Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Schuyler Bissel poses for a photo with Tennessee Wing C/Col Danny Catino of the Berry Field Composite Squadron after presenting Colonel Catino his Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Raymond Rader)

#1521 -- Danny Catino

Tennessee Wing cadet Col. Danny Catino of the Berry Field Composite Squadron was awarded Civil Air Patrol's highest cadet award -- the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award (#1521).

The award was presented to Colonel Catino by retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Schuyler Bissel during the squadron's annual awards dinner on March 6.

"Through my experience in CAP, I have learned self-discipline, integrity and many other characteristics that have helped me to become a well-rounded individual," said Colonel Catino, who has been a member of CAP for four years.

Catino plans to major in aerospace technology at Middle Tennessee State University where he has been awarded a full Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship. He hopes to become a combat rescue officer in the Air Force after graduation.

As a cadet, Colonel Catino attended several national special activities, but his strongest interest has been in the field of pararescue training. He graduated from Basic Pararescue Orientation Course, Advanced Pararescue Orientation Course and Mountaineering, where he was taught wilderness survival, mountaineering, land navigation and trauma medical skills by Air Force pararescuemen.

"Because of CAP's national cadet special activities, I discovered the career field I want to pursue and gained the confidence to know that I can do it," Colonel Catino said.

The son of Dave and Gina Catino of Brentwood, Tenn., Danny has lettered in cross country and track for two years at Brentwood High School. As a member of the 2003 Tennessee Wing Drill Team, he assisted his team in placing third in the Southeast Region Drill Team Competition -- and plans to be a member of the 2004 team.

Some of his many accomplishments include being awarded the Group III 2001 Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, Flight 2 Top Performer at the 2003 Cadet Officer School, Bravo Flight commander at National Blue Beret, Berry Field's 2003 Cadet Officer of the Year and a Commander’s Commendation for squadron leadership.

"Cadet Colonel Catino is a fine product of CAP's cadet program. He is an invaluable leader of the cadets in our squadron and we are extremely proud of this great accomplishment," stated squadron commander Lt. Col. Claude Fillingham.

Colonel Catino is the second Berry Field cadet to receive the Spaatz award in the last four months. In November, Cadet Col. Chris Perrine received his Spaatz award (#1516).

Along with the Spaatz presentation, other awards presented were: Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year -- Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Peyton Sweeney; Cadet of the Year -- Cadet Lt. Col. Brian Kinner; Cadet Officer of the Year -- Colonel Catino; and Senior Member of the Year -- 2nd Lt. Hal Snell.

written by By 1st Lt. Teri Williams, Public Affairs Officer, Berry Field Composite Squadron, Tennessee Wing

Col Humphries, C/Col Humphries, and Lt Col Humphries

#1478 -- Timothy J. Humphries

C/Col Timothy J. Humphries was presented Spaatz Award #1478 at the 2003 Tucson Composite Squadron 105 semi annual banquet. His award was presented by his grandfather, Colonel James F. Humphries Jr. USAF (Ret.) and his father, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas D. Humphries USAF. Col Humphries was on staff at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and flew 101 combat missions in Vietnam in B-57Gs. Lt Col Humphries is currently an HH-60G Special Operations/Combat Rescue helicopter instructor pilot at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. C/Col Humphries is a graduate of Cadet Officer School, Basic and Advanced National GSAR School, National Blue Beret, and Advanced Hawk Mountain Ranger School. He also participated in IACE Norway. He is currently on a 4-year Air Force ROTC scholarship at the University of Arizona.

Maj Steinmeier, Maj Gen Sarbones, 2d Lt Kleiman and Col Trick (Photo courtesy of 1st Lt George R. Murray, Jr)

#1460 -- Aaron Kleiman

At the Wicomico Squadron awards banquet in January, Maryland Wing's Aaron Kleiman received Spaatz Award #1460 from Major General Tony Sarbanes, US Army (ret). In addition to the many squadron members and friends, in attendance were Aarons' parents; his brother C/Capt Jared Kleiman, MDWG commander Col Larry Trick (Spaatz #452), Vice Commander Lt Col James Steinmemier, Group I Commander Maj Mark Dunker, Director of Cadet Programs Maj Tori Steinmemier (Spaatz #1271) and Director of Aerospace Education Lt Col James Tice. Wicomico Squadron Commander Maj Scott Hawkins served as the evening's master of ceremonies. Aaron is now a second lieutenant in the US Air Force, presently attending in pilot training.

