last modified: Tuesday, August 24, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAXWELL AFB, Ala. — Antonio Pineda of Plantation, Fla. is the new national vice commander of Civil Air Patrol.

Pineda was elected Aug. 19 by the CAP National Board and was promoted to the CAP rank of brigadier general immediately prior to the official Change of Command ceremony on Aug. 21.

At the time of his election, Pineda was serving as CAP Southeast Region commander. He will now be second in command for the entire CAP organization, which is the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force and has some 62,000 members throughout the nation.

A member of CAP since 1988, Pineda has served at all levels of command. He served as a Florida squadron, group, and wing commander. He completed all levels of CAP's senior training program, as well as the Southeast Region Staff College and the National Staff College. He is also a graduate of the National Commanders' Course and the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College.

Pineda has received numerous Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service awards for his work with CAP.

"This organization and its members have given me an opportunity of a lifetime by electing me as vice commander," Pineda said.  "It is going to be a real pleasure working beside so many wonderful volunteer citizens and assisting our Air Force in all of our missions for America."

Pineda began his professional career in 1972 as a police officer and later a detective with the Hollywood, Fla. Police Department. In 1980 he became a special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, where he is currently a senior agent.

Pineda holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Florida International University. He has completed numerous specialized courses in law and criminal justice. He is also an FAA-rated private pilot.

Pineda will be serving CAP alongside Maj. Gen. Dwight Wheless of Manteo, N.C., who was elected national commander.

Taking over Pineda's position as Southeast Region commander will be Col. Matt Sharkey of Winter Park, Fla., formerly Florida Wing Commander.

The elections of the new national commander and vice commander were high points of the CAP National Board meeting, which was held at the Tampa Waterside Marriott in Tampa, Fla. In conjunction with the National Board meeting, CAP also held its annual national conference, which drew hundreds of CAP members from throughout the nation.

Civil Air Patrol is the official Air Force auxiliary and is made up entirely of civilian volunteers. CAP performs 95% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years.

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