Civil Air Patrol's Arkansas Wing

Civil Air Patrol's Arkansas Wing This is the official page for Civil Air Patrol's Arkansas Wing.

This month, Cadet Captain Gatlin of the 42nd Composite was presented the Earhart Award by Colonel Charles Rine. National...
06/08/2026

This month, Cadet Captain Gatlin of the 42nd Composite was presented the Earhart Award by Colonel Charles Rine. Nationally, only 3% of cadets achieve this award, which shows a completion of sustained excellence in leadership, fitness, aerospace, and character.

Members of the Arkansas Wing had the distinction of receiving the Exceptional Service Award and the Meritorious Service ...
05/10/2026

Members of the Arkansas Wing had the distinction of receiving the Exceptional Service Award and the Meritorious Service Award for their contributions to the Wing's Compliance Inspection that resulted in Arkansas recieving the rating of Highly Effective, a rating that is rarely earned. Colonel Harriet Smith from the Southwest Region was present to bestow the awards. Lt. Col. Phillip Robertson received the Exceptional Service Award for his role leading the inspection team, the rest of the inspection team, Lt. Col. Jerome Grotts, Major Justin Brand, and Major Judi Seigfried, were awarded the Meritorious Service Award.

Additionally, we had two teams receive the Find ribbon for being credited with a "find" during two separate search and rescue missions.

Two of the awards that Civil Air Patrol uses to recognize members for their outstanding service, duty performance and co...
05/07/2026

Two of the awards that Civil Air Patrol uses to recognize members for their outstanding service, duty performance and contributions to the organization are the Achievement Award and Commander’s Commendation. Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of these awards, which were presented during the Arkansas Wing Conference on April 25:
Achievement Awards
Lt Col Charles Bolin – (Little Rock)
2d Lt Charles Cormier – (Texarkana)
C/Lt Col Aiden Francis – (Rogers)
C/1st Lt Michael Gatlin – (Little Rock)
2d Lt Jacob Hill – (Conway)
1 st Lt Christopher Hoag – (Little Rock)
Lt Col Frank Holmes Jr. – (Rogers)
Lt Col Holly Jones – (Rogers)
C/1 st Lt Sophia Kimes – (Fort Smith)
Capt Robert Melgosa – (Rogers)
C/Lt Col Dylan Prins – (Mountain Home)
Maj Cecil Ross – (Little Rock)
C/MSgt Elli Diaz – (Little Rock)
C/Capt Freedom Sampognaro – (Little Rock)

Wing Commanders Commendations
1 st Lt Alisha Chouinard – (Rogers)
C/Capt Joelle Conzachi – (Rogers)
C/CMSgt Issabelle Hill – (Conway)
1 st Lt Christopher Hoag – (Little Rock)
Lt Col Peter Mudge – (Fort Smith)
1 st Lt Jamie Reuter – (Conway)
C/Lt Col Laura Reynolds – (Fort Smith)
Lt Col Gary Smith – (Mountain Home)
C/Lt Col Ryder Sparks – (Fort Smith)
SSgt Geoffrey Taylor – (Conway)
C/SMSgt Zihao Walker – (Texarkana)
C/SMSgt Shaylene Wolfe – (Texarkana)

Wing Commanders Commendations – 2026 National Legislative Day
C/Lt Col Weston Arnett – (Fort Smith)
2d Lt Charles Cormier – (Texarkana)
Capt Kyle Lutgen – (Little Rock)
C/Lt Col Dylan Prins – (Mountain Home)
Lt Col Garrick St. Pierre – (Crenshaw Memorial)

Civil Air Patrol runs almost entirely on volunteers. We take time each year to recognize members who have made a signif...
05/02/2026

Civil Air Patrol runs almost entirely on volunteers. We take time each year to recognize members who have made a significant contribution to the organization. Congratulations to everyone who was recognized at the Arkansas Wing Conference last weekend. The people in this post were recognized by Arkansas Wing “of the Year” Awards. This is only a small portion of the awards that were presented. Additional awards will be shared in a series of posts.

Character Development Officer of the Year
Ch, Maj Wesley Hulvey 115th Composite Squadron (Rogers)

Operations Staff Officer of the Year
2d Lt Dudley Gideon 115th Composite Squadron (Rogers)

Sorenson Cadet Programs Officer of the Year
2d Lt Steven L Horton 94th Composite Squadron (Conway)

Health Services Officer of the Year
Maj James Bryan 42nd Composite Squadron (Little Rock)

Ch, Maj Gen Robert P. Taylor Chaplain of the Year
Ch, Maj Wesley Hulvey 115th Composite Squadron (Rogers)

Cadet NCO of the Year
C/1stLt Maxwell Reuter 94th Composite Squadron (Conway)

Safety Officer of the Year
Lt Col Gregory Smith 115th Composite Squadron (Rogers)

2025 Family of the Year
The Bryan Family 42nd Composite Squadron (Little Rock)

Cadet Junior Officer of the Year
C/Capt Timothy Keeter 94th Composite Squadron (Conway)

Finance Officer of the Year
Maj Judi Sigfried Arkansas Wing

Historian of the Year
Capt Robert Melgosa 115th Composite Squadron (Rogers)

