First Meeting Under New Governance Structure

The Civil Air Patrol’s Board of Governors, meeting in person for the first time since the organization’s new governance structure was introduced in August, on Wednesday elected retired Air Force Maj. Gen. John Speigel as its chairman and CAP Lt. Col. Ned Lee as vice chairman.

Speigel, previously the board’s vice chairman, succeeds Brig. Gen. Richard Anderson when Anderson’s term concludes in February.

A BoG member since 2005, Speigel is the former director of personnel policy, deputy chief of staff for personnel, Air Force Headquarters. He has served in numerous Air Force technical and command positions during his military career, commanding at every level, from detachment to wing, including at the Pentagon and in South Korea. He is now a director of Deloitte Consulting’s Department of Defense Human Capital in Washington, D.C.

Lee, who succeeds Speigel as vice chairman in February, is a member of CAP’s Pacific Region. He formerly served as the national cadet program adviser and as the region’s deputy chief of staff for cadet programs. Lee is a California Superior Court judge in Santa Clara County and is a former police detective. He is retired from the Army National Guard.

During its meeting this week at Tyndall Air Force Base, FL, the BoG also:

• Met with CAP’s primary customer, 1st Air Force, to include an orientation to the Operations Center where Air Force-assigned missions are generated.
• Approved CAP’s financial plan for federal funding for fiscal year 2014, as well as CAP’s 2013 legislative agenda.
• Provided updates to CAP’s 2013-2014 strategic plan’s goals, objectives and metrics.
• Received a report on completion of the 2012 business plan.
• Examined CAP’s three-year Development Plan involving gift giving and grants.

The new governance system was unveiled Aug. 24 during CAP’s Annual Conference in Baltimore. Initial implementation occurred Oct. 1. The governance plan streamlines CAP’s decision- and policymaking processes, clarifies the role and responsibilities of key personnel and incorporates a new selection process for the national commander and other executives, along with other changes.

The new governance structure remains on track for full implementation by Jan. 1. Work continues at CAP National Headquarters on revising relevant regulations to reflect the new system.

(Pictured: Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John Speigel (right) and Lt. Col. Ned Lee of Civil Air Patrol's Pacific Region.)

FMI: www.gocivilairpatrol.com