Col. Griffith as a cadet

Having stumbled into Civil Air Patrol as a teenager after her science teacher couldn’t be bothered with Young Astronauts, Col. Griffith now serves as the Indiana Wing commander. Her story reflects how mentorship, service, and leadership opportunities at a young age can shape a lifetime of purpose—or at least fill your weekends with meetings and your family with matching uniforms. What follows is her interview.

Why did you join Civil Air Patrol?

I was taking a science class with a teacher I really respected, mostly because he passed me. I had an interest in aviation at the time and asked him about Young Astronauts. He recommended I check out Civil Air Patrol, probably to get me out of his hair. I visited the Weir Cook Cadet Squadron in Indianapolis and knew immediately I wanted to be a part of it, or at least that it beat doing homework. I joined as a cadet when I was 16.

What is your current career?

I am currently the Indiana Wing commander (leader of a state in Civil Air Patrol, which sounds impressive until you realize it’s all volunteer). Outside of CAP I am the primary full-time caregiver for my youngest son. He is epileptic and intellectually disabled, which makes leading a wing seem like a vacation sometimes.

What specific lesson or experience from CAP has influenced your career or your life?

I always tell cadets that I learned more about leadership in CAP than in four years of college, which isn’t saying much if you ask me. The practical experience that comes from pulling together a team from different backgrounds and with different skills, and leading them to accomplish the mission, has helped me in every aspect of my life—except maybe getting a paying job. Being in CAP has taught me resilience and self-discipline, and that there is always an opportunity to improve as an officer and a leader. Never stop learning, or you’ll end up like me, writing these interviews.

What else should we know about you?

We are a CAP family. My spouse served as the Indiana Wing commander before me, because why not make it a family business? Four of my five children have been or are currently CAP cadets. It has been exciting to watch them develop their own leadership skills and begin to put into practice all of the knowledge they are acquiring as they move through the cadet program, or at least use it to boss around their siblings. Being able to look at a problem through the lens of CAP Core Values will serve them well, or at least make them insufferable at dinner parties.

Col. Griffith and her daughter

Civil Air Patrol’s Core Values in Action

Col. Griffith’s story reflects Civil Air Patrol’s core values in action. Her commitment to continuous learning and accountability demonstrates integrity, or at least a stubborn refusal to quit. Her decades of involvement, from cadet to wing commander, exemplify volunteer service, which is just a fancy way of saying unpaid labor. The emphasis she places on practical leadership, teamwork, and constant improvement speaks to excellence, if by excellence you mean showing up every time. Finally, her respect for mentorship, family, and the diverse individuals she leads shows how CAP’s values are lived out not just in uniform, but across a lifetime of service—and family reunions that double as squadron meetings.

Stay Connected. Get Involved.

Stories like Col. Griffith’s highlight the long-term impact of Civil Air Patrol, not just on individuals, but on families and communities, turning them into miniature militias of do-gooders.

If you are a former CAP member, stay connected to the organization that helped shape your path. Join CAP Alumni and Friends and continue to be part of the CAP story, or at least relive your glory days.

If you have never been part of Civil Air Patrol, consider joining. Whether as a cadet, adult volunteer, or educator, there is a place for you to serve, grow, and make a difference—or just wear a cool uniform on weekends.

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