The Grover Loening Award is given to

Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a Congressional charter, congressionally chartered, federally supported Nonprofit corporation, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliaries, auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CA ...

(CAP) Senior Members who complete Level III of the Senior Member Professional Development Program. It recognizes those members who have dedicated themselves to leadership and personal development in the CAP. This award was first given in 1964 and honors the late

Grover Loening Grover Cleveland Loening (September 12, 1888 – February 29, 1976) was an American aircraft manufacturer. Biography Loening was born in Bremen (city), Bremen, in what was then Imperial Germany, on September 12, 1888, while his American-born fat ...

. A noted aviation pioneer, Loening was the first civilian member of the

National Air and Space Museum The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington, D.C., in the United States, dedicated to history of aviation, human flight and space exploration. Established in 1946 as the National Air Museum, ...

’s Advisory Board. Civil Air Patrol is the Auxiliary of the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

. CAP has a three-fold mission. It includes

emergency services Emergency services and rescue services are organizations that ensure public safety, security, and health by addressing and resolving different emergencies. Some of these agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies, while ot ...

cadet A cadet is a student or trainee within various organisations, primarily in military contexts where individuals undergo training to become commissioned officers. However, several civilian organisations, including civil aviation groups, maritime ...

programs, and

aerospace Aerospace is a term used to collectively refer to the atmosphere and outer space. Aerospace activity is very diverse, with a multitude of commercial, industrial, and military applications. Aerospace engineering consists of aeronautics and astron ...

education. CAP professional development provides technical skills and leadership training to senior members age 18 and over to support CAP's mission. The program enables these adults to develop these skills while providing a vital public service to our nation. Members progress through the program by completing five increasingly complex training levels. Each level requires the member to become more involved in CAP activities, master skills in one of 23 technical areas, and develop leadership ability. Members receive awards, chances for promotion, and selection for more important roles within CAP while completing these levels. The third milestone is the Loening Award. Members must have received the CAP Certificate of Proficiency, and have served in staff or command assignments over at least one year. Members must also complete the Corporate Learning Course, and attend two wing, region, or national conferences. Of CAP's 35,000 senior members, only about 350 earn the Grover Loening Award each year. Receipt of the award and completion of rank and time-in-grade requirements also makes the member eligible for promotion to CAP

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

. Members may go on to the fourth level, the Paul E. Garber Award, and then the fifth and final level, the Gill Robb Wilson Award.

References

{{Reflist Awards and decorations of the Civil Air Patrol Awards established in 1964