NJ Wing Civil Air Patrol Hosts Brig. Gen.Yvonne Mays for Strategic Capability Briefing
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE–DIX–LAKEHURST, N.J. (April 30, 2026) — Brig. Gen. Yvonne Mays, The Adjutant General of New Jersey and commander of the New Jersey National Guard, recently visited Civil Air Patrol’s New Jersey Wing along with members of her staff to discuss opportunities for enhanced cooperation between the New Jersey National Guard and Civil Air Patrol.
During the visit, New Jersey Wing Commander Col. Amy Myzie and Lt. Col. Robert Jennings, NJ Wing’s Legislative Squadron Commander and Search & Rescue Officer, presented an overview of Civil Air Patrol’s operational capabilities, mission readiness, and recent accomplishments supporting communities throughout New Jersey and the nation.
The briefing emphasized how the wing’s approximately 1,600 volunteer members could further augment New Jersey’s emergency response and homeland support capabilities as part of the state’s “Total Force.”
“Our members stand ready to support New Jersey when called upon,” said Myzie. “Civil Air Patrol brings highly trained volunteer airmen, aircrews, ground teams, communications specialists, and incident management personnel who can provide meaningful operational support during emergencies, disasters, and humanitarian missions.”
Jennings detailed Civil Air Patrol’s broad emergency services capabilities, including aerial and ground search and rescue operations, electronic direction finding, airborne and ground imagery, disaster relief support, transportation missions, statewide radio communications, GIS support, and incident management expertise.
Among the capabilities highlighted were Civil Air Patrol’s national-level cell phone forensics and radar track analysis resources activated through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, as well as New Jersey Wing’s cadre of qualified Air Support Group Supervisors, communications leaders, and search management specialists.
“Civil Air Patrol has a proven record of delivering real-world mission support across a wide range of operations,” Jennings said. “Our volunteers are uniquely positioned to provide flexible, cost-effective capabilities that can strengthen New Jersey’s emergency response framework.”
Jennings also highlighted the New Jersey Wing’s extensive response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 138 days of sustained operations, New Jersey Wing supported five Air Force Assigned Missions and one corporate mission involving 370 members — nearly 25 percent of the wing’s membership — including 90 cadets.
Wing members contributed 2,593 man-days of support, packed or distributed more than 1.7 million meals, facilitated 5,600 COVID-19 tests, assembled protective equipment for first responders, and created more than 12,000 reusable cloth masks for community use. Civil Air Patrol personnel also supported the demobilization of two field medical stations established in coordination with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey Air National Guard.
More recently, New Jersey Wing members have supported Operation Pulse Lift in partnership with the American Red Cross and the Armed Services Blood Program at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
Through the operation, Civil Air Patrol volunteers assist active-duty and reserve military personnel supporting blood collection operations, donor center staffing, and logistics support. New Jersey Wing currently provides four to six volunteers on weekdays and eight to ten members on Saturdays in support of the mission.
The visit concluded with discussions focused on future collaboration opportunities and strengthening partnerships between the New Jersey National Guard and Civil Air Patrol in support of New Jersey residents.
About Civil Air Patrol
Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
Visit CAP.news or GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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For More Information:
Lt. Col. Bill Petzinger, CAP
1+ 609-306-0966
Email: public.affairs@njwg.cap.gov
