RECOGNIZING CADET COLONEL SLATER SHANNON FOR EARNING THE GENERAL CARL A. SPAATZ AWARD

RECOGNIZING CADET COLONEL SLATER SHANNON FOR EARNING THE GENERAL CARL A. SPAATZ AWARD

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E180] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING CADET COLONEL SLATER SHANNON FOR EARNING THE GENERAL CARL A. SPAATZ AWARD ______ HON. LLOYD SMUCKER of pennsylvania in the house of representatives Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate and recognize Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadet Colonel Slater Shannon for earning the General Carl A. Spaatz Award. Cadet Colonel Shannon is the 2,574th individual in history to receive the General Carl A. Spaatz award. Named after General Spaatz, the first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and first chairman of the CAP National Board, the award is the highest honor that a CAP cadet can receive. Qualifying individuals spend years in the cadet program and undergo physical training, academic preparation, and leadership development. Cadet Colonel Shannon serves with the Jesse Jones Composite Squadron 304, based at Lancaster Airport, of the Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol. During his time with CAP, he served as Cadet Commander of Squadron 304, was Primary Representative to the Pennsylvania Wing Cadet Advisory Council and assisted in multiple emergency service missions. He currently serves as the Secretary for the Northeast Region Committee of CAP. Cadet Colonel Shannon is also an accomplished student both in his CAP service and his private life, having completed aerospace education programs provided through the military while sustaining a 4.07 GPA. His accomplishments have earned recognition not just from myself, but from President Donald J. Trump, who wrote to him a letter of recognition. The General Carl A. Spaatz Award goes to an average of five cadets out of one thousand, and the accomplishments of Cadet Colonel Slater Shannon merit him this prestigious honor. I thank Cadet Colonel Shannon for his selfless service to this country and I congratulate him on receiving this prestigious recognition. I look forward to seeing what his bright future holds. ____________________