Year of Ownership

2025 was the Year of Ownership, an initiative inspired by the principles of Echelon Front, a leadership consultancy founded by Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. While the initiative concluded at the end of the year, ownership remains a core expectation and enduring theme across Civil Air Patrol.

As Maj. Gen. Regena Aye emphasized in her change of command remarks, “We own the future of our organization.” The Year of Ownership reflected that vision, aligning efforts across airworthiness, encampments, safety, stakeholder experience, talent development, and organizational culture.

Maj. Gen. Aye officially kicked off the initiative during a webinar on January 16, 2025, launching a yearlong webinar series focused on equipping members and leaders with the mindset and tools to make sound decisions and uphold CAP values—especially in challenging situations. A replay of that webinar is available in the Absorb LMS.

By continuing to foster a culture of ownership, we ensure our actions today strengthen Civil Air Patrol’s mission and legacy well into the future. Ownership is not a one-year theme, it is how we lead, serve, and move the organization forward.

Members interested in learning more about Echelon Front’s principle of extreme ownership may borrow Extreme Ownership, The Dichotomy of Leadership, and Leadership Strategy and Tactics by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin through the Department of Defense (DoD) Library via Libby (not affiliated with or endorsed by CAP or Echelon Front), or purchase copies through commercial book retailers.

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