Richmond - The Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol welcomed Delegate David Englin (D-45) as a member of the Virginia Legislative Squadron at the State Capitol March 9. Membership expresses Englin’s support of the all volunteer organization which provides search and rescue and disaster relief missions for the Commonwealth as well as operating a cadet programs for youths. Englin was also awarded the honorary rank of major and invited to participate in CAP activities, including flying in any of the 12 aircraft based in the Commonwealth.
“As an Air Force veteran, I’m especially honored to have been given the opportunity to work more closely with the Civil Air Patrol, whose great work — especially in terms of search and rescue operations — contributes to the safety and security of our community and the nation,” said Englin.
“We are grateful that Delegate Englin has taken the time to recognize the important role Civil Air Patrol and other volunteer organizations play in making Virginia a safer and more livable state for its citizens,” said Col. Dave Carter, commander of the Virginia Wing.
The Virginia Legislative Squadron was chartered this year to provide information to lawmakers and facilitate cooperation between CAP and state agencies for the services CAP provides.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years.
A 1996 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Delegate David Englin is Vice Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and is serving his third term in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he represents the 45th District, which includes parts of the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Arlington County. He serves on the Finance Committee, the Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee, and the Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources Committee.