Local Civil Air Patrol Cadet Wins 2nd In Regeneron ISEF Competition

Carmel, NY. ­(May 22, 2023) – The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Putnam County Composite Squadron is proud of our cadet member, C/SMSgt Eric Song, for taking home 2nd place in the category of Systems Software at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest global pre-college science and engineering competition.

According to the competition web site, http://www.societyforscience.org, this is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition where finalists compete for nearly $9 million in awards, prizes, and scholarships each year. This year’s event took place from May 14-19 in Dallas, Texas and was a fully in-person event with more than 1,600 ninth through twelfth graders earning the right to compete by winning a top prize at a local, regional, state, or national science fair.

The Putnam County Composite Squadron encourages our cadets to pursue aerospace, geospatial systems, computer science, rocketry and drone flying along with many other topics such a leadership skills, public speaking, and physical fitness. As the civilian auxiliary of the US Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol has a strong core of camps, overnight encampments, and training resources which all the cadets are encouraged to participate in.

In particular, C/SMSgt Eric Song is a team leader of our squadron’s highly ranked CyberPatriot team which competes in the US Air Force sponsored CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. Our squadron’s team consists of a core group of male and female cadets who spend months studying cyber security procedures, terms, computer programs and everything needed to compete successfully in the competition. According to the National Civil Air Patrol Web Site, CyberPatriot puts teams of high school and middle school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. In the rounds of competition, teams are given a set of virtual images that represent operating systems and are tasked with finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the images and hardening the system while maintaining critical services in a six-hour period.

As CAP cadets, they participate in a year-round program where they can fly in and co-pilot a Cessna plane, learn to lead, hike, camp, get in shape and push themselves to new limits. The program transforms youth into dynamic citizens and aerospace leaders through a curriculum that focuses on four elements: leadership, aerospace, fitness and character.

As youth ages 12-18 participate in these four elements, they advance through a series of achievements, earning honors and increased responsibilities along the way. Many of the nation's astronauts, pilots, engineers and scientists first explored their careers through CAP. The leadership skills, self-confidence and discipline they gain will prepare them to achieve whatever goals they set for themself in life.

A composite squadron also includes adults who are referred to a senior members and have similar opportunities in leadership, learning about aerospace, geospatial and cyber security, emergency services and flying planes. Senior members also advance in leadership promotion with many in our squadron working toward rank of lieutenant. In our squadron alone, we have business executives, reserve duty and retired military personnel, an emergency room nurse, retired police, technology executives, teachers and others who feel that being a volunteer member of Putnam County Composite Squadron has improved their lives, developed lasting friendships and given them unique opportunities in volunteer service and to learn new skills.

We encourage anyone interested in learning more to please contact our Commander, Major Elena MacDermant at 033@nyw.cap.gov. Meetings are held once a week from 7:00pm to 9:30pm in Putnam County. All are welcome. Bring a friend.

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.

Carmel, NY. ¬(May 22, 2023) – The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Putnam County Composite Squadron is proud of our cadet member, C/SMSgt Eric Song, for taking home 2nd place in the category of Systems Software at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest global pre-college science and engineering competition.
According to the competition web site, http://www.societyforscience.org, this is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition where finalists compete for nearly $9 million in awards, prizes, and scholarships each year. This year’s event took place from May 14-19 in Dallas, Texas and was a fully in-person event with more than 1,600 ninth through twelfth graders earning the right to compete by winning a top prize at a local, regional, state, or national science fair.
The Putnam County Composite Squadron encourages our cadets to pursue aerospace, geospatial systems, computer science, rocketry and drone flying along with many other topics such a leadership skills, public speaking, and physical fitness. As the civilian auxiliary of the US Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol has a strong core of camps, overnight encampments, and training resources which all the cadets are encouraged to participate in.
In particular, C/SMSgt Eric Song is a team leader of our squadron’s highly ranked CyberPatriot team which competes in the US Air Force sponsored CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. Our squadron’s team consists of a core group of male and female cadets who spend months studying cyber security procedures, terms, computer programs and everything needed to compete successfully in the competition. According to the National Civil Air Patrol Web Site, CyberPatriot puts teams of high school and middle school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. In the rounds of competition, teams are given a set of virtual images that represent operating systems and are tasked with finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the images and hardening the system while maintaining critical services in a six-hour period.
As CAP cadets, they participate in a year-round program where they can fly in and co-pilot a Cessna plane, learn to lead, hike, camp, get in shape and push themselves to new limits. The program transforms youth into dynamic citizens and aerospace leaders through a curriculum that focuses on four elements: leadership, aerospace, fitness and character.
As youth ages 12-18 participate in these four elements, they advance through a series of achievements, earning honors and increased responsibilities along the way. Many of the nation's astronauts, pilots, engineers and scientists first explored their careers through CAP. The leadership skills, self-confidence and discipline they gain will prepare them to achieve whatever goals they set for themself in life.
A composite squadron also includes adults who are referred to a senior members and have similar opportunities in leadership, learning about aerospace, geospatial and cyber security, emergency services and flying planes. Senior members also advance in leadership promotion with many in our squadron working toward rank of lieutenant. In our squadron alone, we have business executives, reserve duty and retired military personnel, an emergency room nurse, retired police, technology executives, teachers and others who feel that being a volunteer member of Putnam County Composite Squadron has improved their lives, developed lasting friendships and given them unique opportunities in volunteer service and to learn new skills.
We encourage anyone interested in learning more to please contact our Commander, Major Elena MacDermant at 033@nyw.cap.gov. Meetings are held once a week from 7:00pm to 9:30pm in Putnam County. All are welcome. Bring a friend.

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.

Article written by: 2d Lt Allison Sywyk-Hanson
Putnam County Composite Squadron
Public Affairs Officer
Recruiting and Retention Officer

Contact Putnam County Composite Squadron: Maj Elena MacDermant, Squadron Commander
Mobile: 845-216-5433
Email: 033@nyw.cap.gov
Web site: ny033.cap.gov