From Moose to Maven: Air Patrol’s New Leader Takes Flight with a ‘Temporary’ Wing Job

Change of Guard at Civil Air Patrol: Unfurling the Red Cape of Leadership

In an epic saga that rivals any daytime soap opera, the Civil Air Patrol bids a dramatic farewell to John “Moose” Desmarais, Sr., who, after over three decades of commanding the metaphoric skies, has finally decided to land for a pit stop. After what felt like eons of diligent service, the torch—or perhaps the more appropriate metaphor would be the flight manual—has been passed to the illustrious Kristina E. Jones.

Jones, a seasoned maven of the executive realm, whose résumé could easily double as a bedtime story for aspiring leaders, has been christened the interim Chief Operating Officer. Don’t let the ‘interim’ title fool you—it merely means she has graciously agreed to save the day until everyone decides they’ve picked the right hero.

Her vast repertoire of experience includes philanthropy, marketing, and that all-important skill in strategic planning that every leader claims to possess but few can execute without scrupulous PowerPoint presentations. As CAP’s chief growth officer and the illustrious president/executive director of the Civil Air Patrol Foundation, Jones is reputed to have breathed fresh air into the organization’s stateside operations, much like an enthusiastic motivational speaker at a corporate retreat.

With academic credentials that bear such names as Abilene Christian University and McMurry University, and an impressive collection of certificates that could wallpaper a modestly-sized office, Jones is a certified fundraising executive and professional innovator by the grace of merit and ordained by the powers vested in organizational development.

Eager to wield her certificate-laden wisdom, Jones will orchestrate the daily symphony of CAP’s operations, ensuring that the organization doesn’t hit any turbulence during its mid-flight transition. Civil Air Patrol’s equivalent of a national commander, Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye, has expressed overwhelming confidence in Jones by bestowing upon her an endorsement that reads less like a review and more like a prophecy of prosperity: “Kristina brings proven leadership, a track record of growth, and a deep commitment to Civil Air Patrol’s mission.”