
The president and CEO of Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology has been selected to serve on Civil Air Patrol’s Board of Governors.
Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth and Maj. Gen. Mark Smith jointly appointed Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo to join CAP’s top governing board, effective immediately. She succeeds retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. George Perry, whose six-year term on the board ended on May 31.
“Dr. DeVivo has significant executive-level experience in strategic planning and leading through change,” Smith said. “She is well-suited to help Civil Air Patrol in key areas such as strategic planning, enhancing diversity and helping CAP to increase our effectiveness in offering our cadets aviation and other STEM-related career exploration opportunities.” said Smith, CAP national commander and CEO.
DeVivo is well-known within the aviation academic/university community and was most recently recognized for her innovative leadership at the executive level at Vaughn College. She is the seventh president and the first woman to lead the institution.
“It is an honor to join this phenomenal organization,” DeVivo said. “CAP’s commitment to serving the next generation of aviation and aerospace leaders, especially those from underserved groups, is what attracted me to this role of service. I look forward to supporting the board, the staff and the volunteers in their critical work.”
DeVivo is also chair of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force. She recently provided congressional testimony about the growing need for pilots and aviation maintenance professionals as well as for increased government education funding.
The New York Wing’s Academy Cadet Squadron meets on the Vaughn campus, adjacent to LaGuardia Airport.
CAP’s Board of Governors consists of four Air Force appointees, three members appointed jointly by the secretary of the Air Force and CAP’s national commander, and four members-at-large selected by the CAP Senior Advisory Group (CSAG). CAP’s national commander, national vice commander, executive officer and eight region commanders serve as voting members on the CSAG.