CARMEL, N.Y. - Dec. 29, 2020 - Civil Air Patrol's Putnam County Squadron appointed Cadet First Lieutenant Maggie Mahoney as cadet commander during a virtual squadron meeting held on Dec. 4.
Mahoney joined the Putnam County Squadron in August 2018. "I was strongly considering joining the military. I thought CAP would be a good program to learn more about the military and especially gain leadership skills," said Mahoney.
A graduate of the 2019 New York Wing Encampment, Mahoney served as the squadron cadet aerospace education NCO and as a cadet flight sergeant. Her dedication to the program and focus on training led to appointments of higher responsibility as cadet aerospace education officer, cadet flight commander and cadet leadership officer.
Mahoney advanced into the command phase of Civil Air Patrol's Cadet Program by earning the Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Award and promoting to cadet first lieutenant in September. The Mitchell Award recognizes cadets for sustained excellence in leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. "I'm most proud of the personal relationships I've built in CAP and gaining the trust of the cadets as I advance in leadership positions," said Mahoney.
She has enhanced her leadership skills by directing cadets at the annual Wreaths Across America Day ceremonies and by volunteering outside of the squadron, assisting at the 2018 and 2019 New York Air Shows held at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor and currently by supporting Civil Air Patrol's New York Wing COVID Remobilization Officer.
Mahoney's objectives for the squadron are to keep cadets engaged during virtual meetings and to ensure they earn their milestones. "I'd also like to eventually get back to in-person meetings and make sure that transition goes smoothly. Overall, the goal is to make sure we keep up our standards during this pandemic and the cadets can get a similar experience to what they were getting before," said Mahoney.
Considering CAP's Cadet Program, the leadership training received and personal development offered, Mahoney commented, "It definitely has confirmed my intention to become a military officer and the leadership experiences I've gotten have been very helpful as I apply to academies and ROTC. I'm sure those leadership skills will continue to be invaluable as I pursue a career in the military."
For information about the Putnam County Composite Squadron contact Major Elena MacDermant at (845) 216-5433, email elenamac@aol.com, or visit https://ny033.cap.gov or www.facebook.com/PutnamCountyCompositeSquadron.
Contact
Major Peter Milano, Civil Air Patrol
Putnam County Composite Squadron Public Affairs Officer
