by Magnum Bottles | AuxBeacon News Contributor

Dwight Hernard Wheless, who served briefly as a past National Commander of Civil Air Patrol, passed away in his sleep on June 30th 2017.

The Civil Air Patrol related bits of his obituary are included below. What is not mentioned therein is that he was removed as Civil Air Patrol National Commander in 2005 after serving less than one year in that role.

“He joined CAP in 1981 when the Coastal Senior Squadron reactivated in Manteo, NC. He was appointed North Carolina Wing commander in 1989. During his five-year tenure as commander he was instrumental in establishing a relationship with the North Carolina Legislature that resulted in state funding for construction of a Wing Headquarters building and improved worker’s compensation protections to members serving on State missions. Dwight then served as national legal officer where he was instrumental in the first National Headquarters reorganization, the Air Force Broad Area Review and the Memorandum of Understanding negotiations with the Air Force. He went on to serve a three-year term as national vice-commander and, later, national commander. In addition, he also held positions as chairman of the National Appeal Board, chairman of the Member Action Review Board and member of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee that provided the first in-depth revision of Civil Air Patrol’s governing authority. Dwight also served as a member and vice-chairman of CAP’s Board of Governors and as chief of the Legal Officers’ Corps.

He was a CAP pilot and was qualified as both a Search and Rescue and Counterdrug Observer. He completed all five levels of the CAP Professional Development program earning the prestigious Gill Rob Wilson Award in 1984. For his service in Civil Air Patrol, Dwight was awarded numerous Distinguished Service medals, Exceptional Service awards, Meritorious Service awards and Commanders Commendations.”

He is survived by his son W. Jay Wheless and daughter-in-law, Lisa Wheless (Manteo, NC), daughter Shelle Wheless Altieri and son-in-law Army Colonel Jayson Altieri (Alexandria, VA)…

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