Commander
Col. Brenda A. Reed
Col. Brenda A. Reed was appointed commander of Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol on March 10, 2024. As a Civil Air Patrol member for more than 20 years, she brings a wealth of experience to the position.
Since joining in 2003, Reed has held positions at most echelons of CAP. At the unit level, she was a personnel officer and public affairs officer, and commander of two Maryland squadrons: Carroll Composite Squadron and Granite Cadet Squadron. At the wing level, Reed served as chief of staff, administrative officer, finance officer, and public affairs officer. She was Maryland Wing’s first wing administrator, a CAP national headquarters paid position she held for four years. She served as director of public affairs in the Mid-Atlantic Region, coordinated many wing and region conferences, and was local project officer of the 2019 CAP national conference. Reed was the national e-learning coordinator, directing the national online Squadron Leadership School and Corporate Learning Course for several years. She initiated Maryland Wing’s e-learning program, designing, and implementing several benchmark online courses used by members across the nation. Reed recently served as provost of Civil Air Patrol’s Volunteer University overseeing all aspects of Volunteer University. Prior to this role, she was the dean of online learning programs for Volunteer University.
Col. Reed has a passion for working with cadets and has been involved in many cadet activities. She was on staff for seven Tri-Wing Encampments, including encampment commander, and director of the Civic Leadership Academy, one of CAP’s national cadet special activities. Reed traveled to New Zealand in 2010 and Belgium in 2016 as an escort with International Air Cadet Exchange as well as serving as IACE project officer for three years in Maryland Wing and for the 2017/2018 Mid-Atlantic Region hosting. She was a member of the national cadet scholarship committee for three years. She is also qualified as a character development instructor. In 2019, Reed began the Granite Cadet Squadron, the only CAP school squadron dedicated to the needs of homeschooled cadets. The squadron was named national CAP Squadron of Distinction in 2024.
For much of her CAP career, Reed focused on public affairs and has been privileged to see many of her articles and photos published. She was co-chair of the national branding/style guide committee and chair of the national committee to develop a public affairs plan template. She is a graduate of the 2008 National PAO Academy and was one of four bloggers on CAP’s Congressional Gold Medal website. She was the CAP NHQ PIO for Mid-Atlantic Region during Hurricane Matthew. Reed earned six first place Balsem Awards for her public affairs work in social media, photography, and website content. She teaches FEMA PIO courses as part of CAP’s NESA Mobile Training Team.
Col. Reed has completed Level V of CAP’s education and training program and holds master ratings in cadet programs, command, administration, public affairs, historian, and finance, as well as ratings in character development, education and training, aerospace education, logistics, personnel, and safety. She is a graduate of the Mid-Atlantic Region Staff College, Air University’s Air Command and Staff College, and the U.S. Coast Guard Instructor Development Course. She was Civil Air Patrol’s National Senior Member of the Year in 2018.
Professionally, Col. Reed is a retired distance education consultant specializing in helping nonprofit organizations with their training needs. She holds a master’s degree in distance education and e-learning (MDE) with a teaching and training specialization from University of Maryland University College, graduating summe cum laude. She is married to retired USAF Chief Master Sgt. Tom Reed and is mother to three grown children and has four grandchildren. Two of her children were cadets: the former Cadet Capt. Jenn Reed and former Cadet Col. Jake Reed, who is married to former Cadet 2nd Lt. Caddi Golia. Her son was named CAP’s 2008 National Cadet of the Year.
EDUCATION
2012 Bachelor of Arts, History, University of Maryland University College, MD
2015 Masters of Distance Education and e-Learning, University of Maryland University College, MD
2016 Middle East Region Staff College, Edgewater, MD
2018 Air Command and Staff College (non-residence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2019 Instructor Development Course (in-residence), U.S. Coast Guard Training Center, Yorktown, VA
CIVIL AIR PATROL ASSIGNMENTS
1. 2003-2006, Public Affairs Officer, Carroll Composite Squadron, Maryland Wing
2. 2006-2014, Public Affairs Officer, Maryland Wing
3. 2009-2010, Commander, Carroll Composite Squadron, Maryland Wing
4. 2011-2016, Advisor to the Commander, Maryland Wing
5. 2013-2020, Director, Distance Education and e-Learning, Maryland Wing
6. 2014-2016, Director of Public Affairs, Middle East Region, Civil Air Patrol
7. 2015-2019, National e-Learning Coordinator, Civil Air Patrol
8. 2016-2020, Chief of Staff, Maryland Wing
9. 2020-2021, Dean of Online Learning Programs, Volunteer University
10. 2021-2022, Provost, Volunteer University
11. 2020-2024, Commander, Granite Cadet Squadron (charter commander)
12. 2024-present, Commander, Maryland Wing
CIVIL AIR PATROL AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Charles “Chuck” Yeager Aerospace Education Award, 2006
Gill Robb Wilson Award #3637, 2019
Distinguished Service Medal with one device
Exceptional Service Award with two devices
Meritorious Service Award with five devices
Region Commander’s Commendation with one device
Wing Commander’s Commendation with 10 devices
National Commander’s Unit Citation
Unit Citation with four devices
Senior Recruiter Ribbon with three devices
Disaster Relief Ribbon with “V” device and bronze clasp
2005, Public Affairs Officer of the Year, Maryland Wing
2006, Cadet Programs Advocate of the Year, Maryland Wing
2008, Torch Award, CAP-USAF, Middle East Region Liaison Region, Maryland Wing
2009, Public Affairs Officer of the Year, Middle East Region
2010, Wing Staff Officer of the Year, Maryland Wing
2010, Squadron Commander of the Year, Maryland Wing
2012, Torch Award, CAP-USAF, Middle East Region Liaison Region, Maryland Wing
2017, Director of Finance of the Year, Middle East Region
2017, Senior Member of the Year, Maryland Wing
2018, Senior Member of the Year, Middle East Region
2018, National Senior Member of the Year, Civil Air Patrol
2023, Squadron Commander of the Year, Maryland Wing
CIVIL AIR PATROL SPECIALTY TRACK RATINGS
Master Ratings: Administration, Cadet Programs, Command, Finance, Historian, Public Affairs
Senior Rating: Aerospace Education
Technician Ratings: Character Development, Education & Training, Logistics, Personnel, Safety