NEWS: Ali assumes command of Arlington
Ali brings years of experience from a career in the legal field and devoted member of CAP. She first joined the all volunteer organization as a cadet with the Eglin Composite Squadron in Florida. Ali then joined the Keesler Composite Squadron in Biloxi, Miss., after traveling overseas with her Air Force father. And following a hiatus to pursue college and a successful career, she rejoined the Civil Air Patrol as an officer last year.
Ali recently served the squadron as the deputy commander for seniors fulfilling the roles of administrative, communications, emergency services, personnel and logistics officer positions.
Her vision for the Arlington Composite Squadron is to continue the work of Sherrer by inspiring the squadron's members to continue taking the lead in aerospace education and community service and achieving a 100 percent mission-ready status.
The change of command ceremony is a formal custom, conducted with great dignity and designed to strengthen the respect for authority, which is vital to any military organization. It allows subordinates to witness the change in command from one officer to another and preserve the continuity of command and authority.
The ceremony concluded with speeches honoring Sherrer for her strong leadership and tireless efforts encouraging and mentoring the squadron's younger members. She served as the squadron's commander for 15 months.
Sherrer continues to serve as the administration, personnel and professional development officer within the squadron and assists the National Capital Wing administrator with various duties.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 56,000 members nationwide. CAP 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 Air Force with saving 91 lives in fiscal year 2008. 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 the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 67 years. For more information on CAP, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.
Civil Air Patrol’s National Capital Wing currently has 215 volunteer officers and senior members and 110 cadets in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Federal employees and military personnel can support CAP through the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area – CFC charity number 26757.
For more information and media inquires about CAP and its missions in the national capital area, e-mail NatCap Wing Public Affairs at pa@natcapwg.cap.gov.
By Maj. Paul S. Cianciolo
National Capital Wing director of public affairs
