News - 2025 Archive

On Oct. 26, a team of cadets from the Brigadier General Arthur J. Pierce Cadet Squadron in Amherst, Mass., participated online in the first round of the CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. After completing a quiz, the cadets began to adjust settings within a virtual operating system to secure the network. Their strategy drew from best practices in the field of cybersecurity and the requirements of the given scenario.

This last weekend, members from around the Massachusetts Wing took part in the annual Gettysburg leadership staff ride. Cadets and adult members led discussions at different stops around the battlefield, exploring themes of trust, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making.

Cadets and senior members of the Massachusetts Wing Civil Air Patrol had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with a living legend of space exploration, Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise. The teleconference, held recently, gave members the rare chance to hear firsthand stories from Haise—one of only 24 people to have voyaged to the moon.

Adult members and cadets from across the state met at Bridgewater State University (BSU) this past weekend for the annual Civil Air Patrol Massachusetts Wing Conference.

Congratulations to adult member Maj. Leslie Kneipfer on earning the Air & Space Forces Association Massachusetts Teacher of the Year award. Maj. Kneipfer was recognized for her work as the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Massachusetts Wing Director of Aerospace Education and as a 7th-grade Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teacher at Raynham Middle School.

Registration is open - Join us this summer for the 2025 Massachusetts Wing Encampment, held at Joint Base Cape Cod from July 26 to August 3.

On May 3, members of the Massachusetts Wing’s Westover Composite Squadron joined forces with local volunteers for West Springfield’s annual town-wide cleanup day.

On February 5, eight cadets from the Massachusetts Wing traveled to Boston to meet with state legislators. Representing the Westover Composite Squadron and Brig. General Arthur J. Pierce Cadet Squadron, the cadets received a behind-the-scenes look at the Senate chamber.

Forty-eight cadets and 17 adult members of the Civil Air Patrol from units around New England met at Bridgewater State University on Saturday to kick off planning for the 2025 Encampment.

The Massachusetts Wing welcomed 1st Lt. Kaci Leonard into the ranks of its pilots recently. Leonard is currently the only active women pilot in the Wing and the youngest currently at 22 years old.