1st Lt. Mayra Raposo, of West Warwick, accepted command of the West Bay Composite Squadron, Rhode Island Wing, Civil Air Patrol, during a ceremony held April 4.

Raposo’s appointment as commander follows the term completion of previous commander Capt Paul Lussier, also of West Warwick. Col William Stranahan, Rhode Island Wing Commander, presided over the ceremony. During the ceremony, Stranahan thanked Capt Lussier for his service saying, “During his term, the West Bay Composite Squadron has led the efforts in participating in and leading many Wing activities, provided a service to their community, and ensured that their members excelled in all areas of our program.”

Of Raposo, Stranahan said, “I am also excited to welcome 1st Lt. Raposo to the team. I am confident in her ability to lead and to take the Squadron to new heights.”

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. CAP’s 61,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 26,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs.

More information is available at www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news.

In Rhode Island, the Civil Air Patrol maintains its headquarters at the R.I. Air National Guard Base in Quonset and has five squadrons strategically located throughout the state.

For more information on the Civil Air Patrol in Rhode Island visit www.riwg.cap.gov or contact our Public Affairs Officer, Capt. Chase S. Boni at cboni@riwg.cap.gov or 267-3130.