Conference Sessions

Session Name

Description

Mass Casualty Response

Not if, but when a disaster hits the State of Maryland, how will Maryland Wing resources assist during a Mass Casualty event? Are you ready to participate in the MDWG response?  Join this engaging panel and see how CAP members may be tasked to help in a Mass Casualty event, such as hurricanes, flooding, and other events we may face. 

CISM Roundtable

The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team plays a key role, contributing to the overall success of our missions and the total health of those we serve.  Join the CISM Team for an information conversation about the MDWG CISM Team activities and training opportunities.  This session is open to all (cadets and senior members) who are interested in expanding their knowledge and understanding of this important resource.  Join your facilitator, Capt Dustin Winter, as he shares his firsthand experiences from not only the MDWG CISM Team but also his responses as a member of the Maryland State (Region 1) CISM Team.

Nine Principles of Light Airplane Flying

Join Rich Stowell, Billy Whitburn and Michael Phillips, along with our own Lt. Col. Anthony (Tony) Vallillo for a fabulous session based on the newly released and thought-provoking paper from award-winning Master Flight Instructor Rich Stowell identifying the first principles of light airplane flying.  Nine principles are offered, divided into the three categories:  Mindset, Motion, and Mechanics.

This program is dedicated to CAP pilots who,

• Are motivated to fly by the prospects of autonomy, mastery, and purpose
• Have a growth mindset, no matter their level of experience
• Aspire to improve their skills with better tips, tricks, and techniques
• Want deeper knowledge; to understand better, teach better, fly better

The program explores the principles vis-à-vis familiar concepts that stem from them, as well as examples of the principles applied during training.  Connections between the principles and representative examples of training content and activities are illustrated as well.  Additionally, examples of the progression from the rote level of learning to the correlation level are presented within the framework of the nine principles.

sUAS – Piloting from the Ground

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) team may be used in virtually all phases of a mission.  Their operations are governed by local, state and FAA regulations and laws, as well as by CAP regulations and policies.  Those interested in sUAS operations are invited to join this educational session to learn about:

• New FAA remote ID requirements
• New CAPR-70-4 sUAS Flight Management updates
• Advanced sUAS Training Classes being offered
• New sUAS Platforms being introduced

Learn how you can get involved and help this important initiative. 

CAP Website Strategy Update

During 2023 / 2024, NHQ is updating their strategy for use of Wing and Squadron websites. This session will discuss the changes and improved brand management and mitigation of security risks associated with CAP’s public presence. In addition, the roles and responsibilities of website editors will be discussed, along with information about the updated templates being provided by NHQ.

The Game Changers of the World – Understanding Emotional Intensity

This CDI focused session will address understanding those who are endowed with intelligence and deep awareness but are also more prone to emotional and interpersonal crises.   Passionate engagement with life is not an easy path. Those with visionary or insightful qualities are deemed to be misunderstood misfits, however, are the ones who have shown the world the most bravery, tenacity, and love.

Unveiling the Universe with the James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), conceived in the late 1990's and built by over 10,000 dedicated scientists and engineers from NASA, European and Canadian Space Agencies, is the world's premiere space telescope. Since launch on December 25, 2021, it has enabled scientists from all over the world to probe the deepest mysteries of the universe from the planets in our Solar System and those orbiting other stars, to the formation and evolution of stars and stellar systems in our galaxy, to the nature of the myriad galaxies in the local universe, and to the earliest stars and galaxies that inhabited the universe just after the Big Bang. In this presentation, I will briefly highlight some of the amazing discoveries that have been made in only the first 1.5 years of the mission. These incredible results only hint at what we will find over the course of the mission, which is expected to last at least 10-15 years.

Join our presenter, Dean C. Hines for this exciting and engaging session.  Dean uses instruments aboard space telescopes to investigate active galaxies, quasars, stellar evolution, and the formation and evolution of planetary systems, including our Solar System. He obtained a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in physics and astrophysics from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin. He was a member of the Instrument and Science Team for Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, and then on the Instrument and Science Team for the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) aboard the Spitzer Space Telescope. Dr. Hines is currently an Observatory Scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute where he is a member (and former Team Lead) for the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which was launched aboard the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021. He has co-authored more than 190 contributions in astronomy and astrophysics appearing in peer-reviewed journals.

