Overlake CAP Says Farewell to its Cadet Commander and Welcomes New Leadership

Washington’s largest Civil Air Patrol cadet squadron is set to change its leadership structure at the end of January.

Cadet Maj. Mitchell Holliday steps down as cadet commander of Overlake’s Civil Air Patrol squadron and hands over command to Cadet Capt. Donnie Carroll, the unit’s current deputy cadet commander.

Holliday leaves for U.S. Air Force basic training in February and will follow it up with more than a year of specialized training activities before returning to his Reserve unit at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The public is invited to the change of command ceremony, slated for Tuesday, January 29th, at 7:45pm at the Redmond Armory on Education Hill. Squadron officials will be available to talk at the reception following about the activities and services of Overlake CAP.

“The past five years at Overlake Squadron have been an amazing opportunity to grow as a leader and as a person,” said Holliday, whose lengthy record of participation and leadership at local, state, and national Civil Air Patrol activities includes spending a week shadowing fighter pilots in training at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas.

Youth age 12 and older are eligible to join the cadet ranks of Civil Air Patrol and participate in a wide variety of flying, public service, and aerospace education activities. Many schools recognize CAP work as public service involvement toward graduation requirements.

Holliday holds an FAA private pilot license and is certified by CAP, eligible to carry passengers on official missions. He is the only cadet in the squadron's history to earn both endorsements. Carroll has served several leadership roles at Overlake Squadron during the past four years and has attended and led local and state Civil Air Patrol activities. Carroll is a senior at Lake Washington High School.

Overlake Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol was selected as the state wing’s outstanding unit—its highest recognition—in 2011 and has, for the past two consecutive years been award the prestigious national “Quality Cadet Unit Award” for its youth programs. Overlake is the largest cadet CAP program in Washington.

Overlake Squadron is online at overlakecap.org and facebook.com/overlakesquadron.

Redmond Armory is located at 17230 NE 95th Street, Redmond, WA 98052 in Redmond.