The Board of Governors for the Civil Air Patrol has suspended CAP’s national commander, Maj. Gen. Antonio Pineda. The suspension is to last up to 180 days, while the board completes its actions regarding an allegation that Pineda had enlisted another CAP member to take Air Command and Staff College professional development course tests for Pineda in 2002 and 2003. The Florida Times-Union reports that Pineda, who has been national commander since July 2005, asserts his innocence in this matter. He told the newspaper, “I’ve never cheated on any test in my life.” Pineda added that he has hired a lawyer to assist him. Meanwhile, the board of governors has put the national vice commander, Brig. Gen. Amy Courter, in charge of the Air Force Auxiliary.
The Space Development Agency added 21 satellites to its nascent data transport network in an Oct. 15 launch, the second mission in a 10-month campaign to field 154 operational spacecraft.
