Edward D. Phelka is the Chief Executive Officer/National Commander of Civil Air Patrol. He leads CAP’s more than 56,000 members across the United States in fulfilling the nonprofit organization’s chartered missions of Emergency Services, Cadet Programs, and Aerospace Education. In its role as the Air Force auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol also is a member of the Total Force, filling a critical role in Defense Support of Civil Authorities that includes preserving life, relieving suffering, and providing training support.

As Civil Air Patrol’s 25th National Commander, General Phelka is a Major General (two-star), the highest-ranking CAP officer. He serves as Civil Air Patrol’s Chief Executive Officer and as an Advisor to the CAP Board of Governors, the organization’s governing body. He also leads the CAP Command Council, whose members serve as his advisors, and the CAP Senior Advisory Group (CSAG).

General Phelka was appointed CEO/National Commander by the Board of Governors on May 21, 2021, and assumed command on Aug. 26, 2021, in a Change of Command Ceremony in Detroit, Michigan. Before the promotion, he served as National Vice Commander from September 2017-August 2021, advising the CEO/National Commander and the Board of Governors on CAP operational and policy issues as a member of the Command Council and CSAG. Previously, General Phelka served as Commander of CAP’s Great Lakes Region, beginning in March 2015. He was responsible for leading the region’s six wings, including his home state of Michigan. Before that, he served as National Controller — CAP’s principal adviser on financial accountability and logistics. He held that role from August 2011-January 2015 after commanding the Colorado Wing from December 2007-April 2011.

A resident of the Greater Detroit area, General Phelka joined CAP as a Michigan Wing cadet in 1987, earning the General Carl A. Spaatz Award in 1993. Following transition to senior membership in CAP, his assignments included three years as Commander of Michigan Wing’s Livonia Thunderbolt Cadet Squadron and two years as Commander of the Southeast Michigan Group, Director of Cadet Programs in both the Michigan and Colorado wings, and Chief of Staff for the Colorado Wing.

General Phelka is a commercial, multi-engine and instrument-rated pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, CAP Mission Pilot, Cadet Orientation Pilot, and Check Pilot Examiner with more than 2,100 flying hours. Outside CAP, he spent 15 years in leadership roles within the airline and software industries and works as a Certified Flight Instructor and Corporate Pilot.

He and his wife, Dr. Amanda Phelka, have two children, Daniel and Katherine.

George Ishikata passed away on 30 December 2021 and was the Pacific Region Commander for Civil Air Patrol. As such, he led 7,000 Civil Air Patrol members in the six western states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, in fulfillment of the nonprofit organization’s three congressionally chartered missions of Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education, as well as its steadily increasing role in America’s Homeland Security as the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force.

As a Region Commander, Colonel Ishikata was also a member of both the CAP Command Council and CAP Senior Advisory Group (CSAG), advising the National Commander and the Board of Governors on CAP operational and policy issues.

Colonel Ishikata was appointed as Pacific Region Commander on November 14, 2020, having served until his appointment as the Staff Coordinator for the National Cadet Team from September 2017. He served concurrently as the Director of Cadet Programs for California Wing from September 2015 through August 2019. Prior to this, he served in numerous positions at the Squadron and Wing level, to include serving as a Squadron Commander of San Francisco Cadet Squadron 86 for five years from 1986 to 1991. Colonel Ishikata also Commanded two California Wing encampments, and California Wing’s Cadet Officer’s Basic Course (a Region Cadet Leadership School) from 1991-1999 and 2001-2019.

Colonel Ishikata joined CAP as a cadet in 1977, having earned his Amelia Earhart Award (#938) prior to becoming a Senior Member. He completed all five Levels of the Senior Member program, earning the Gill Robb Wilson Award (#1489) in February 1993.

Colonel Ishikata retired as a Colonel from the Army in 2015, after 30 years of service. A veteran of both Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Kosovo, he commanded through the battalion level, and served at the Pentagon in his capstone assignment, as the Chief of the Operations Division for the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Task Force for the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence.

Colonel Ishikata holds a baccalaureate degree in Speech and Communications Studies from San Francisco State University, and a master’s degree in Military Arts and Sciences with an emphasis in Strategy from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.