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New commander of Frederick Composite Squadron

Capt Richard Palace
Captain Richard Palace, who assumed command of Frederick Composite Squadron on May 20th.

By 2d Lt Steven H. Solomon
Maryland Wing Public Affairs

5/23/2003–Frederick, MD–Capt. Richard Palace of Frederick, Md. has been named commander of the Frederick Composite Squadron of the Maryland Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). The announcement was made by Lt. Col. John Knowles, commander of the wing's Group IV.

Palace has served as the squadron's deputy commander for cadets since 2001 and also currently serves as the squadron's aerospace education officer.

In CAP, Palace has completed Level Three of the senior training program, the Unit Commander Course, Corporate Learning Course, and Squadron Leadership School. He has earned the CAP Cadet Programs senior badge, Aerospace Education technician badge, Unit Citation Award, Grover Loening Aerospace Award, Leadership Award with Bonze Star and one bronze clasp, Membership Award, and Red Service Ribbon.

"He is a former active duty U.S. Air Force non-commissioned officer and brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to help guide his squadron into the future", Knowles said.

Palace served 14 years active duty as an air traffic control watch supervisor and data systems specialist at air force bases in Oklahoma, the United Kingdom, California, and Delaware.

During his service, Palace received many Air Force awards and decorations, including:

  • Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
  • Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf cluster
  • NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
  • National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
  • Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
  • Overseas Long Ribbon
  • Training Ribbon
  • Longevity Service Award with two oak leaf clusters
  • Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
  • Excellence Award with 1 oak leaf cluster

While in the U.S. Air Force, Palace also completed the NCO Academy in 1987, NCO Leadership School in 1986, and the Supervisors Development Course in 1983.

Palace earned a master's degree in computer information systems in 1991 from Webster University in St. Louis, a bachelor's degree in professional aeronautics in 1986 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Bunnell, Fla.; and an associate's degree in air traffic control from the Community College of the Air Force in 1985.

Palace, 48, is a senior systems engineer at Boeing in McLean, Va., with more than 30 years experience in air traffic control operations, systems analysis, design, and development.

He is married 23 years to the former Kathleen A. Trainor of Rockville, Md., who is a 1st Lt. mission scanner and leadership officer in CAP; a daughter, Christine Palace, who is a former CAP cadet technical sergeant; and a son, Christopher Palace, who is a former CAP cadet senior airman.

Palace is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Air Traffic Control Association.

CAP, the official Air Force Auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with more than 63,000 members nationwide. It performs 95 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. For information, visit the Maryland Wing Civil Air Patrol online at http://mdcap.org/.