Col Phil Argenti
Academy Director
Col Philip E. Argenti serves as the Academy Director for Civil Air Patrol’s National Emergency Services Academy. In this position, he oversees the training of members pursuing Emergency Services qualification across three schools, Ground Seach and Rescue, Mission Aircrew, and Incident Command Staff. Col Argenti first joined the NESA Staff in 2021 as the Transportation Officer filling the vital role of vehicle operations management as well as coordinating all travel to and from Indianapolis International Airport to pick up and drop off students and staff. Col Argenti began his CAP career in 1996 as a cadet with the Lt Col Keehn Composite Squadron in Flint, MI. He became a senior member officer in 2003 and has served as a squadron and group commander, as well as commander of Indiana Wing from 2016 to 2020. Additional staff assignments have included wing Director of Communications, Logistics, and Emergency Services, wing Chief of Staff, and Deputy Chief of Staff – Emergency Services and Chief of Staff – Missions for Great Lakes Region. He has commanded four Cadet Encampments across two Wings and has also served on staff at several national, regional, and wing level encampments, special activities, and training courses.
Col Argenti has completed the AFRCC Basic Inland SAR Course and the Inland SAR Planning Course. He is currently qualified as an Incident Commander and has previously been qualified as a Ground Team Leader and Mission Observer. Outside of Civil Air Patrol, Col Argenti is a career civil servant with the US Department of the Navy serving as a Fleet Support Team Lead for the P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
|
 |
Lt Col James "Pete" Norris
Deputy Academy Director
Lt Col Pete Norris joined Civil Air Patrol in 1967 as a cadet at the Craig AFB Squadron of the Alabama Wing and completed the Earhart Award. Became mission rated in 1968 in communications and ground operations, and in 1975 was appointed as a Search Mission Coordinator (SMC). He has continued to serve in a variety of Squadron, Wing (ALWG & GAWG), Region (SER) and National duty assignment with emphasis on Cadet Programs and Emergency Services. He attended the National Emergency Services Academy in 1999 to help direct and develop the Mission Base Staff School (MBSS) to later become the Incident Command Staff School (ICSS).
Lt Col Norris is a retired Community College Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program Director, and currently remains active in EMS, EMS education and Research. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement with a concentration in forensics from Jacksonville State University (AL) and a Masters degree in Health Education and EMS Program Certificate (Paramedic) from the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB). He has 50+ years’ experience as a first responder including LE and EMS.
|
|
Lt Col Judy Hewett
Academy Chief of Staff
Lt Col Judy Hewett joined CAP in 2000 so she could participate with her son. In 2003, she joined him at NESA for the (then) Mission Base Staff School (Now Incident Command System School) Basic course. She returned in 2008 to be the OIC for the Kitchen staff. After having enough fun for one NESA, Judy switched to Administration in 2009, moving from being an assistant, to Administration Officer, and then Chief of Staff in 2018. She holds a FASC rating in Operations.
Lt Col Hewett stays busy with her CAP activities as Mission Support Administrator for the NER, Director of Education & Training for FL Wing, and several other duty assignments in FL at both the Group and Squadron levels. Additionally, she is involved with Volunteer University as the Chair for Online Level I and also picks up opportunities to serve in short-term assignments such as the FL Exercise American Shield and Wing Encampment. Judy has a Master rating in Professional Development/Education & Training, Administration, Personnel, and Cadet Programs.
When not "CAPing," Judy she cares for her two lower-elementary age grandchildren each day after school. Before CAP, Judy was fortunate to be at home to raise, and home educate, her children. Prior to being a mother, Col Hewett was an Administration Assistant for Wang Laboratories in Englewood, CO and Frankfurt, West Germany.
"NESA is my annual vacation, something I look forward to every year."
|
 |
Lt Col Mike Zabetakis
GSAR Commandant
Major Zabetakis joined CAP in January 2000 with his son and daughter. He has served at the Squadron level as a Deputy Commander for Cadets and as an Emergency Services Officer. He has also served as a Group and as a Wing Emergency Services Officer. With his son and daughter, attended NESA as a student in summer of 2001. In 2002, Major Z returned as a Field Training Advisor (FTA), and served in this capacity through 2004;after which he served as the lead instructor in each of the GSAR schools - Basic, Advanced, and Team Leader - and served as the GSAR Deputy Commandant from 2015 through 2019. In 2020, he assumed the position as GSAR Commandant.
Major Zabetakis has completed the AFRCC Basic Inland SAR Course and the Inland SAR Planning Course. He has also completed NASAR SARTECH training, and has completed the Managing Land Search Operations at University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Major Zabetakis currently serves as the MDWG Geospatial Information Officer, and is one of the founding members of the CAP National GIS Team. In this capacity, he has worked closely with FEMA on the use of CAP resources; such as fixed wing aircraft, sUAS, and Ground Team data collection during disasters, since 2017.
As a volunteer with the Maryland State Police Special Operations Division, Major Zabetakis serves as a Civilian Search Manager, as well as trains first responders and law enforcement in search tactics and search management.
|
 |
Col Bob Freese
Mission Aircrew School Commandant
Col Freese joined CAP in July 2012. He attended Mission Air School in 2014 and has served as an Instructor and Curriculum Director prior to being selected as the Commandant.
Col Freese became the Commander of the Indiana Wing on January 25, 2020. He had previously served as the Vice-Commander, Legal Officer, Inspector General, and Director of Operations. He is a Mission Check Pilot Examiner.
Col Freese also serves as the Operations Section Chief for the USAF Rated Preparatory Program.
Col Freese has been a State level Trial Court Judge since January 2001.
|
 |
Col Rickey Oeth
Incident Command System School Commandant
Col Oeth joined CAP in 1976 as a cadet and progressed through the grade of cadet Lt Col. As a senior member, he has served in two squadrons as Communication Officer, Assistant Emergency Services Officer, and Assistant Testing Officer. Command staff assignments include the Illinois Wing Group 10 Deputy Commander, Group 12 Commander, Illinois Wing Chief of Staff, Illinois Wing Vice Commander, Illinois Wing Commander and is currently the Illinois Group 1 Chief of Staff.
His activities include attendance at 5 Illinois Wing Encampments, 8 years on staff at the National Emergency Services Academy – Incident Command Staff School, and 12 years at the Illinois Wing Johnson Flight Academy including 10 years as the academy director. Shortly after attending the National Emergency Services Academy – Incident Command Staff School in 2005 then Lt Col Oeth deployed as a part of the CAP response to Katrina where he became the last IC in Mississippi and demobilized the operation.
He has a Bachelors Degree and two Masters Degrees in Music and is currently employed as the IT director for the Sparta Community School District #140 in Sparta, Illinois.
|
 |
Lt Col Eric Templeton
National Headquarters Senior Program Manager for Operations Training
& NESA Project Officer
Lt Col Templeton joined CAP just after Sept 11, 2001. He attended the 2002 Mission Aircrew School and was the Distinguished Graduate (DG) that year. He returned as a staff instructor in 2003, and as the Deputy Commandant in 2004. He was the Co-Commandant in 2006 and served as the Commandant from 2007 through 2019.
Lt Col Templeton also serves as a National Operations Center staff member.
Previous CAP duties have included:
Illinois Wing Vice Commander, Chief of Staff, and Director of Operations; and California Wing Incident Commander and Deputy Director of Operations.
Highest Mission ratings: Incident Commander Level 1, Mission Pilot, and Mission Check Pilot Examiner.
Lt Col Templeton is the Senior Program Manager for Operations Training at CAP National Headquarters.
|
 |
