Chain of Command
updated: 09 JUN 22
National Chain of Command
Commander-in-Chief - The Honorable Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
Secretary of Defense - The Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III
Secretary of the Air Force - The Honorable Frank Kendall
Chief of Staff, USAF - Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., USAF
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force - CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass, USAF
Commander, Air Combat Command - Gen. Mark D. Kelly, USAF
Commander, 1st Air Force - Lt. Gen. Kirk S. Pierce, USAF
Commander, CAP-USAF - Colonel Mark A. Wootan, USAF
Civil Air Patrol Chain of Command
National Commander -Major General Edward D. Phelka, CAP
Pacific Region Commander - Col Virginia Nelson, CAP
California Wing Commander - Col Ross E. Veta, CAP
Group 7 Commander - Lt Col Stanley D. Clark, CAP
Squadron Chain of Command
Squadron Commander - 1st Lt Clint J. Vallee, CAP
Squadron Deputy Commander - Capt Brian A. Cole, CAP
Squadron NCO - SM (TSgt) Frank Mancebo, CAP
Cadet Commander - C/2d Lt Jack H. Smith
Cadet Executive Officer -
Cadet First Sergeant - C/CMSgt Benjamin E. Linza
Alpha Flight Commander - C/2d Lt Nathan J. Mancebo
Alpha Flight Sergeant - C/CMSgt Isabella Meader
Bravo Flight Commander - C/CMSgt Nicholas J. Meader
Bravo Flight Sergeant - C/MSgt William A. De Baca
Charlie Flight Commander - C/CMSgt Kaylin J. Vallée
Charlie Flight Sergeant - C/A1C Faith R. Armijo
Delta Flight Commander -
Delta Flight Sergeant -
Cadet Leadership Officer -
Color Guard Commander -
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines as the following:
chain of command noun phrase
Definition of chain of command
: a series of executive positions in order of authority
a military chain of command
Having a "Chain of Command" ensures that you only have one "boss" to report to and that in turn, that "boss" should only have 1-4 people reporting to them. Studies have shown that the most people a leader can effectively manage is between 5-7; this is known as span of control.
Example: Your cadet commander should only have his/her flight commanders reporting to them. Let's say that you as an element leader have a question, your question should first go to your flight sergeant, if they can't answer it they will seek out your flight commander, and if the flight commander can't answer it then they will seek the cadet commander.
So if you are a new cadet take a moment make yourself familiar the graphic above.