Mahoney Appointed Putnam Civil Air Patrol Cadet Commander

Civil Air Patrol’s Putnam County Squadron appointed Cadet First Lieutenant Maggie Mahoney as cadet commander during a virtual squadron meeting held on Dec. 4.

Mahoney joined the Putnam County Squadron in August 2018. “I was strongly considering joining the military. I thought CAP would be a good program to learn more about the military and especially gain leadership skills,” said Mahoney.

A graduate of the 2019 New York Wing Encampment, Mahoney served as the squadron cadet aerospace education NCO and as a cadet flight sergeant. Her dedication to the program and focus on training led to appointments of higher responsibility as cadet aerospace education officer, cadet flight commander and cadet leadership officer.

Mahoney advanced into the command phase of Civil Air Patrol's Cadet Program by earning the Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Award and promoting to cadet first lieutenant in September. The Mitchell Award recognizes cadets for sustained excellence in leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. “I’m most proud of the personal relationships I’ve built in CAP and gaining the trust of the cadets as I advance in leadership positions,” said Mahoney.

She has enhanced her leadership skills by directing cadets at the annual Wreaths Across America Day ceremonies and by volunteering outside of the squadron, assisting at the 2018 and 2019 New York Air Shows held at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor and currently by supporting Civil Air Patrol’s New York Wing COVID Remobilization Officer.

Mahoney’s objectives for the squadron are to keep cadets engaged during virtual meetings and to ensure they earn their milestones. “I’d also like to eventually get back to in-person meetings and make sure that transition goes smoothly. Overall, the goal is to make sure we keep up our standards during this pandemic and the cadets can get a similar experience to what they were getting before,” said Mahoney.

Considering CAP’s Cadet Program, the leadership training received and personal development offered, Mahoney commented, “It definitely has confirmed my intention to become a military officer and the leadership experiences I’ve gotten have been very helpful as I apply to academies and ROTC. I’m sure those leadership skills will continue to be invaluable as I pursue a career in the military.”

For information about the Putnam County Composite Squadron contact Major Elena MacDermant at (845) 216-5433, email elenamac@aol.com, or visit ny033.cap.gov.

Civil Air Patrol is the longtime auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a valued member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and 1,550 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). It performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 82 lives annually. CAP’s 66,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Operating as a nonprofit organization, CAP also plays a leading role in STEM/aerospace education, and its members serve as mentors to 28,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.CAP.NEWS or www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.