last modified: Wednesday, October 13, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAXWELL AFB, Ala. — Nearly 70 of Civil Air Patrol’s top volunteers will converge on CAP National Headquarters at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery for CAP’s National Staff College, scheduled for
Oct. 16 – 23.

The National Staff College is considered CAP’s premier course in executive leadership development. It combines fast-paced academics with practical skill-building in leadership, communications, and strategic policy-making for the top 15% of all CAP adult volunteers.

Students at NSC receive more than 40 hours of intensive coursework in such areas as executive leadership, principles of organizations, group dynamics, strategic planning, ethical business conduct, interagency cooperation, and strategic resource management. 

During the sessions, students will hear from a variety of Air Force and industry leaders, including retired Air Force Maj. Gen. George Harrison, director for research operations at Georgia Tech Research Institute; Col. Howard Short, commander of the USAF Air University’s College for Professional Development; Col. Chuck Holland, chair of the Department of Strategy and International Security at Air War College; Dr. Glenn Cobb, vice-provost for Academic Affairs and dean of faculty at Huntingdon College; Ms. Jacqueline Buck, executive director of the Red Cross of Central Alabama; retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Nicholas Kehoe, vice-chair of CAP’s Board of Governors; and Maj. Gen. Dwight Wheless, CAP’s national commander. Together, these speakers will provide students with more than 300 years of combined executive experience.

According to NSC’s director, CAP Col. Glyndon Scott, “NSC provides our senior officers with the best executive-level training that CAP has to offer.  Going to NSC will provide students with the leadership and management tools they will need – in CAP and in their personal careers.”
CAP’s national commander agrees. “National Staff College is the ‘finishing school’ for our most promising leaders” Wheless said. “Graduates of our National Staff College go on to become our wing, region, and national-level commanders. They partner with other federal agencies, are entrusted with CAP’s reputation and resources, and help form its legacy of service. There is no more important educational opportunity for a CAP member if he or she wants to become a national leader in our organization.”

Civil Air Patrol, the official Air Force auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with almost 62,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 95% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years.
 
The media is invited to cover any of NSC’s speakers or events. Contact Melanie LeMay at mlemay@cap.gov for a schedule of events and clearance to enter the base.

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