Commander
| Picture coming soon |
Captain Braedon Smith |
Captain Braedon Smith is the Commander, Air Capital Composite Squadron, Wichita, KS. As commander, he is responsible for the strategic direction of the squadron and setting the vision and mission of the squadron staff. He leads over 70 volunteer members in completing Civil Air Patrol's missions, including more than 40 cadets, 50 blood transport missions annually, and the internal and external aerospace education program. Capt Smith joined Civil Air Patrol in 2018 as a member of the Konza Composite Squadron, Manhattan, KS, where he was assigned as an Aerospace Education Officer. After earning his pilot certificate through Kansas State University, he qualified as a mission scanner and observer in CAP, becoming active in Kansas Wing's emergency operations, through which he was activated for missions as varied as a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic and missing persons searches. After graduating from Kansas State University in 2020, he transferred to the Emerald City Composite Squadron (now renamed Air Capital Composite Squadron) in 2021 and served as both Deputy Commander for Senior Members and Deputy Commander for Cadets before assuming command. In keeping with his passion for education, he has taught at encampments and National Cadet Special Activities and is an instructor for Volunteer University. He also serves as the senior member mentor for the Kansas Wing Cadet Advisory Council. Before assuming command, he also was responsible for Kansas Wing's public aerospace education outreach mission.
Civil Air Patrol
Education
Oct 2024 - Level IV
Aug 2020 - Level III
Oct 2019 - Level II
Oct 2018 - Level I
Aug 2024 - Advanced Cadet Protection
Dec 2023 - Training Leaders of Cadets Intermediate
Apr 2023 - Training Leaders of Cadets
Feb 2023 - Squadron Commander Course
Aug 2021 - National Aerospace Education Officer School
Nov 2020 - ICS-400 Advanced Incident Command
Oct 2020 - ICS-300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
Feb 2020 - Corporate Learning Course
Oct 2019 - Squadron Leadership School
Feb 2019 - Officer Basic Course
Sep 2018 - Cadet Protection Basic Course
Emergency Services
Air Operations Branch Director
Communications Unit Leader
Flight Line Marshaller
General Emergency Services
Ground Branch Director
Ground Team Leader
Ground Team Member, Level 1
Liaison Officer
Logistics Section Chief
Mission Observer
Mission Radio Operator
Mission Scanner
Mission Staff Assistant
Operations Section Chief
Planning Section Chief
Urban Direction Finding Team Member
Assignments
Nov 2024-current - Commander, Air Capital Composite Squadron
May 2023-Nov 2024 - Deputy Commander for Cadets, Air Capital Composite Squadron
Jul 2022-May 2023 - Deputy Commander for Senior Members, Air Capital Composite Squadron
May 2022-Oct 2024 - Assistant Director of Aerospace Education-External, Kansas Wing
Jan 2022-current - Education and Training Officer, Air Capital Composite Squadron
Dec 2021-May 2022 - Assistant Aerospace Education Officer, Emerald City Composite Squadron
Sep 2020-Nov 2021 - Communications Officer, Konza Composite Squadron
Nov 2019-Aug 2020 - Aerospace Education Officer, Konza Composite Squadron
Oct 2019-Nov 2021 - Information Technology Officer, Konza Composite Squadron
Major Awards and Decorations
Commander's Commendation Award (2)
Achievement Award (4)
Paul E. Garber Award
Grover Loening Award
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Award
A. Scott Crossfield Award
Brig Gen Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award
Frank G. Brewer, Sr. Memorial Aerospace Award, Category II (Wing, Region)
CAP Crisis Service Award
Disaster Relief Ribbon with "V"
Community Service Award (10)
Effective Dates of Rank
SM - Sep 2018
FO - Mar 2019
TFO - Sep 2020
1st Lt - Dec 2021
Capt - Jun 2023
Professional
Education
2020 - Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Employment
2021-2022 Firmware Engineer, VIAVI Solutions LLC, Wichita, KS
2022-2024 Instrumentation Software Engineer, Textron Aviation Inc., Wichita, KS
2024-current Software Engineer, Textron Aviation Inc., Wichita, KS
Flight Qualifications
Private Pilot, Airplane Single-Engine Land
Remote Pilot
(Current as of November 2024)
