LSU Shreveport Professor Appointed Squadron Commander
By: Nancy Cook
Updated: November 6, 2010
A local college professor has been appointed Squadron Commander of the local Civil Air Patrol (CAP).
Dr. Leslie Fife, chair of the computer science department at LSUS and a Major in CAP, is now Squadron Commander of the Barksdale Composite Squadron of the CAP.
In the immediate aftermath of 911, the Civil Air Patrol stepped up to the plate and were the only civilian flights allowed in U.S. airspace. Throughout the following days and weeks, CAP flew aerial reconnaissance missions over Ground Zero, providing detailed analysis of the wreckage, aiding in recovery efforts that included transportation of blood donations.
An auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, the local Civil Air Patrol currently has 30 members in the Barksdale Composite Squadron. The local squadron is made up of both Cadets (ages 12-21) and adult members. CAP has three congressionally mandated missions: emergency services, aerospace education and the cadet program.
There are approximately 570 members in Louisiana and more than 60,000 members nationwide. CAP performs or is involved in more than 80% of inland search and rescue operations in the United States.
