Chief of Staff
COLONEL PAUL G. MCCROSKEY II, CAP
Col Paul G. McCroskey II is the Chief of Staff, for Civil Air Patrol’s Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR).
Col McCroskey joined the Civil Air Patrol in May of 1995 as an Air Force ROTC cadet at Kent State University, Kent OH. After serving several years as an active-duty Air Force officer, Col McCroskey rejoined CAP in 2008 with Ohio Wing’s Akron Canton Senior Squadron while serving at his alma mater as an Air Force ROTC Instructor. He retired from active duty in 2010 after a distinguished 22-year military career and is a veteran of several military campaigns including OPERATION DESERT STORM, OPERATION DESERT SHIELD and ENDURING FREEDOM.
Col McCroskey relocated to his hometown near Wheeling, WV after his retirement and transferred to the West Virginia Wing. He quickly became the Commander for Wheeling Composite Squadron and was selected to be the West Virginia Vice Wing Commander in 2013. Colonel McCroskey then led Civil Air Patrol’s West Virginia Wing from 2014-2018. Most recently, he served as the MAR Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations (North) from 2018-2024, West Virginia Wing Assistant Director of Operations and Director of Emergency Services 2018-2024, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations from 2024-2025. Colonel McCroskey assumed his current position as MAR Chief of Staff on 10 Oct 2025.
Col McCroskey is an active powered and glider pilot with over 40 years and 4,100 total hours in General Aviation. He is a commercial pilot in airplane and glider, holds Certified Flight Instructor Certificate for Airplane, Glider, Multi-engine, and Instrument Rating. He is a CAP Command Pilot, Mission Pilot Examiner, Mission Pilot, Check Pilot Examiner, Instructor Pilot, Transport Mission Pilot, Mission Observer, Mission Scanner, and Airborne Photographer credentials. He maintains dual qualifications on the ground as a Ground Team Leader, Urban Direction-Finding Team and Ground Team Member 2. Col McCroskey also serves at all levels of Mission Staff and holds qualifications up to Incident Commander 1.
Colonel McCroskey was recognized as the Lt Col T. Keith Riddle Aircrew Member of the Year (WVWG) in 2025, Senior Member of the Year 2024 (WVWG), Col David Kantor Operations Staff Officer of the Year (Wing) in 2023, Lt Col T. Keith Riddle Aircrew Member of the Year (Region) in 2022, and Ed Lewis Incident Staff Member of the Year (Wing) in 2013. Col McCroskey serves CAP nationally as the MAR representative to the Membership Action Review Panel.
Colonel McCroskey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Southern Illinois University, Master of Science in Management from Wilmington College, DE and Master of Arts Degree in Technology from Kent State University. He is a graduate of the USAF Squadron Officers School (in residence) and the Air Command and Staff College (seminar).
Col McCroskey has been employed as the Contracts Manager for Leonardo Technologies, Inc. (LTI) in Bannock, OH since his military retirement in 2010. LTI is a Professional Engineering and Management Consulting contractor for the Department of Energy.
Col McCroskey is married to his wife Beth of 38 years and has three sons all veterans of the USAF: Paul “Grant” III (37), Garrett (26) and Kenton (serving active duty) (23).
As of 18 Oct 2025
