Maj. Gerald M. Maass has been installed as new commander of the Utah Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. He replaces Col. Craig L. Thomas, who announced his retirement last month to pursue personal interests.
Maass leaves the Wasatch Squadron commander post after more than a year to assume leadership of the 620-member Utah wing. Col. Virginia Smith, Rocky Mountain Region commander, presided over a ceremony last week in which Maass was officially installed as the Utah wing commander.Also during the ceremony, the Utah Cadets were honored for their exceptional showing during the National Cadet Competition at Maxwell AFB, Ala., in December. The drill team took second place in both the innovate drill and the standard drill categories. Scott Ray of the Cache Squadron was the outstanding cadet in the nation. Both the women's and men's fastest mile was taken by Utah cadets - Joe Scheafer and April Thomas. The Utah Cadet team also took the national sportsmanship award. The drill team members are Ray, Mila-Lee Robinson, Danny Ray, Rob Weatherston, Wendy Blankenship, Jason Patten, Richard Martinez, Jennifer Lawson, Jason Williams, Chris Ledding, Michael Street, Robert Wood, Errin Weyland, April Theisen, Joe Scheafer and Lars-Erik Rundquist. They are led by Lt. Lynda Robinson and Capt. Glen Bogue.