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 use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
