Will Assume New Duties At The End Of February

Civil Air Patrol National Commander Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter has appointed Col. Michael Jay Murrell to her staff as senior adviser for operations. He succeeds Col. Andrew Skiba, who served as senior operations volunteer adviser from January 2008 to February 2010.

Murrell joins the senior operations volunteer leadership after more than four years of service as the national aerospace education adviser. He will begin his new assignment Feb. 28.

As the senior operations volunteer adviser, Murrell will assist the national leadership with matters pertaining to the conduct and support of CAP's operational missions. His areas of responsibility will include powered flight operations, glider operations, working with federal and international search and rescue organizations, pilot training and proficiency programs, radio communications and the organization's Advanced Technologies Group.

Murrell, a former Ohio Wing commander, has also been a commander at the group and squadron level in three different wings. He is currently the Florida Wing deputy chief of staff for operations. His staff assignments have included wing director of operations and deputy director of emergency services.

The colonel is a pilot with nearly 1,000 flying hours as pilot in command in light single and multi-engine aircraft. He has received numerous awards for his CAP service, including the Distinguished Service Award, the Exceptional Service Award, Meritorious Service Award and Commander's Commendation Award, and has earned the Gill Robb Wilson Award, signifying completion of CAP's Professional Development Program.

He is also active in CAP's operational missions as a mission observer, mission pilot, air operations branch director, operations and planning sections chief and incident commander in the Florida Wing.

FMI: www.gocivilairpatrol.com