Innovations in Squadron Development and Recruiting

Learn how you can help grow your squadron by meeting your prospective and current members’ needs with “outside-the-box” ideas.   Lt Col Brenda Reed, commander of the Granite Cadet Squadron, will share how the unit grew to 100+ members in less than four years.   Bring your ideas for the discussion.

K9 Rescue Partners and CAP

Have you ever wondered how CAP partners with the K9 Search and Rescue organizations during our Search and Rescue missions?  Well, here’s your chance to gain firsthand knowledge.  Come join Calvert K9s for this exciting and interactive session – where you can learn skills for partnering with K9 resources.  Following a brief classroom briefing you’ll proceed outside for real world examples and scenarios.  Ground Team Members take note: Participation in this session satisfies your SQTR Task 0401 – Work with Canine Search Teams (sign-offs available).

Leadership for a Life in Aerospace

Come learn from Spaatz #452 how he leveraged his experience as a cadet in CAP across a 35-year career in Naval Aviation. Col Larry Trick served the U.S. Navy as a civil servant and aerospace engineer for more than three decades, during which he served as chief engineer on multiple programs including the X-49A and Scan Eagle. He became an internationally recognized expert in rotorcraft flight testing on ships. He also worked in several program offices including Aircraft Launch and Recovery equipment, Fire Scout, and H-60. He was the chief engineer for the Naval Aviation Center for Rotorcraft Advancement where he coordinated future technology efforts for rotorcraft. He was also the Chairman of the Industry and Professional Advisory Committee for Aerospace Engineering at Penn State.

Color Guard Training

Come learn from Maryland Wing's National Cadet Competition team how to train a color guard. This session will consist of a 30-minute session of fast paced academics, laying out all the information and resources that exist to train a color guard, followed by 30 minutes of instruction from the team.

STEM Expo with the Cadets of MDWG

Hear from the best and brightest STEM competition participants that Maryland Wing has to offer in science fair style presentation. Among those present will be teams from UAS4STEM, Growing Beyond Earth, CyberPatriot and more. Several STEM kits will also be on hand for cadet use.

Train the Trainer – The Next Generation of Leaders

A cadet will change roles at their unit every 6 to 12 months. What are the best ways to get them “trained up” for a new role? Lt Col David Trick, Maryland Wing Director of Cadet Programs and 2022 Tri-Wing Encampment Commander, will speak to exactly that! This presentation will be geared towards Phase III and IV Cadets, as well as new Cadet Programs Officers. All attendees can expect to leave with a series of resources to train Phase II and early Phase III cadets how to do best perform their roles in a squadron.

AEO and AEM Town Hall

Our Wing is fortunate with robust populations of both Aerospace Education Members (AEM) and Aerospace Education Officers (AEO), but it's not always so easy to compare notes and brainstorm ideas.  The interactive Town Hall is intended to be just that kind of opportunity!  Bring whatever material you'd like to discuss with your AEO/AEM counterpart and seek common activities or common educational elements. 

Green Technology/Exploration Technology

This presentation is focused on the substantial overlap in the physics and engineering for a variety of technologies serving either "green" energy or space exploration.  During out time together, we’ll emphasize the common ground for technologies relevant to climate change, and discuss others as well.

Commissioning and Flying Career Opportunities in the Military

Come meet Bruce Munger from CAP-USAF to learn about opportunities for careers and flying in the military.

Joint Communications Session: All Things CAP Comms & Mission Specific Radio Operations

Are you a communications enthusiast? Have you ever wanted to become a net control station?  Do you want to learn more about Nets, Repeaters and ReadyOp?  Interested in how communications contribute to the success of our missions?  Join this exciting session that highlights all things “CAP COMM” and learn what you need to know about new Emergency Service certifications being introduced soon.  You’ll also learn how mission success relies on strong and clear communications – specifically our annual Chesapeake Bay Patrol summer Homeland Security mission. 

