A 2021 Anthem area high school graduate received a prestigious honor June 17 for his work with the Civil Air Patrol, the Arizona Wing of the group announced. Arizona’s Civil Air Patrol announced Weiss O’Connor of Anthem, a cadet colonel, was awarded the General Carl A. Spaatz Award — the highest honor a cadet can receive. O’Connor, a 2021 graduate of Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, is a member of the Civil Air Patrol’s Deer Valley Composite Squadron in Phoenix. He joined CAP in 2016. He became cadet commander at the Deer Valley squadron last February.
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A 2021 Anthem area high school graduate received a prestigious honor June 17 for his work with the Civil Air Patrol, the Arizona Wing of the group announced.
Arizona’s Civil Air Patrol announced Weiss O’Connor of Anthem, a cadet colonel, was awarded the General Carl A. Spaatz Award — the highest honor a cadet can receive.
O’Connor, a 2021 graduate of Boulder Creek High School in Anthem, is a member of the Civil Air Patrol’s Deer Valley Composite Squadron in Phoenix. He joined CAP in 2016. He became cadet commander at the Deer Valley squadron last February.
On June 23, he will report to Colorado Springs as a member of the class of 2025 at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
“Working with cadets, watching them develop their leadership skills, seeing them choose to continue to serve in the military as Col. O’Connor will do — it just doesn’t get much better than that,” said Arizona Wing Commander Col. Rob Pinckard. “CAP cadets like Col. O’Connor give me hope for the future of our country.”
The award is presented to cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education. Cadets qualify for this prestigious award after devoting an average of five years to progress through 16 achievements in the CAP Cadet Program.
Brent Ruffner Lead News Reporter | Phoenix @AzNewsmedia
Brent Ruffner joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2021 where he writes about developments at TSMC and Maricopa County issues, including election topics.
He's written about stories that range from accusations that a Mesa monkey breeding facility is unsafe to what to do if you encounter a rattlesnake in the desert.
Community: He is a supporter of the American Cancer Society.
Education: Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University, May 2007.
Random Fact: He met former San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays at a Phoenix Firebird game after winning a contest for an autographed baseball.
Hobbies: Hiking in the woods and collecting sports memorabilia.
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