Change of Command for Civil Air Patrol Squadron 150

(L-R) South Coast Group 7 Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Jim Robertson and New Squadron 150 Commander Capt. David Powell

Capt. David Powell assumed command of Civil Air Patrol Long Beach Senior Squadron 150 from Capt. Lloyd Bumanglag in a change of command ceremony held on 2 June, 2016 at Squadron 150 Headquarters on Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, California.

South Coast Group 7 Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Jim Robertson presided over the time-honored ceremony signifying the transfer of authority from one commander to another, as he received the unit guidon from Capt. Bumanglag, who relinquished command, and handed it to Capt. Powell who assumed command of Squadron 150.

Capt. Powell joined Civil Air Patrol in 2014, out of a desire to serve his community and because of his interest in aviation. A licensed pilot, Capt. Powell is an aircrew Mission Observer and is also qualified as a Mission Radio Operator, and Mission Staff Assistant. Capt. Powell was appointed the squadron's Deputy Commander in January 2015 and has also served as the Squadron's Finance Officer.

Capt. Powell said, "I am excited to lead our squadron with vigilance and commitment…to make our squadron relevant through disaster relief, search and rescue, airborne photography, and counter drug operations …"

Outgoing Commander Capt. Bumanglag will be assuming new duties at the Group level and will be serving as the South Coast Group 7 Professional Development Officer in addition to working on several projects assigned by California Wing. Capt. Bumanglag has been a member of CAP since 2008 and has held positions such as Public Affairs Officer, Professional Development Officer, along with serving as Unit Commander.

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Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force's Total Force, which consists of Regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 85 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 70 lives annually. Civil Air Patrol's 58,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. Civil Air Patrol received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. Congressionally chartered 74 years ago, the nonprofit organization also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit http://www.capmembers.com for more information.

Squadron 150 is a part of California Wing and South Coast Group 7. The California Wing includes 3,000 senior members and cadets, and South Coast Group 7 encompasses six squadrons in Orange County, California.

Squadron 150 is composed entirely of senior members (adults aged 18 and older) and meets every Thursday from 7:30pm-9:30 pm at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base and visitors are always welcome. The address is 3976 Constitution Avenue Los Alamitos, Calif. For more information visit www.Sq150.org