About the Commander
Major Wesley Flannell serves as the Commander for Group 1 of the Illinois Wing. Major Flannell joined Civil Air Patrol as a Cadet in November 2002 and rose to achieve the Amelia Earhart Award in the Cadet Program as well as the grade of Cadet Major prior to entering the Senior Member Program in late 2009. Major Flannell has held numerous cadet and senior staff positions during the years to include assignments as Cadet Commander, Squadron Commander, Squadron Deputy Commander for Cadets, Group Cadet Programs Officer, Group Operations Officer, Group Deputy Commander, and the Illinois Wing Honor Guard School Officer-in-Charge and lead instructor. Major Flannell holds master ratings in Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services; senior rating in Operations; and technician ratings in Command, Recruiting and Retention, and Public Affairs. He has also served as the director, staff, and instructor for several CAP Professional Development courses, flight clinics, and the project officer for national level events.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Wright Brothers Award #41
Billy Mitchell Award #52692
Amelia Earhart Award #13549
2011 Training Leaders of Cadets Course
2011 Squadron Leadership School
2013 Corporate Learning Course
2014 Unit Commanders Course
2017 Region Staff College
Search and Rescue Manager, Illinois Search and Rescue Council
Ground Search and Rescue Operations, Illinois Search and Rescue Council
SARTECH II Certification, National Association for Search and Rescue
Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician
KEY ASSIGNMENTS
June 2003 – November 2003, Cadet Flight Sergeant, Williamson County Composite Squadron (Marion, IL)
November 2003 – March 2004, Cadet Flight Commander, Williamson County Composite Squadron (Marion, IL)
March 2004 – August 2007, Cadet Commander, Williamson County Composite Squadron (Marion, IL)
May 2010 – December 2011, Squadron Commander, Metropolis Composite Squadron (Metropolis, IL)
February 2011 – December 2011, Cadet Programs Officer, Group 1 Headquarters, Illinois Wing (Scott AFB, IL)
December 2011 – December 2015, Squadron Commander, Shawnee Composite Squadron (Marion, IL)
January 2016 – January 2017, Cadet Advisory Council Advisor, Illinois Wing
December 2015 – May 2017, Deputy Commander for Cadets, Shawnee Composite Squadron (Marion, IL)
August 2017 – September 2018, Deputy Commander, Group 1 Headquarters, Illinois Wing (Scott AFB, IL)
September 2018 – Present, Commander, Group 1 Headquarters, Illinois Wing (Scott AFB, IL)
AIRCREW INFORMATION
Rating: Search & Rescue/Disaster Relief Mission Pilot, Transport Mission Pilot, Mission Observer, Mission Scanner, Aerial Photographer, Mission Check Pilot, Mission Check Pilot Examiner, Flight Instructor, Check Pilot, Check Pilot Examiner.
EMERGENCY SERVICES QUALIFICATIONS
Incident Commander Level 3
Operations Section Chief
Planning Section Chief
Mission Safety Officer
Liaison Officer
Air Operations Branch Director
Ground Branch Director
Communications Unit Leader
Search & Rescue/Disaster Relief Mission Pilot
Mission Observer
Mission Scanner
Aerial Photographer
Transport Mission Pilot
Counterdrug
Ground Team Member Levels 1, 2, and 3
Urban Direction Finding
Flight Line Supervisor
Flight Line Marshaller
Mission Radio Operator
Mission Staff Assistant
Flight Release Officer
Incident Commander Level 2*
Finance/Admin Section Chief*
Logistics Section Chief*
Public Information Officer*
*Trainee Status
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
2010 Squadron Commander of the Year, Group 1
2011 Cadet Programs Officer of the Year, Group 1
2012 Squadron Commander of the Year, Illinois Wing
2013 Senior Member of the Year, Group 1
2014 Balsem National CAP Public Affairs Award (2 awards)
2017 Balsem National CAP Public Affairs Award
2017 Senior Member of the Year, Shawnee Composite Squadron
2018 Balsem National CAP Public Affairs Award
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Commander’s Commendation Award
CAP Achievement Award (3 Awards)
CAP Lifesaving Award with silver star
Unit Citation Award
Paul E. Garber Award
Grover Loening Aerospace Award
Leadership Award with two silver stars and one bronze star
CAP Membership Award
Scott Crossfield Award
Brig Gen Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award
Amelia Earhart Award
Command Service Ribbon
Red Service Ribbon (15 years)
Search “Find” Ribbon with three bronze clasps
Search and Rescue Ribbon with bronze clasp
Counterdrug Ribbon with two bronze clasps
Disaster Relief Ribbon with silver “V” device (2 awards)
Community Service Award (11 awards)
International Air Cadet Exchange Ribbon
National Cadet Competition Ribbon
Cadet Advisory Council Ribbon with bronze star
National Cadet Special Activities Ribbon (3 awards)
Encampment Ribbon (4 awards)
Senior Recruiter Ribbon (2 awards)
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
4 November 2002 – Cadet Airman Basic
24 November 2009 – Cadet Major
27 February 2010 – First Lieutenant
23 July 2011 – Captain
5 Dec 2014 – Major