Col Charles, C/Col Shepherd and Col Anderson

#1482 -- Andrew Shepherd

C/Col Andrew D. Shepherd of the Ohio Wing receives General Carl A. Spaatz Award number 1482, dated 23 December 2002, at the 2003 CAP Ohio Wing Conference awards banquet on 15 February 2003 in Columbus OH. Making the presentation is TSA President Col Richard L. Anderson, USAF, chief of the Air Force Auxiliary Division in the HQ USAF Homeland Security Directorate, and former CAP National Commander. Also joining in the presentation was CAP Col William S. Charles, then commander of the CAP Great Lakes Region and now CAP National Inspector General.

Brig Gen Combs, left, presents C/Col Thompson her Spaatz Award with assistance from Col Myrick.

#1481 -- Allison Thompson

C/Col Allison Thompson, of California Wing's Skyhawks Composite Squadron 47 in Oceanside, accepted Spaatz Award #1481 before an audience of over 300 at the military ball concluding the wing's Cadet Programs Conference at Camp San Luis Obispo in central California. The award was presented to C/Col Thompson by Brigadier General James Combs, Commander, 49th Combat Support Command, California National Guard, and Colonel Larry Myrick, Commander, California Wing. During the ceremony, Spaatz Association board member and webmaster Major Matt Johnson, #901, conveyed the board's greetings to the audience and gave a brief introduction of the association, after which he formally welcomed Thompson to the ranks of nearly 1500 Spaatz Award recipients to date and presented her with an official Spaatz Association challenge coin bearing her Spaatz Award certificate number.

C/Col Jonathan Sundman presented Spaatz Award #1483 by Lt Gen John Hopper, USAF.

#1483 -- Jonathan Sundman

C/Col Jonathan Sundman received Gen Carl A. Spaatz Award #1483 during a ceremony in his honor at Randolph AFB, Texas on 11 March. Maj Steven Schultz, Spaatz #904, served as narrator for the ceremony in which Lt Gen John Hopper, Vice Commander, Air Education and Training Command, presented C/Col Sundman his Spaatz Award certificate and medal. Brig Gen (ret) James Jaeger, Spaatz #80, presented C/Col Sundman with the new Spaatz Association coin. Other Spaatzen in attendance included: Col (ret) Mike Snedeker, #134, Lt Col Ed Billman, #419, Capt Kevin Sonnier, #1049, and AFROTC Cadet Paul Wilson, #1407.

C/Col Steven R. Gullberg II, center, receives Spaatz Award #1465 from Maj Gen Loran Schnaidt. C/Col Gullberg's father, Lt Col Steve Gullberg, at right, received Spaatz Award #439 25 years previously.

NEXT-GENERATION SPAATZEN

Well over 100 people attended a reception honoring Cadet Colonel Steven R. Gullberg II and witnessed him receiving Spaatz Award #1465. This already special occasion takes on even greater significance as Steven is believed to be the first second-generation recipient in the award's history. C/Col Gullberg's father, Lt Col Steven R. Gullberg, USAFR, earned the Spaatz Award in 1977.

Maj Gen Loran Schnaidt, retired commander of the Missouri Air National Guard, was the keynote speaker and presented the award. General Schnaidt had previously presented Steven with both the Mitchell and Earhart Awards and reflected fondly on watching him grow. C/Col Gullberg joined CAP in 1996 and is currently a high school senior. He is the Cadet Commander of his squadron, plays varsity football, and has soloed in both gliders and powered aircraft. He intends to enter college as an aviation major and pursue a career as an airline pilot. He plans also to join the Air National Guard.

C/Col Gullberg's award reception featured this cake & frosting rendition of the soon-to-be-introduced TSA coin.

Lt Col Gullberg was presented Spaatz Award #439 in Jamestown, NY in 1977. He presently serves as the Reserve Forces Director for CAP-USAF's North Central Liaison Region and flies as a pilot for American Airlines. His younger son, C/2d Lt Greg Gullberg, intends to be the family's next Spaatz recipient.

