Cadet Deputy Commander for Operations
College Park Composite Squadron's Deputy Commander for Operations is Cadet First Lieutenant(C/1st Lt) Theodore Zopf. He joined Civil Air Patrol on September 28th, 2022, originally intending to earn his pilot's license. Since he joined, he has developed a deep passion for military tradition and discipline, now focusing on productively and compassionately shaping America's youth. He has a firm belief that the amount of enjoyment someone gets out of the Cadet program is directly proportional to how much they're willing to put into the Cadet program.
During his Civil Air Patrol career, he has participated in many of the facets of CAP, from attending 3 Encampments, to doing crowd control and flightline work at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's WWII Weekend 2 years in a row, to laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on behalf of the entire Maryland Wing. He has earned several decorations for things he and his squadron have done in CAP, like the Crisis Service Ribbon, the Encampment Ribbon, the Achievement Award, and the Pro-Marksman, Marksman, Marksman First Class, Sharpshooter, Expert, and Distinguished Expert marksmanship badges.
C/1st Lt Zopf's advancement through the CAP ladder so far started when he joined the Squadron. Starting in Papa Flight, he was quickly promoted to Hotel Flight – considered the “advanced flight” at the time – at the low rank of Cadet Airman First Class. He regards his time in Hotel Flight as having been vital to his development within CAP. While in Hotel Flight, he served as the Flight's Guidon Bearer, attended Tri-Wing Encampment as a Student, and earned his Wright Brothers Award. The week after he earned his Wright Brothers Award, he was made the Flight Sergeant of Foxtrot Flight. Upon promotion to C/CMSgt, he became College Park Composite Squadron's First Sergeant. During the summer of 2023, he attended Tri-Wing Encampment as Logistics Cadre, learning to make decisions under pressure and lead a team. One year after earning his Wright Brothers Award, C/1st Lt Zopf earned his Billy Mitchell Award, making him a Cadet Officer. In winter 2024-2025, he attended Virginia Wing Encampment, once again as Logistics.
In the Support arm, he is serving in the Drug Demand Reduction, Safety, Recruitment and Retention, Public Affairs, Activities, and Communications Departments, as well as having previously served in others. He is also working on earning his Historian Technician Badge and Rating.
He was awarded the Air Force Sergeant's Association Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award for 2024 at Squadron and Maryland Wing levels.
In his free time, he enjoys studying military history and tradition, practicing marksmanship, shooting landscape photography, and learning to fly. He plans to become a Volunteer EMT during his Junior year of High School. He aspires to become a full-time airline pilot and earn a Commission as a Security Forces Officer in the DC Air National Guard part-time.
