News
OHWG Annual Conference Registration is Open!
For more information and for a registration link go to: 2026 OHWG Conference
Announcing State Representative Bernie Willis as Keynote Speaker for the 2026 OHWG Conference
The OHWG is pleased to announce that the guest speaker for the 2026 OHWG Conference will be Representative Bernie Willis who will be presenting at our banquet on April 25th.
State Representative Bernie Willis is serving his second term in the Ohio House of Representatives. He represents the 74th House District encompassing Springfield and most of northern and western Clark County.
Representative Willis was a career military pilot earning the rank of colonel as a multi-tour commander who flew F-16s and unmanned MQ-1 Predator drones before becoming a federal law enforcement officer at the Springfield Air National Guard base. Willis served as a reservist in the acquisition enterprise at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base prior to retiring from military service in 2023 with 30 years of active duty in his 36 years in Air Force uniform.
Colonel Willis was an adjunct professor in unmanned aviation with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Sinclair Community College. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, distinguished graduate of the MQ-1 Predator transition course, and was the top Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Security Forces Officer course where he received the 4-Star Air Education and Training Command commander's award for excellence.
Willis is active in the community as a Clark County Deputy Sheriff, former board member of the Greater Springfield Partnership, and an Elder at Fellowship Christian Church. Col. Willis also serves around the state as a member of the Miami Valley Military Affairs Association, and as past-President and current board member of Veterans Empowered Through Motorsports in Columbus.
Bernie and his wife Lynne have been married for more than 30 years. They have three grown children: Shelby, who is a vocal artist/music educator/education tech specialist, Jon, who is a West Point graduate U.S. Army Captain, Apache Helicopter pilot and commander, and Noah, who is a Purdue University graduate mechanical engineer.
~Published 1/17/2026
Civil Air Patrol Open House – You’re Invited!
Wood County Senior Squadron and Toledo ANGB Cadet Squadron are hosting a Civil Air Patrol Open House on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 12:00–2:00 PM at Wood County Regional Airport in Bowling Green.
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The Wood County Senior Squadron is an emergency services and flight operations focused squadron that is made up of senior members 18 and older.
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The Toledo ANGB Cadet Squadron is Northwest Ohio’s largest community-based squadron and is heavily focused on the CAP cadet program for its members aged 12 and older.
Come learn about CAP through:
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Cadet drill demonstrations
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Aircraft static display
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Flight simulators
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Emergency Services, Aviation, Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education & Radio Communications
All ages are welcome! Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Date/Time: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 12:00–2:00 PM
Location: Wood County Regional Airport, 1261 E Poe Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402
(Look for the T-33 jet by the entrance)
Parking available at the hangar; overflow parking in BGSU Lot 19.
Learn more: www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com
Questions: NWGroup@ohwg.cap.gov
Join our mailing list: https://linktr.ee/nwohcap
~Published 01/05/2026
New Civil Air Patrol Unit Honors Veterans with Wreaths Across America
MT. VERNON, OH, 13 December 2025-
Over 30 years ago, Morrill Worcester, of the Worcester Wreath Company in Maine found that he had a large surplus of wreaths as the end of the holiday season approached. Sparked by a childhood visit he took to Washington, DC, he arranged to place these wreaths on graves at Arlington National Cemetery. Three decades later, this heartfelt remembrance to those who have served, has grown to a nationwide effort to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and to teach the next generation that freedom is not free.
The Civil Air Patrol has been a supporter of Wreaths Across America from the very beginning and this year, the newest Civil Air Patrol unit in Ohio, the Knox County Airport Cadet Flight, carried on the tradition, simultaneously with over 4 million volunteers at over 5,000 locations across the country. Eleven cadets and seven adult members of the unit, were joined by dozens of the general public, to place over 275 wreaths at veteran graves at Mound View Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, at noon on Saturday, December 13th.
According to the Knox County Airport Cadet Flight Public Affairs Officer, 1st Lt John Morgan, “Our cadets and adult members take this opportunity seriously to honor those who gave so much, and that are no longer with us to celebrate the holiday season with their families. They are not forgotten”.
More information on Wreaths Across America can be found at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.
~Published 12/17/2025
Galion Civil Air Patrol Cadets Honored at State Superintendents Conference for Youth Leadership and School Impact
Members of the Civil Air Patrol from Galion City Schools received special recognition at the Ohio State Superintendents Conference in Columbus, where they were honored as shining examples of youth leadership, integrity, and service. See full article below:
~Published October 24, 2025
2026 Ohio Wing Encampment ~ June 6 - 13, 2026
Coming next summer (June 6 - 13, 2026) will be an exciting week-long program at the Wright State University, located in Fairborn, Ohio. The 2026 OHWG Encampment will offer cadets a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills, engage in hands-on aerospace education, and build lasting friendships with fellow CAP members from across the state and region. With expert guidance and a focus on personal growth, participants will gain valuable insights into teamwork, discipline, and aviation, in a fun and challenging environment.
Get the latest updates first! Follow the OHWG Facebook Page for exciting announcements on how to apply to be part of the 2026 OHWG Encampment.
2026 Ohio Wing Conference
Cherry Valley Hotel
2299 Cherry Valley Rd SE
Newark, OH 43055
April 24 - April 26, 2026
Join your fellow members from the Ohio Wing as we come together to collaborate, connect and learn from each other.
Join us for a family-friendly weekend filled with cadet sessions, senior member sessions, award ceremonies, and the Saturday evening banquet and keynote address.
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