Other Spaatz awardees in attendance were Air Force Reserve 2Lt David Casler, #883, Maj Mike Toedebusch, #1168, and Capt Erica Williams, #1410. All three were speakers at the ceremony, as well as were Missouri Wing Commander Col Joe Casler, Vice Commander Lt Col Mike Bush, Chief of Staff Lt Col Sharyn Rugh, and Steven's former Squadron Commander, Lt Col Dave Glass. His current commander, Capt Barry Johnson, served as the master of ceremonies.

C/Col James J. Wyatt is presented Spaatz Award #1458 by Spaatz Association National President Brig Gen Richard Anderson.

#1458 -- James J. Wyatt

New Jersey Wing's C/Col James J. Wyatt received Spaatz Award #1458 at ceremonies during the 2002 Tri-Wing Cadet Summer Encampment at Camp Fretterd, Maryland. Encampment Commander and Spaatz Association National President Brig Gen Richard Anderson, Spaatz #193, presented James with his award certificate.

CAP National Commander Brig Gen James C. Bobick presents Spaatz Award #1423 to C/Col Melissa Bland.

#1423 -- Melissa Bland

CAP National Commander Brig Gen James C. Bobick presented Spaatz Award #1423 to Colorado Wing's C/Col Melissa Bland in recent ceremonies. General Bobick noted in his remarks that C/Col Bland is the only cadet to whom he has presented all four CAP milestone awards: the Billy Mitchell Award, the Amelia Earhart Award, the Ira C. Eaker Award and the Carl A. Spaatz Award. C/Col Bland joined CAP in November, 1995. She is seeking a nomination in either the U.S. Air Force Academy or the U.S. Naval Academy and hopes to become a fighter pilot. She is currently a high school senior in the Denver area. Both of C/Col Bland's parents are pilots; her mother flies Boeing 767s for United Air Lines.

A number of Spaatzen attended the July 2000 reception honoring C/Col Bland: (from left) C/Col Bland (1423), C/Col Sean Williams, Spaatz #1412, C/Col Royce Lippert, Spaatz #1380, his twin brother USAFA Cadet Ryan Lippert, Spaatz #1339, USNA Midshipman Phillip Casha, Spaatz #1320, and CAP National Legal Officer, Colonel David N. Simmons, Spaatz #447.

Brig Gen David Hudlet, C/Col Jorge Barriere and squadron commander Capt Matt Johnson pause for a photo following presentation of Jorge's Spaatz Award. (photo: Ben Fausto)

#1392 -- Jorge Barriere

At a dinner held in his honor, Jorge M. Barriere received Spaatz Award #1392 from Brigadier General David R. Hudlet, Assistant Adjutant General, Air, California National Guard. Held at the historic Fort Mason Officers Club, adjacent to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, the dinner was attended by members of San Francisco Cadet Squadron 86, San Francisco Bay Area Group 2, California Wing Headquarters and Pacific Region Headquarters. Jorge is the fourth member of Squadron 86 to earn the Spaatz Award. Previous squadron recipients Major Wayne Brown, #704, and U.S. Army Captain Phil Kwong, #863, and Squadron 86 commander Captain Matt Johnson, #901, were on hand and participated in the award presentation at General Hudlet's request.

Now a senior member captain, Jorge is enrolled in the University of the Pacific's prestigious Conservatory of Music where he is a senior majoring in Music and Business Management. He is also a saxophonist in the California Air National Guard's 561st Air Force Band and received California Wing's Colonel Jack Ferman Award in 1998.

#1376 -- James "Tex" McCloud

Georgia Wing's James McCloud was presented Spaatz Award #1376 at the 1998 National Board Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, where he served as the National Commander's cadet Aide-de-Camp. C/Col McCloud received his award from USAF Chief of Staff General Michael E. Ryan (right) and CAP National Commander Brigadier General James C. Bobick. C/Col McCloud has since become a CAP senior member, and currently is a senior at the University of Florida majoring in Business Administration. He will be commissioned as an Air Force Second Lieutenant in June 1999 and will attend Undergraduate Air Battle Manager training at Tyndall AFB.

