Page 19 - Harnett Life Fall 2021

Harnett County Son,

New C.A..P

Squadron Commander

Written by 1st Lt Glenda Engstrom and 1st Lt Patricia Wallace

the highest professional level in CAP and promoted to Lt Col,
he transferred to the Sandhills Senior Squadron, where he as-
sumed Command from the outgoing Commander, Capt Eric
Engstrom. “My goal is to lead an already well accomplished
group of adults to reach even greater heights in our effective-
ness to accomplish whatever we are tasked for, be it post-hur-
ricane damage assessment photography, locating a downed air-
craft or coordinating with a ground crew in a missing person
search” he said. “Let me add, the number one priority of our
aircrew is safety in every activity for every member. Our com-
mitment as Aerospace Educators is firm. The United States
faces a shortage of qualified pilots and CAP is perfect for youth
12 and up who may wish to explore careers in aerospace.”

Lt Col Gilchrist holds pilot licensure for private, commercial
and sea planes. He was awarded Distinguished Graduate of
Academy of Military Science in 1978 and was then commis-
sioned as an Officer in the New York Air National Guard. He
joined CAP in 2012 and soon came to embrace the mission and
core values of the organization. He holds Command Pilot Rat-
ing and also has served as an Air Operations Branch Manag-
er. He has received the Commander’s Commendation Award
twice and was nominated and approved for the Air Force Orga-
The Civil Air Patrol Sandhills Senior Squadron has a new Com- nizational Excellence Award in 2018.
mander. David Gilchrist, PhD, a Professor at UNC Pembroke,
dons a new hat this summer and for the next couple of years. When he is not teaching Graduates and undergraduates in
There he is known as Lt Col Gilchrist where he brings an ex- Economics, Finance, Business Law and International Manage-
tensive aviation, leadership and military background to the 39 ment, he is working on his Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
members of the Squadron. The Civil Air Patrol is the United degree at Delaware Law School. A man of broad interests, Lt
States Air Force Auxiliary, made up of volunteer civilians who Col Gilchrist holds a LL.M. Global Antitrust Law and Eco-
dedicate their time to the three prongs of which the Civil Air nomics from Scalia Law School, George Mason University;
Patrol is comprised. They include (1) Emergency Services; (2) a PhD in Economics from University of Oklahoma; an MBA
Cadet Programs that are members of ages 12 through 18, and business degree and Master of Arts in Managerial Economics,
(3) Aerospace Education. The Sandhills Senior Squadron is an also from University of Oklahoma and a BS in Physics from
all-adult squadron. Much of what the “Airhogs” do is in the Campbell University. He also maintains a Real Estate Bro-
sky. “With two CAP Cessnas and a large, well-trained aircrew, ker’s License and is trained as a Certified Mediator in Alterna-
we stand ever ready for search and rescue, disaster response, tive Dispute Resolution.
air photography, cadet orientation rides and even assisting the
82nd Airborne at nearby Ft. Bragg.” While CAP’s Sandhills Senior Squadron has many pilots,
membership requires no aircrew training. Members serve in
Lt Col Gilchrist became accomplished in CAP, taking a lead- a variety of capacities from administrative to educational and
ership position as Deputy Commander of the Raleigh-Wake non-pilots can opt in to the rigorous training for aircrew posi-
Composite Squadron and later as an Internal Aerospace Edu- tions and get into the sky. If you would like to learn more about
cation Officer at the NC CAP Headquarters. When he earned the Civil Air Patrol, visit gocivilairpatrol.com for information.

Harnett Life ~ Fall 2021 Page 19