Civil Air Patrol's National Capital Wing

10/11/2026

Honored to represent Civil Air Patrol on a national stage! ✈️

Members of our wing recently participated in the National Aviation Hall of Fame 62nd Annual Enshrinement Dinner & Ceremony at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 24

Our cadets had the distinct privilege of presenting the colors during the opening ceremony, while Maj. Mark Wright delivered a moving performance of the National Anthem.

(📸 John Harrington Productions)

09/14/2026

Civil Air Patrol member and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gene Hartman, who served at every level of the organization during a 50-year tenure, died Sept. 7, 2026. He was 92.

Hartman began his aviation career in 1953 with the North Dakota Air National Guard. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in December 1957 after graduating from North Dakota State University, he earned his pilot wings at Big Spring Air Force Base in Texas in 1959. He completed F-100 fighter training in 1960 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where he was named Outstanding Pilot in his class and Outstanding Instructor Pilot the following year.

During the Vietnam War, Hartman completed more than 300 combat hours across 100 missions in the F-105. Over a 34-year Air Force career, he logged more than 4,500 flight hours in 23 aircraft before retiring in February 1988. He then served as a special assistant to the director of the Air National Guard in Washington, D.C., from 1989 to 1996.

Throughout his military and civilian career, Hartman remained dedicated to Civil Air Patrol (CAP):

🛩️ Joined the Wheeler Composite Squadron in Hawaii with his son Randy in 1971.
🛩️ Served as director of operations and commander of the National Capital Wing.
🛩️ Commanded the Middle East Region (now the Mid-Atlantic Region) and instructed at the National Flight Academy in Virginia for 20 years.
🛩️ Founded a flight scholarship program at the Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron after moving to Missouri.

Hartman is survived by his wife, the former Joan Stammen of Donnybrook, North Dakota; sons Randy and Mark; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial service details will be announced once finalized. Hartman’s remains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

07/02/2026

Cadets from our Mount Vernon Composite Squadron participated in the official CAP/NASA Aviation Skywatch Mission recently.

This exciting citizen science adventure allows Civil Air Patrol volunteers to collaborate directly with NASA. Our cadets are collecting atmospheric data and tracking specific aircraft to help scientists better understand weather conditions that impact commercial flights. Through this mission, they are developing critical hands-on skills in aviation weather, aircraft identification, orienteering, and tracking.

We are incredibly proud of our cadets for stepping up to contribute to real-world scientific research!

07/02/2026

Check out this great new brief about how Civil Air Patrol supports the training to defend the nation's capital.

08/06/2025

Seeing our Civil Air Patrol cadets attend the United States Air Force Academy is always great. Here's a photo of our own Cadet Maj. Dakota Bitterman from our Challenger 1 Cadet Squadron during her recent in-processing.

06/04/2025

Col. Rick Greenhut (right) of the National Capital Wing headquarters, former commander of the Northeast Region and New York Wing, has been recognized with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.

The award is bestowed on pilots with more than 50 years of aviation experience, professionalism, and accident-free flying as well as an impeccable safety record, free of violations or disciplinary actions.

Greenhut received the award from Brig. Gen. Richard Anderson, Civil Air Patrol national commander from 1993-1996, at our annual conference.

Col. Rick Greenhut of the National Capital Wing, former commander of the Northeast Region and New York Wing, has been recognized with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.The award is bestowed on pilots with more than 50 years of aviation experience, professiona...

02/12/2025

Several aircrews spent their snow day clearing off the fleet today. The wet, heavy snow tends to cause our aircraft to go nose-up on the tarmac.

01/14/2025

11/13/2024

Check out these photos of our cadet honor guard serving the local community.

08/30/2024

We are proud to be part of .