Use of Technology in the Field

The Civil Air Patrol employs a range of technology tools to enhance its emergency services operations, encompassing data collection for Damage Identification, hazard recognition, and wreckage location marking. Through the utilization of readily available devices such as cell phones equipped with the Survey 123 App and the Quick Capture App, our instructors will impart comprehensive training on these tools' diverse functionalities, ensuring your preparedness for field data capture.

This course is designed for students to gain hands-on experience in data collection, based on predefined scenarios within the classroom setting.

In terms of updates, the transition from SARTOPO to CALTOPO has occurred, with the exclusive use of the CALTOPO URL and the integration of SAR Mode. Participants will receive an overview of the CALTOPO Mobile App for their smartphones, including real-time tracking and map creation features. Furthermore, attendees will learn how to generate maps and share them with others using the CALTOPO Web Interface.

The curriculum will also cover a comprehensive review of the various tools and objects at your disposal, along with instructions on modifying map base layers and object feature layers. Lastly, students will acquire the skills to mark objects using the Marker At GPS functionality, as well as initiate and terminate Track Recordings.

Mission Manager and the IAP – Effective SAR Collaboration

Are you interested in learning how CAP has applied technology to improve collaboration and enable decentralized incident management? This session will showcase how our Incident Management Team plans and executes Search and Rescue (SAR) missions through our electronic Mission Manager and Incident Action Plan in Microsoft Teams.  Join us for this engaging session to begin or enhance your mission experience.  No prior mission or SAR experience required!

Chesapeake Bay Patrol – Supporting our Summer Homeland Security Mission

So, what is Bay Patrol?  And why is it a mission of Maryland Wing? Join this session and hear from the Bay Patrol Coordinator about the important work MDWG performs on this critical mission that supports the Office of Homeland Security.  You don’t need to be an air crew member to support this vital initiative.  Every summer, air and ground support, radio operators, and more contribute to the success of this mission.  If you’re interested in learning more about Bay Patrol, and how you can assist, please be sure to attend.

Demystifying VOLU and Training & Education: At the Squadron Level

Online cohorts?  Onsite classes?  Virtual-in-residence?  Confused yet?  Learn how CAP’s Volunteer University works and how you can jumpstart your squadron’s education and training program.  Presented by Lt Col Brenda Reed, former CAP VolU Provost.

New Member Acclimation – Navigating eServices, AXIS and WMIRS

Joining Civil Air Patrol is exciting – and when it comes to navigating the systems of the organization it can also be confusing.  Whether you’re new to CAP, supporting the onboarding of new squadron members or simply interested in a refresher, you’ll gain a great deal of knowledge and insight from this session.  Join the Group Commanders as they take the mystery out of the CAP systems, and share their best practices for navigating eServices, the AXIS on-line Learning Management System and WMIRS.  Bring your questions to this informative session.

Safety First (and Second and Third)!

Everything Civil Air Patrol does has safety at its core – so what better time than today to meet the new MDWG Safety Officer at this very important session.  Do you have questions about CAP safety procedures?  Are you confident in your completion of the F160s prior to an event or activity?  Do you want to learn Safety related best practices?  Join in to have your questions answered, learn best practices, and review real world samples of submitted F160s and have your chance to improve upon them.  

The Electronic Search

Direction Finding (DF) plays a crucial role in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations by helping locate the source of distress signals, such as emergency beacons, radios, or cell phones. In SAR situations, having specialized DF equipment is valuable, but if you lack this equipment, there are still options and ways to develop DF skills.

Chaplain’s Roundtable

Civil Air Patrol’s Chaplain Corps has experienced some enhancements and changes.  The Chaplain Corp Reporting (CAPCCCAR system) has been retired, and in the past year we’ve seen several new releases, CAPR 80-1, CAPP40-80, just to name a few.  This informational session will include a segment on HC Updates, address the new releases and enhancements, and review other important, ongoing and upcoming CAP HC projects and initiatives.  We look forward to your joining this important discussion.