Minnesota WingTips 2007 Wing Conference Special Edition
Saturday started with the general assembly.
Minnesota Wing Hosts 60th
Annual Conference
Nearly 350 members of Minnesota Wing gathered
at Breezy Point Resort for the 60th Annual
Minnesota Wing Conference, in Breezy Point,
Minn. on April 20-22.
The conference started on Friday with Emergency
Services Training. About 80 members attended a
First Aid Course taught by Capt. Paul Pieper or a
session on Emergency Services Technology led by
Maj. Jay Craswell.
Col. Marilyn and Lt. Col. Gary Chambers enjoying Friday
Night’s Social Activities.
Friday evening members came together for a joint
social. In the past cadets and seniors had separate
social events, but this year it was decided to have
everyone come together.
After a short welcome from Minnesota Wing
Commander, Col. Stephen Miller members enjoyed
a spread of various finger foods and a soda bar.
The event was well attended and everyone seemed
to enjoy themselves.
Minnesota WingTips 2007 Wing Conference Special Edition
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Members heard from a variety of speakers
including: Ray Rought, Minnesota Division of
Aeronautics director; Gary Schneider, CAP
National Headquarters deputy director of logistics;
Colonel. Sean Fagan, North Central Region
Commander; Lt. Col. Mike Pederson, CAP-USAF
North Central Liaison Region Commander; and
Minnesota Wing Commander; Colonel Stephen
Miller.
During the program Lt. Col. Pederson presented a
custom piece of art to Ray Rought on behalf of the
Air Force in recognition of the support MNDOT
has provided CAP over the years.
Col. Michael Huttner, presents C/2nd Lt. Mitchell McGillick
with an Air Force Association Award
Lt. Col. Gary Chambers, president of the General
E.F. Rawlings Chapter of the Air Force Association
spoke to the wing and Col. Michael Huttner
presented awards to these Minnesota Wing
members.
Cadet Corey Titus, Cadet Alex McGillick, Cadet
John Learned, Capt. Marilyn Lucas and Capt.
Dee Kirchner.
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The cadets also received a $ 250.00 scholarship.
During the general assembly, Colonel Miller
presented awards to members honoring them for
their service to CAP and excellence in various CAP
specialties.
Emergency Services – Capt. Mari Lucas, Red
Wing
Finance - Lt. Col. Dennis Yeager, Wing HQ

Logistics - 1st Lt. Mike Pierce, Owatonna

Logistics - 2nd Lt. Shelly Supan, Anoka County

Public Affairs – Capt. Rich Sprouse, Group 2

Recruiting/Retention - 2nd Lt. Cheryl Winnett,

Northland

Colonel Miller presents the Long Service Award for 40 years

service to Colonel Kevin Sliwinski.

The following members received CAP Service

Awards for 20 years service: Col. Wilbur
Donaldson, Lt. Col. B.J. Eckhoff, Capt. James
Harris, Maj. David Kenan, Major Douglas
Mitchell and Major David Sigvertsen.
Colonel Miller presents the Dunbar Award to Capt. Kenneth
The following members received CAP Service
Hartwig
Awards for 30 years service: Lt. Col. Gary
Chambers, Lt. Col. Keith Flanagan, Lt. Col. The Dunbar Award is presented to a member who
James Garlough, Lt. Col. Lynn Hegrenes, Lt. has expanded the capability of the Minnesota Wing
Col. Mariann Wildt and 1st Lt. Earl Isaacs. Communication field through their efforts and
technical expertise. This year’s recipient was Capt.
The following members received CAP Service Kenneth Hartwig of Northland Squadron.
Awards for 40 years service: Capt. Ronald Frink,
Capt. Charlotte Frink, 2nd Lt. Jorgen Kjostad,
Lt. Col. Richard Ohmann, Maj. Jesse Riehle,
Maj. Thomas Seehuetter and Col. Kevin
Sliwinski.

Minnesota Wing has had a long tradition of

recognizing excellent performance at the unit level.
This is done with Specialist Awards. Members are
nominated by their peers and award selection is
made by the wing level specialist and the wing
commander. The 2006 awardees are:

Aerospace Education - 2nd Lt. Carolyn Carlson,

Crow Wing Capt. Mark Shorter receives the Coffin Award from Colonel
Miller.
Cadet Programs – Capt. Delores "Dee" Kirchner,
Owatonna

Minnesota WingTips 2007 Wing Conference Special Edition Page 3

The Coffin Memorial Award is presented to a 1st Lt. Robin Helgager received a Commander’s
member not assigned to the Cadet Programs, Commendation Award for her outstanding service
who promotes, assists, participates in the Cadet to the Northland Squadron.
Program and provides solution to cadet problems.
This year’s recipient is Capt. Mark Shorter of
Cass County Senior Squadron.

Maj. Chet Wilberg received a Commander’s

Commendation Award for his service as
Commander of the 2006 Minnesota Wing Cadet
Encampment.

Capt. Terry Best received a Commander’s

Commendation Award for his outstanding service
to the Northland Squadron.
Maj. Conrad Peterson (3rd from left) receives a Lifesaving
award from Col. Miller and is accompanied by NCR
Commander Col. Sean Fagan (2nd from right) and area public
safety officials.

1st Lt. Richard Raveling and Major Conrad

Peterson were presented with Lifesaving Awards.

