Gabriel Chapter Drone Donation Lifts Leesburg CAP Program

AFA’s Gabriel Chapter in Northern Virginia deepened its partnership with the Leesburg Virginia Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadron through a chapter grant to purchase two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), giving cadets access to professional-grade drone technology and a structured pathway to advanced aerospace skills.

Gabriel Chapter Treasurer Brad Wilkins presented a check for the drones to Capt. Billy Jensen, the Leesburg CAP Squadron Commander, during a squadron formation on March 17. The donation directly supports AFA’s Educate pillar by equipping cadets with tools that bridge classroom aerospace education and the real-world skills increasingly demanded across military and civilian aviation fields.

“As we work to create future Aerospace Leaders, Airmen, and Leaders in all of the other services and in industry, sUAS skills are becoming critical,” said Capt. Billy Jensen, Commander, Leesburg Civil Air Patrol Squadron. “We hope to build a program at Leesburg that sets our cadets on a pathway to success. This effort begins with Aerospace Education and AFA’s generous donation is a great start to help us achieve our goal.”

The squadron will use the aircraft to develop a curriculum introducing cadets to unmanned systems operations — including photogrammetry, drone mapping, and tower surveys — and to create a pathway toward earning a Remote Pilot Certificate under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107, the federal certification standard for small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) operators.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, serves more than 26,000 cadets nationwide through programs in leadership development, aerospace education, and emergency services. The AFA–CAP partnership at Leesburg reflects a shared commitment to preparing young men and women for careers in aerospace, the armed services, and industry.