Pictured, left to right, are outgoing Squadron Commander Maj. John Yost, TN Wing Group II Commander Maj. Gary Fiser and incoming Squadron Commander Lt. Col. David Ellis
photo by Major Larry Stewart, CAP
About 75 Civil Air Patrol members and their families enjoyed a catered dinner at the Rhea County Squadron headquarters (located a Mark Anton Airport) on Saturday evening to celebrate the transition of command.
After successfully serving his four-year term as squadron commander, Major John Yost recommended Lieutenant Colonel David Ellis as a replacement to take command of the squadron.
Col. Ellis has been a member of the squadron since 2007, and had been serving as the squadron's personnel officer and professional development officer, assisting other members in their advancement through the ranks, and progressing through CAP's leadership program. This is Col.
Ellis' second term serving as the squadron commander. He filled this position about a decade ago.
Colonel Berry Melton, past Tennessee wing commander and past southeast region commander, addressed the group, and commended Maj. Yost on his successful leadership, and expressed his confidence that Col. Ellis would continue leading with the same level of excellence. "It's great to see three squadron commanders and the group commander here tonight, along with the members of Cleveland Composite Squadron and Chattanooga Composite Squadron joining with Rhea County Composite Squadron for this event. The squadron is the basic building block of CAP. and it is great to see the squadrons come together at an event like this, and the show of support is just terrific," Col. Melton said.
Col. Melton continued, "I've been in the Civil Air Patrol for 35 years, and I can tell you, now is the best time to be in CAP. We have a wonderful national commander. We are increasingly being recognized by the Air Force. They are seeing the fruits of their investment in our cadet program. We have a cadet with us tonight that the Air Force has heavily invested in, and he now has his pilot's license. Another cadet here tonight is one check ride away, weather permitting, from getting his pilot's license. I am really proud of what our program is doing for cadets now. You have to put your effort into the program, but you will get back more than you put in, but you have to put the effort in."
Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent 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 more than 80 lives annually. CAP’s more than 65,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to nearly 28,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.
When asked what his goals were for the coming three years, Col. Ellis said, "Our squadron has been serving our nation and the community of Dayton for more than three decades, and I want to make sure we are in a position to be here, serving another three decades." Col. Ellis also serves on the Tennessee Wing, Group II staff, and when he isn't serving the Civil Air Patrol, he works as the parts and service director at a local car dealership.