Communicator of the Year
MSgt Justin Phillips 115th Composite Squadron (Rogers)

Cadet of the Year
C/Lt Col Laura Reynolds 83rd Composite Squadron (Fort Smith)

Senior of the Year
1st Lt Mark Holmes 115th Composite Squadron (Rogers)

Commander of the Year
Lt Col Loren Ainsworth 95th Composite Squadron (Texarkana)

Robert Penton Aircrew Excellence Award
2d Lt Curtis Hawkins 120th Composite Squadron (Jonesboro)

M. Douglas Wood Staff Member of the Year Award
Capt Jason Cunningham 102 nd Composite Squadron (Russellville)

Squadron of Merit
115th Composite Squadron (Rogers)

A 2.5‑Second Flight That Launched the Space AgeOne hundred years ago today, a brief rocket flight lasting just 2.5 secon...
03/17/2026

A 2.5‑Second Flight That Launched the Space Age

One hundred years ago today, a brief rocket flight lasting just 2.5 seconds changed the course of human history.

On March 16, 1926, Dr. Robert H. Goddard successfully tested the world’s first liquid‑fueled rocket. By modern standards, the achievement seemed modest: the rocket climbed only 41 feet before landing in a nearby cabbage patch. Yet that short hop proved something revolutionary: that liquid fuel could power controlled rocket flight.

That breakthrough became the foundation of modern rocketry, enabling everything from satellite launches to crewed missions beyond Earth. Every liquid‑powered rocket that has since carried humans and instruments into space traces its lineage back to Goddard’s experiment.

We honor Dr. Goddard’s pioneering achievement and its lasting impact on space exploration through Cadet Programs Achievement 7, celebrating the curiosity, innovation, and perseverance that continue to drive discovery today.

Read more about the Achievement 7:
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets/stripes-to-diamonds/godda

Read More about the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program:
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/cadets

Find a local squadron:
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/cap-unit-locator

📷 by Esther Goddard on March 16, 1926 (Clark University Archive)

CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air & Space Forces Association to inspire K-12...
03/09/2026

CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air & Space Forces Association to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 42nd Composite Squadron had two teams (one middle school team and one high school team) that received State awards in the CyberPatriot 18 competition.

This year, our high school team advanced into the State Round as Platinum Tier competitors, which is the top tier of the program. Team Root Sentries placed first in Arkansas under the All Service Division for the platinum tier. Team Encrypted Wing placed second in Arkansas for the Middle School Tier and Division.

High School Participants: (Team Name - Root Sentries)
C/1st Lt Freedom Sampognaro
C/CMSgt Benjamin Hoag
C/1st Lt Ethan D. Bryan

Middle School Participants: (Team Name – Encrypted Wing)
C/A1C Andrew Gatlin
C/TSgt Boone Lucchese

Article Credit: Senior Member Rachel Primm
Photo Credit: 1st Lt Alfreda Johnson

This month, the 42nd Composite Squadron had a lot to celebrate! Several of our cadets promoted:Elli Diaz promoted to Cad...
03/05/2026

This month, the 42nd Composite Squadron had a lot to celebrate! Several of our cadets promoted:

Elli Diaz promoted to Cadet Staff Sergeant
Pamela Bryan promoted to Cadet Chief Master Sergeant
Michael Gatlin promoted to Cadet First Lieutenant
Ethan Bryan promoted to Cadet First Lieutenant
Freedom Sompognaro promoted to Cadet First Lieutenant

We also had two Senior Members promoted:

Chris Hoag promoted to First Lieutenant
Adam Butenschoen promoted to Second Lieutenant

C/1st Lt Michael Gatlin received the Community Service ribbon for donating 240 hours to help his community.

Senior Members 1st Lt Chris Bryan, Major Lee Ross, and 1st Lt Chris Hoag completed the training for Training Leaders of Cadets- Basic. 1st Lt Chris Bryan completed additional training to accomplish intermediate status.

Congratulations to Lt Col Loren Ainsworth, who, after 21 years and 3 months as commander, was able to turn over command...
03/02/2026

Congratulations to Lt Col Loren Ainsworth, who, after 21 years and 3 months as commander, was able to turn over command of the Texarkana 95th Composite Squadron to 1st Lt Margaret Gaines in a ceremony held on February 1. Friends and colleagues from around the wing and Southwest Region traveled to Texarkana to witness the event and both Texarkana, TX and Texarkana, AR sent representatives to speak during the ceremony, Mayor Bob Bruggeman from the Texas side and Assistant Mayor Ulysses Brewer from the Arkansas side. We thank Lt Col Ainsowrth for his long term commitment to Civil Air Patrol and wish Lt Gaines good luck as she assumes command.

We are grateful for the coverage from our friends at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette! If you’ve been following us and are ...
03/02/2026

We are grateful for the coverage from our friends at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette! If you’ve been following us and are interested in contacting your local squadron, check out our website for more information. Civil Air Patrol offers opportunities for pre-teens, teenagers, and adults. We would love to help you get started!

https://arwg.cap.gov/locations

Address

1805 Bond Avenue
Little Rock, AR
72202

Telephone

+15013761729

Website

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