Group 2 Change of Command and Awards Ceremony

By 2d Lt Karin Hollerbach, photos courtesy of 1st Lt Gabriel Fletcher-Hernandez and Maj Thomas Wiley

Group 2 Commander Maj Renwick
photo by Lt Fletcher-Hernandez

San Francisco Bay Group 2 of California Wing (CAWG) held a change of command ceremony on Saturday afternoon, November 1st.  At this ceremony, a number of officers and squadrons were honored for their performance and their dedication to CAP.

The ceremony was hosted at the Squadron 18 and Group 2 headquarters in Hayward. CAWG Commander Col Jon Stokes and outgoing Group 2 Commander Maj Steven Renwick presided over the ceremony.

Maj DeFord, Col Stokes, Maj Renwick,
photo by Maj Wiley

Awards

Staff duty performance awards "Of the Year" included:

Col Stokes, 1st Lt Hayes, Maj Renwick,
photo by Maj Wiley

• Aerospace Education Officer: Capt Tom Estrada, Squadron 36 (San Jose)
• Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer: C/TSgt Quynh Tran, Squadron 86 (San Francisco)
• Cadet Officer: C/2d Lt Cameron Leahy, Squadron 18 (Hayward)
• Cadet Programs Officer: Capt Marc Stephenson, Squadron 10 (Palo Alto)
• Communicator: 1st Lt Jordan Hayes, Squadron 188 (Oakland)
• Ground Team Member: Maj John MacKenzie, Squadron 44 (Concord)
• Mission Observer: 1st Lt Jordan Hayes, Squadron 188 
• Newsletter: ”The Logbook” (this very blog!), Squadron 188
• Public Affairs Officer: TFO Timothy Gooler, Squadron 18
• Pilot: Capt Josh Edwards, Squadron 10
• Safety Officer: Maj Elsie Lam, Squadron 10
• Senior Member (lifetime achievement): Lt Col James Sena, Squadron 192
• Senior Officer (achievements in this year): Maj Steven DeFord, Squadron 188



Col Stokes, Maj Lam, Maj Renwick, photo by Maj Wiley

• Squadron Commander: Maj Douglas Crawford, Squadron 18

C/CMSgt Isais, Maj Renwick, photo by
1st Lt Fletcher-Hernandez

Squadron awards “Of the Year” included:

• Cadet squadron: East Bay Cadet Squadron 18, Hayward
• Composite squadron: Jon E. Kramer Composite Squadron 10, Palo Alto
• Senior squadron: Amelia Earhart Senior Squadron 188, Oakland

Capt McCutchen, photo by
1st Lt Fletcher-Hernandez

Col Stokes, Capt Rivas, Maj Renwick,
photo by 1st Lt Fletcher-Hernandez

In addition, Staff Awards were awarded to the following officers:

Achievement Award: 

• 1st Lt Alvaro Chavez, Squadron 188

Col Stokes, Maj Ironfield, Maj Renwick,
photo by 1st Lt Fletcher-Hernandez

Commander’s Commendations:

• Maj Mark Fridell – Aerospace Education
• Capt Ray Woo – Operations
• Maj Jeff Ironfield – Deputy Commander

Meritorious Service: 

• Maj Tim Albert – Airshow Czar
• Maj Steven Renwick - Group 2 Commander

Unit Citation (National):   

Col Stokes, Maj Fridell, Maj Renwick,
photo by Maj Wiley

• Squadron 188, Oakland

Congratulations to all officers and squadrons for earning their awards.


Change of Command

Outgoing Commander Maj Renwick and
Incoming Commander Lt Col Dolnick
photo by 1st Lt Fletcher-Hernandez

Maj Lam, photo by
Lt Fletcher-Hernandez

After over 3 years of outstanding service as Group 2 Commander, Maj Steve Renwick relinquished command of Group 2.

According to Col Stokes, "Maj Renwick was the longest serving group commander of my term as wing commander simply because he was an outstanding commander.  When I needed stability in the group commander ranks after adding three new commanders, Maj Renwick agreed to continue to serve into a fourth year and Group 2 was better for it."

Maj Renwick has kindly agreed to continue his active role in CAWG. Col Stokes adds, "I know that Maj Renwick will bring the same outstanding leadership qualities to his new role as Deputy Director of Operations heading up the new missions with the California State Water Resources Control Board."

Lt Col Dolnick, our new Group 2 Commander,
photo by Maj Wiley

Taking command was Lt Col Brett Dolnick, based in Concord.  Lt Col Dolnick has served CAP for many years, joining as a cadet in 1985. He has served in leadership positions at the squadron and group level. Maj Stokes calls him "the best person to lead Group 2 moving forward."

Congratulations to Lt Col Dolnick.  We are looking forward to working under your leadership of Group 2.

1st Lt Doug Perreira and Capt Rivas at the Reception
Following the Ceremony
photo by 1st Lt Fletcher-Hernandez