C/Col Kevin Cavell receives Spaatz Award #1345 from CAP National Commander Brig Gen Paul Bergman at the 1997 National Cadet Competition banquet.

At this year's National Cadet Competition not only did the eight regions of the Civil Air Patrol gather to vie for the coveted Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Trophy, but two cadets were also honored with the presentation of their recently achieved General Carl A. Spaatz Awards.  Brigadier General Paul M. Bergman, National Commander, CAP, presented the General Spaatz Award to Cadet Colonel Hugh O. Stewart and Cadet Colonel Kevin M. Cavell at the beginning of the competition's awards banquet (#1332 and #1345 respectively).  The two cadets were also presented with the Air Force's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin by the Air Force Honor Guard, who were special guest judges of the competition  and  performed at the banquet.

Cadet Stewart is a member of the Florida Wing and commanded the Southeast Region Drill Team at the competition, while Cadet Cavell is a member of the New Jersey Wing and the Northeast Region Drill Team.  After the presentation, during the NCC awards ceremony, it was discovered that both cadets and their teams did extremely well at this year's competition. Cadet Colonel Stewart and the Southeast Region team received three first place awards (Inspection, Innovative Drill, and Physical Fitness) and two second place awards (Standard Drill and Panel Quiz), taking second place in the overall competition. Cadet Colonel Stewart also received the individual Team Commander's Award.  Cadet Colonel Cavell and the Northeast Region team also received three first place awards (Standard Drill, Written Exam, and Volleyball) and three second place awards (Inspection, Innovative Drill, and Physical Fitness), placing first in the overall competition.

Outside of the Civil Air Patrol, Cadet Cavell is a third year Rutgers University student majoring in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering and Cadet Stewart will be attending college in the Fall.

Congratulations to both cadets for achieving this coveted award and their teams for a great showing the National Cadet Competition.

Spaatz #80 Brig Gen Jim Jaeger, USAF (Ret) presents C/Col Jamie Foote with Spaatz Award #1329 at the Indiana Wing (?) Conference. Jamie also received INWG Cadet of the Year honors.

Brig Gen Richard Anderson presents Spaatz Awards to C/Col Gaby Lutz (left) and C/Col Tammy Blevins.

Double Spaatz Presentation

Amid a gathering of other current and former Spaatz award cadets, former CAP National Commander Brigadier General Richard L. Anderson recently awarded the General Carl A. Spaatz Award to two Maryland Wing cadets. On January 19th, CAP members from as far away as Delaware and Virginia traveled to honor these cadets at the St. Mary's Composite Squadron, based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Cadet Colonels Tammy Blevins and Gabrielle Lutz, both members of the squadron, received the second and third Spaatz Awards in the history of this southern Maryland Wing unit.

Cadet Colonel Blevins is an Aerospace Engineering major at the University of Maryland, College Park. Cadet Colonel Lutz is a Theater major at Towson State Universit. After joining CAP in 1991, they progressed together through the program, completing the Curry Achievement at the same time, attending encampment together, and serving together on numerous activities throughout Maryland Wing and Middle East Region. C/Col Blevins is currently the National Cadet Advisory Council Chair and attended IACE to C/Col Lutz attended IACE to Austria in 1996. Both are past chairs of the Maryland Wing CAC. Both have avidly supported CAP with public speaking presentations to many outside organizations ranging from aerospace presentations for elementary school children to CAP briefs for senior education officials.

The eleven current and former Spaatz cadets present at the ceremony included General Anderson as well as other active duty and CAP officers. Distinguished guests included Col Bob Vawter, Delaware Wing Commander; Capt Brian Campbell, Delaware Wing Vice Commander; Lt Col Larry Trick, Maryland Wing Vice Commander; Lt Col James Steinmeier, Maryland Wing Chief of Staff; and Lt Col Bill Thomas, Middle East Region Photographer.

Spaatz awardees attending the ceremony: Brig Gen Anderson, Capt Bob Midkiff, Capt Brian Campbell, C/Col Brian Coats, Capt Sean Fry, CDR Mark Swaney, USN, Capt Randy Allen, Lt Col Larry Trick and Capt Kevin Cooley.