News
Local Cadet Receives Highest Civil Air Patrol Award
Maineville, OH – September 10, 2024
Cadet Col. Tate Williamson of the Lt. Col. Jerome P. Ashman Composite Squadron is the Ohio Wing’s latest recipient of Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet achievement, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz.
Williamson, who joined CAP in July 2019, was the Ashman squadron’s cadet commander from April 2022 to January 2023. He also graduated from the Indiana Wing Advanced Training Squadron. The ATS of the INWG Cadet Encampment is a prestigious academy designed for cadet NCOs and young officers who are looking to enhance their leadership skills and knowledge of cadet life, through challenging academics, practical leadership exercises, teamwork simulations, and physical fitness training, providing experiences that go beyond what a typical student program can offer.
Williamson is attending college under a Type 1 Air Force ROTC scholarship, studying mechanical engineering with a minor in aerospace studies. Upon graduation, he hopes to serve in the Air Force as a pilot.
Williamson joins less than one-half of 1% of cadets who attain the Spaatz award after completing the cadet program’s 16 achievements, passing a rigorous cumulative battery consisting of a strenuous physical fitness exam, a written essay on a persistent moral issue, and two 60-question cumulative exams on aerospace and leadership.
Due to his current focus on class and AFROTC, the presentation of Williamson’s award will take place in January 2025 after the end of his semester.
September 10, 2024
2025 OHWG Conference
The 2025 OHWG Conference will be held at the Cherry Valley Lodge, located at 2299 Cherry Valley Rd SE, Newark, OH.
Please continue to monitor the OHWG website for additional information regarding registration and the daily events and conference session schedule.
Chase Hamilton - Ohio Wing recipient of the General Carl A. Spaatz Award, #2525!
The Spaatz Award is achieved by cadets who complete a series of comprehensive leadership and aerospace exams, a fitness test, and a scored essay which reflects on a critical character issue. The award, named in honor of General Carl Spaatz, the first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, is earned by a mere 0.5% of cadets who participate in Civil Air Patrol, with Cadet Hamilton being the 2,525th recipient of the award since its inception in 1964. In addition to receiving the Spaatz Award, Cadet Hamilton has also been promoted to the grade of Cadet Colonel, CAP's highest cadet achievement within the Cadet Program.
Cadet Hamilton serves as the cadet commander of the Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base Composite Squadron in Columbus, Ohio (OH-121). Additionally, he also serves on the Ohio Wing cadet programs staff team as a cadet activities officer in support of planning and coordination cadet engagement initiatives.
Civil Air Patrol Selects Col. David A. Dlugiewicz as Ohio's New Commander
Col. David A. Dlugiewic (Col. Dad to Ohio Wing) has been selected to be the 27th Commander of the Ohio Wing of Civil Air Patrol. The change of command ceremony took place on April 20, 2024, at the 2024 Ohio Wing Conference that was held at the Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark, Ohio.
Col. Dlugiewicz joined CAP in 2009 in Minnesota and served in numerous positions at the squadron and wing levels. In 2013 he moved to Ohio and served as Squadron Commander, Group commander, as well as commanding two Ohio Wing encampments and serving on staff of encampments in two other wings. Col. Dlugiewicz was selected as the chair of the newly created Functional Users Group, the voice of the membership to National Headquarters. In addition to being the deputy director for two Region Staff Colleges, he was on staff for four other RSCs in National Capital, Maryland and Ohio Wings.
In 2020, Col. Dlugiewicz was selected as the National Information Technology Manager, where he is directly involved with information technology decisions involving members, representing all 64,000 volunteers to the paid staff on information technology matters. He serves on the Information Technology Steering Committee as one of two volunteer members and on the Information Technology Executive Committee.
Col. Dlugiewicz serves as a founding member of the Civil Air Patrol’s Innovation Team where he was instrumental in leading the team to help CAP make a transformational shift in thinking. He managed the JanEX 2022 competition (a competition is a reflection of leadership’s intention to transition to a culture that encourages constant growth, improvement and experimentation in CAP) and created a scoring program that tracked and guaranteed the results of the competition.
He has most recently served as Ohio Wing Vice Commander.
A nearly 21-year veteran of the United States Air Force, Col. Dlugiewicz served as a cryptologic linguist for multiple assignments across Europe. His illustrious career in the Air Force culminated in Panama, where he served a dual role as Director of Operations at the 33rd Intelligence Squadron, overseeing and participating in Senior Scout, Flowing Pen, and Pacer Coin missions and as the Superintendent of the Consolidated Mission Operations Center, coordinating joint Army-Air Force missions while fulfilling his responsibilities as Director of Operations.
Please join us in congratulating Col. Dlugiewicz for this honor.
National Wreaths Across America Day
Civil Air Patrol has an important partnership with Wreaths Across America to remember our fallen heroes, honor those who serve and teach our children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.
Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers that place millions of veterans’ wreaths at thousands of participating locations in the United States and beyond. Annually this is accomplished with the volunteer support of the Civil Air Patrol and some 2 million volunteers across the country, a third of which are children.
We encourage all members to be an active participant in this important annual event that is held each December.
For additional information visit: I want to Support Wreaths Across America
