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.