff, he served as director of cadet programs, administrative officer, plans and programs officer, special projects officer, vice commander and commander.
He also was the Middle East Region deputy chief of staff for aerospace education and national director of cadet programs before he stepped into his current position as National Cadet Advisory Council senior adviser.
Still, after nearly four decades of service, Trick’s passion for aircraft and aerospace keeps shining through.
Teaching others about aerospace
“I originally joined CAP because I wanted to fly,” he said, “but I quickly learned what I liked most was aerospace education. I liked teaching cadets about airplanes.”
Matthew Ford Kern, vice president of Enterprise Architecture Constellation, served beside Trick in the Erie squadron and attended Penn State while Trick was earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering there.
“I personally observed him providing leadership and guidance to dozens of teenagers,” Kern said, “and I believe it’s because of his example that many cadets have gone on to hold leadership positions later in life.”
One such cadet was U.S. Air Force Col. Randy Allen, whom Trick introduced to CAP.
“His mentorship when I was a young CAP cadet was instrumental in my long-term success as a combat squadron commander and active-duty colonel,” Allen said. “Col. Trick is the reason I have made a career in the Air Force.”
In addition to being a guest lecturer at several CAP encampments, Trick has taught at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, universities and high schools, and at CAP’s Unit Commanders Course, Corporate Learning Course and Squadron Leadership School.
He also attends national board meetings and special activities, is active as a host in the International Air Cadet Exchange program and participates each year in CAP’s Legislative Day in Washington, D.C., to encourage and lead cadets as they speak to their national legislators.
Becoming an international expert
As a civilian employee of the U.S. Navy, Trick has capitalized on his passion for aerospace and has become known as an international expert in aircraft-ship integration.
For nearly two decades, he dedicated his time to protecting America’s service member as a flight test engineer for nearly every kind of Department of Defense rotorcraft.
In this capacity, his work has determined the parameters of safety outlined in pilots’ manuals and launch recovery instructions, which helped addressed issues such as maximum wind over deck velocity and ship motion that a rotorcraft can manage when landing on a ship at sea.
Trick was also one of the charter members of the Technical Cooperative Program on Dynamic Interface Simulation – a program that works with navies and pilots from Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S.
These days, he is the Naval Air Systems Command’s chief engineer for ScanEagle – the unmanned aircraft used in the rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama fighter a year ago. Employed by the Navy since 2005, ScanEagle increases land- or ship-based operators’ span for visual knowledge of potential enemies, allowing for quicker and more appropriate responses.
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jason Kipp was one of ScanEagle operators on the USS Bainbridge during the ship’s role in Phillips’ rescue, and has known Trick since he was 16.
“Larry Trick has dedicated himself to supporting the Civil Air Patrol’s aerospace mission and the development of future leaders,” Kipp said. “Professionally, he supports those same leaders as they serve their country in the armed services at home and abroad. He is a selfless patriot and is most deserving of recognition with the Air Education and Training Command’s 2010 National Public Service Award.”
CAP Awards Received
- Air Force Torch Award for mentoring CAP Cadet of the Year
- National Frank G. Brewer Award, Senior Member Category
- Senior Member of the Year, Maryland Wing
- Gill Robb Wilson Award
- Distinguished Service Award
- Exceptional Service Award
- Meritorious Service Award
- National Commander’s Commendation
- Region Commander’s Commendation Award
- Commander’s Commendation with silver clasp
- Unit Citation Award with two clasps
- Brigadier General Chuck Yeager Award
- Rescue “Find” Ribbon
- Search and Rescue Ribbon with four silver clasps
- Red Service Ribbon with “35” longevity device
- Command Service Ribbon with silver star
- Disaster Relief Ribbon with “V” device
- Encampment Ribbon with four silver clasps
- Recruiter Ribbon
- Frank E. Borman Falcon Award
- Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award No. 452
- Cadet of the Year, Pennsylvania Wing
