AFA Honors Austin CAP Squadron’s Cadet Commander

Cadet Maj. Ryan W. Holmes, of Austin, Texas, was named the Pegasus Squadron Cadet of the Year. The award was presented at Camp Mabry, Texas, on February 22. The annual award package includes a medal, ribbon, and certificate provided by the Air & Spaces Forces Association, which was represented at the ceremony by AFA’s National Secretary Paul Hendricks and AFA’s Texoma Region President Norm King.

Since joining the squadron in September 2019, Holmes has steadily risen through the ranks and now serves as the squadron’s cadet commander. At the unit’s 2024 annual awards banquet, he received the Community Service Award for completing 570 hours of volunteer work in 2024. He is also a four-time recipient of the CAP Achievement Award and earned the CAP Advanced CyberPatriot Award in December 2023 for his contributions to the squadron’s CyberPatriot team over the past three years.

A high school senior, Holmes will attend Texas Tech University in the fall, where he plans to enroll in the AFROTC program and pursue a career as a cyber officer in the U.S. Air Force—a goal he is already well on his way to achieving.