First Woman To Hold The Position In The Organizations 65-Year History

Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter, Civil Air Patrol’s national commander from 2008-2011, is the newly-elected president of the International Air Cadet Exchange Association Board of Directors – the first female to hold the position in the association’s nearly 65-year history. During her two-year term of office, Courter will play a leadership role in creating and implementing short-term and long-range goals designed to move the International Air Cadet Exchange program forward. This includes expanding the involvement of other countries in the program and the organization’s financial partnerships nationwide.

“I am deeply honored to be selected as the first female to lead this prestigious board,” said Courter (pictured in official USAF photo), who has served for the last two years as the board's vice president. “The International Air Cadet Exchange is such an important component of Civil Air Patrol’s leadership training program for cadets. I believe it is imperative for the leaders of tomorrow to learn experientially about other cultures and diversity, so I look forward to ensuring that the ongoing success of the international air exchange program continues worldwide.”

The IACE Association was established in 1948 to produce responsible aerospace leaders of tomorrow through air cadet exchanges and cultural education. The program offers leadership development with a global perspective by promoting international understanding, goodwill and friendship among young people with an interest in aviation.

Twenty nations are currently IACE Association members and they annually involve more than 500 young people worldwide. CAP cadets who have earned the Amelia Earhart Award and are at least 17 years old are eligible to apply to join the annual exchange of air cadets between participating organizations. This year 54 CAP cadets representing 33 wings visited 13 countries, and 68 cadets from 14 countries visited 13 CAP wings.

“General Courter’s experience working internationally with humanitarian organizations such as CAP, as well as in the private sector, make her uniquely qualified for this important role in inspiring partnership and friendship among aviation-oriented youth around the globe,” said Jim Mallett, director of educational programs at CAP National Headquarters. “Moreover, her past and present commitment to the IACE Association is unparalleled. There is absolutely no doubt that with her at the helm, this great association and its participating nations are poised for an exciting and rewarding future.”

Courter was elected CAP national commander in 2008, becoming the U.S. Air Force auxiliary’s first female national commander. Over the next three years, she led the organization’s 61,000 volunteers in fulfillment of the three congressionally chartered missions: emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education, as well as CAP’s increasing role in America’s homeland security.

Courter emphasized best practices throughout her tenure, including fiduciary duties, strategic planning and generating internal and external opportunities and partnerships. For fiscal year 2008, CAP received its first unqualified audit after integrating over 1,500 units’ financial transactions into a common system. Since that achievement, CAP has received unqualified audits in the past three years. In addition, scholarship funding increased over 50 percent under her leadership.

FMI: www.gocivilairpatrol.com, www.iacea.com