Senator Liu honors Queens Civil Air Patrol cadet

Liu with CAP

Sen. Liu, Sargeant (middle) and CAP cadets before their orientation flight.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 17, 2024
Contact: Soojin Choi |347-556-6335| press@johnliusenate.com 

East Elmhurst, NY – On Friday, State Senator John Liu presented a New York State Senate Certificate of Achievement to Chad-Jesiah Sargeant in honor of him receiving the Wright Brothers Award and being accepted into the United States Air Force Academy. The Wright Brothers Award is awarded to Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets who display excellence in leadership, aerospace, fitness and character. 

Chad-Jesiah Sargeant will be shipping off to Colorado this week to attend the United States Air Force Academy. For the past year, he served as a Cadet with the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, before being promoted to Cadet Staff Sergeant on Friday. Sargeant is a member of CAP’s Academy Cadet Squadron based at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in East Elmhurst.

Senator John Liu, a commercial pilot and volunteer flight instructor with the Civil Air Patrol, took Cadet Sargeant to the air for his first flight where the cadet had the opportunity to pilot the aircraft. 

State Senator John Liu stated, “Cadet Staff Sergeant Sargeant is a great example of the hard work and persistence that it takes to achieve your dreams. With grit and determination, Chad-Jesiah excelled in the CAP Cadet program and earned the prestigious Wright Brothers Award, and was accepted into the United States Air Force Academy. I was proud to take him under my wing on his first flight, and am eager to see him take flight on his own in service to others and our country.”

Cadet Staff Sergeant Chad-Jesiah Sargeant stated, “Flying is a dream come true, and attending the Air Force Academy is tremendous honor. I want to thank my fellow cadets, instructors, and family for helping me reach this milestone. The Civil Air Patrol is a great organization that doesn’t just teach you how to fly, but it instills a sense of duty to step up and protect your community in times of need. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Commander of Academy Cadet Squadron Brenda M. Morrissey stated, “Our cadets are trained to excel in leadership, aerospace, fitness and character ensuring they are well prepared for leadership and service. We are very proud of Cadet Staff Sergeant Sargeant for his achievements and contributions to the Civil Air Patrol, and I congratulate him on his acceptance to the Air Force Academy, a well-earned achievement. We expect he will be an asset to the Air Force Academy and his future service in the Air Force.”

About Civil Air Patrol: Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, the Civil  Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.