Wing Commander

Colonel Rodney Burnett (CAP) 

Colonel Burnett serves as the Wing Commander of the Wyoming Wing (CAP). He previously served as the Rocky Mountain Region Assistant DCS-Operations, supported the Cheyenne Composite Squadron in Wyoming, the Wyoming Wing’s Interim Wing Commander, Wyoming Wing Vice Commander and Director of Operations. His Civil Air Patrol (CAP) experience includes in-depth emphasis on operations, strategic requirements and organizational development and planning and holds a CAP Command Pilot rating with Search and Rescue/Disaster Relief, and Instructor, Check Pilot certifications. He is a retired Air Force Officer and holds a Master Space Badge; with 35 years’ experience in aerospace, astronautics, and aeronautics. A 61-year permanent resident of Wyoming, his life-time experiences span both Industry and Department of Defense, national and civil satellite and space launch systems and has been committed to mission and corporate success. A native of Laramie, Wyoming, Lieutenant Colonel Burnett, served as a CAP cadet for five years, reaching the rank of Cadet/Lieutenant Colonel and achieving the Amelia Earhart Award. He received his Air Force Officer commission through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. His Air Force career included various Space Operations assignments at the Combatant Command, Service, Headquarters, Wing, and Squadron Commander levels with specific experience in space-based missile warning, space launch, satellite command and control, and space surveillance. He has had assignments at Headquarters, United States Strategic Command, United States Space Command, and Air Force Space Command. Following this distinguished 20+ years in the Air Force he retired and reentered CAP; serving in the previously mentioned Wing leadership positions, as well as Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Chief of Flight Standards & Evaluation, Mission Search & Rescue/Disaster Relief Pilot, Flight Instructor, Mission Check Pilot, and G1000 Check Pilot Examiner. Lt Col Burnett also worked extensively in the civilian defense industry holding positions as Program Manager, Director of Operations, Engineering Change Proposal Operations Manager and Cost Account Manager. Additionally, he taught Six Sigma processes and tools. He has extensive background in team building and leadership, mentoring, conflict resolution, lessons learned, strategic planning, process development, metrics collection & analysis. These civil-industry experiences augmented his many years in the Air Force in personnel management and command, logistics, financial management, and strategic planning. 

EDUCATION & TRAINING  

• M.A., Space Systems Management, Webster University 

• M.S., Human Resources Management, Golden Gate University  

• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Wyoming  

• USAF Squadron Officer’s School, Air Command & Staff College, and Air War College 

• Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University 

• CAP Corporate Leadership Course, Officer Basic Course, and Squadron Leadership School  

• Check Pilots Standards Course 

• National Search & Rescue Planning Course, National SAR School 

• FEMA Incident Command & Emergency Operations Center Interface Course 

SPECIALTY TRACKS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Command-Master; Operations-Master, Stan/Eval-Master, Aerospace-Technician, Cadet Programs-Technician, Emergency Services-Technician, Finance-Technician, Safety-Technician. He is CAP Level 5 Professional Development credentialed.  

AWARDS – USAF: Defense Meritorious Service and Meritorious Service Medals (4-OLC), Air Force Commendation and Achievement Medals, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation (2-OLC), and Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (1-OLC). CAP: Earhart, Yeager, Davis, Loening, Garber, Wilson Awards; CAP Outstanding Unit Award and Air Force Organizational Excellence Award; Commander’s Commendation (Region) and x 2 (Wing), Crisis Service Award, Exceptional Service Award, CAP’s RMR Senior Member of the Year-2022 and RMR Aircrew Member of the Year.      Other: Volunteer time with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS), the Cheyenne HealthWorks Clinic, the Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative and Yola’s Pet Rescue. National Level Awards: The President of the United States - Volunteer Service Award, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force - Volunteer Excellence Award.