After the General Assembly members had a choice

of Safety Learning Labs to attend. A number of
experts talked to members about such diverse safety
topics as Defensive Driving, Home Safety, Personal
Safety, Ground Crew Safety, Flying Safety and
Flight Line Safety.
Capt. Richard High receives the
Commander’s Commendation Award from Col. Miller.
During the afternoon, members attended Learning
Labs that covered a wide array of CAP subjects and
Capt. Richard High received a Commander’s
programs, including Emergency Services, Finance,
Commendation Award for his outstanding service
Flight Operations, Technology, Aerospace
to the Grand Rapids Squadron.
Education, CAP Uniforms, Cadet Programs and
Marketing. There were also specialized sessions for
1st Lt. Todd Christopherson received a
Cadets, Chaplains and Inspector Generals.
Commander’s Commendation Award for his
outstanding service to the North Star Cadet
Squadron.

Lt. Col. Tom Kettell conducts a briefing on CAP Uniforms.

This year’s Learning Labs were different in that the

commanders were surveyed about what they and
their members wanted for Labs. The Wing Staff
1st Lt Robin Helgager receives the Commander’s
Commendation Award from Col. Miller.

Minnesota WingTips 2007 Wing Conference Special Edition Page 4

delivered on these requests in the form of
informative presentations.
Vanguard joined us this year and had a wide array
of CAP uniform items and merchandise for sale.
They were so impressed with Minnesota Wing and
the reception that they received that they plan on
returning next year.
The Spaatz Award is CAP’s highest cadet honor. It
is pre-sented to cadets who have demonstrated
excellence in leadership, character, fitness and
aerospace education. Only 44 Minnesota Wing
Cadets have earned this award.
Col. Miller presented Wing Awards to the
following members:

Cadet Commander of the Year

A recruiter speaks to a cadet about opportunities in the Air C/Maj. Cory Titus, Viking
National Guard.

During the day members had the opportunity to

visit with representatives from Air Force Reserve
and Air National Guard Recruiting, as well as the
Youth Aviation Foundation and the St. Paul based
General Vessey JROTC Leadership Academy.

After a day of learning, members and their guests

gathered for the annual banquet and wing awards
program.

Cadet NCO of the Year

C/2nd. Lt. Alex McGillick, Hutchinson

Brig. Gen. William Schuessler

After the meal Col. Miller and Brig. Gen. William

Schuessler, Chief of Staff of the Minnesota Air Cadet of the Year
National Guard spoke to the conference. C/Lt. Col. Laura Broker, Viking

Brig. Gen. Schuessler presented the Gen Carl A.

Spaatz award to Captain Joshua Waddell of Viking
Squadron and Captain Nathan Wozniak of
Northland Squadron.

Minnesota WingTips 2007 Wing Conference Special Edition Page 5

 Senior Member of the Year
Capt, Andrew Bosshart, Anoka County
Unit Commander of the Year
Maj. David Odette, Group 1

After the Banquet members gathered for the Annual

Military Ball.

CAP Family of the Year

The Tyner Family, Crow Wing

Tami and the Bachelor had almost everyone

dancing with a mix of current and classic music.
A feature that returned to this year’s ball was a
King and Queen competition. Cadets were able to
nominate and choose a Military Ball King and
Queen by secret ballot.

Squadron of the Year

Northland Composite Squadron

This year’s King and Queen were C/1st Lt. Andrew

Squadron of Merit Puckett and C/Lt. Col. Laura Broker.
St Paul Composite Squadron

Minnesota WingTips 2007 Wing Conference Special Edition Page 6

Throughout the ball Lt. Col. Doug Kilian drew
tickets for a variety of raffle prizes. The Military
Ball was very well received by cadet and senior
alike.

The conference concluded Sunday morning with a

Commanders Call and the Cadet Advisory Council
(CAC) meeting.

The CAC elected new officers for the 2007-2008

term. They are:
Chair – C/Maj. Cory Titus, Viking
Vice Chair – C/ Lt. Col. Laura Broker, Viking
Recorder – C/2nd Lt. Jason Anderson, 130th
The wing will begin accepting nominations for
awards to be presented at the 2008 Wing
Conference on Oct. 1st. This process only works if
members recognize excellence by sending in
nominations.
If you have pictures you would like to contribute to
the 2007 Wing Conference Scrapbook, please send
them to al.pabon@mncap.org.
The 2007 Conference Scrapbook can be seen on-
line at www.mncap.org/xp/2007_conf
Captain Scott Slawson’s T-38 model.
2007 Wing Conference
Model Aircraft Contest
Major Conrad Peterson
Director, Aerospace Education
The 2007 Wing Conference at Breezy Point had a
new “first” for Aerospace Education. The first ever
model aircraft contest. Participation was not huge
but there were a few great entries and those who
entered them did an outstanding job in
craftsmanship.
There were two senior member entries and one
cadet entry. The entrants and their aircraft were as
follows; Chaplain Don Mikitta with an Avro Arrow,
Capt. Scott Slawson with a T-38 Talon and a Cadet
entry with a B-17 bomber.

Chaplain Mikitta received Best in Category for

Senior Member built aircraft and Capt. Scott
Slawson received First Place in the Senior Member
category.

The B-17 received First Place in the Cadet Junior

built category.

An honorable mention for his hard work is Lt. Col.

Doug Kilian and his wood model glider aircraft.
Special thanks to the following members for
contributing photos and news for this issue of
Look forward to next year at Arrowwood, April 11-
WingTips.
13, for the Second Annual Wing Conference Model
Aircraft Contest with a new contest specifically for
Lt. Col. Shannon Bauer , Lt. Col. Dave Skaar,
model rockets.
Lt. Col. Tom Theis, Capt. Mark Helseth,
Capt. Mari Lucas, Capt. Paul Pieper,
The rockets will not be launched so please do not
Capt. Rich Sprouse, C/Lt. Col. Ryan Kenny
equip them with rocket engines. Build them only
for show.

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