Capt. Dave Wells, Tennessee Wing

Capt. Dave Wells, of Tennessee Wing, enjoys giving astronomy and telescope presentations throughout his community as well as to cadets.

August 7, 2025

Meet Capt. Dave Wells, Internal Aerospace Education Officer for Tennessee Wing and Squadron Commander, Sunsphere Cadet Squadron in Knoxville, Tennessee. He first joined Civil Air Patrol as a cadet in 1975 because his two older brothers had joined the U.S. Air Force. He earned his Spaatz Award, Civil Air Patrol's highest cadet honor, and credits the organization for a positive impact on his life. "It gave me a sense of purpose, identity, and a sense of accomplishment as I progressed through the cadet program," he recalls. His specific area of interest in aerospace education is in the fields of space exploration and astronomy. "My earliest historical memory is of the Apollo 11 landing in July 1969," he says. He continues to share that passion for space with the cadets and families within his squadron and with the local community. "The excitement of kids - and their parents - when they see the craters on the Moon, or the moons of Jupiter, or the rings of Saturn for the first time is very rewarding to me," he says. This summer, Wells attended his first National Aerospace Education Officers School in Dayton, Ohio, where he also presented a session on the CAP STEM Kit telescope -- how to use them to teach astronomy both in the cadet squadron and in the local community. After a 30-year career working and training others in the insurance industry, this fall he will begin a new chapter in his aerospace educator journey: he will begin teaching a semester-long course on aerospace education at a local Catholic high school using the CAP textbook Aerospace: The Journey of Flight. We asked Capt. Wells some questions about his CAP journey and participation in the Aerospace Education program, and his answers follow.

How did you get involved in Civil Air Patrol?

I joined CAP as a cadet in 1975. My two older brothers had joined the Air Force, and that's how I found out about CAP. I grew up in a very poor family in Mississippi, and CAP really changed my life. It gave me a sense of purpose, identity, and a sense of accomplishment as I progressed through the cadet program. 

Tell us about your CAP career path that led to your current role.

I was a cadet from 1975 to 1984, earning my Spaatz Award (#714) just before I turned 21. Although I became a senior member at that time, I was in college with a full academic load and working several jobs, and I didn't stay active. I returned to CAP in 1996 and served as Deputy Commander for Cadets at a local squadron for about five years. But due to the demands of family life and frequent travel for work, I had to step away again. I returned to CAP for the third time in August 2023, and I became the Aerospace Education Officer for the new Sunsphere Cadet Squadron in Knoxville, Tennessee. I am also the Group 1 Cadet Programs Officer.

How did your interest in aerospace education begin?

I've had a lifelong interest in space exploration and astronomy (I grew up near Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, and my earliest historical memory is of the Apollo 11 landing in July 1969). About five years ago, I bought my first telescope and joined a local amateur astronomy club. I soon became active in astronomy outreach, giving presentations at local libraries and participating in star parties, where we set up telescopes for people to view the stars, planets, and the Moon. The excitement of kids - and their parents - when they see the craters on the Moon, or the moons of Jupiter, or the rings of Saturn for the first time is very rewarding to me. It was my growing desire to teach others about astronomy that led me back to CAP. Because of my astronomy outreach efforts through CAP and my astronomy club, I was selected by NASA as a Solar System Ambassador to promote knowledge of astronomy and space exploration. There are over 1,200 Solar System Ambassadors throughout the country, and a number of them are CAP Aerospace Education Officers.

Tell us about your career outside of Civil Air Patrol. 

For over 30 years, I have been an insurance professional working for companies such as Travelers, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual. For the past seven years, I have been an agency growth coach with a national network of independent insurance agents. In my role, I help new agents establish their own agencies and advise them on business development, marketing, and sales to help them achieve success. I really enjoy the teaching aspect and mentoring role of my work.

Within CAP, why do you work in the Aerospace Education program area and encourage youth in the Aerospace Education area?

From the beginning of time, humans have looked up at the night sky with awe and wonder. Over the course of human history, we have made great strides in understanding the mysteries of the universe. With advances in science and technology, we are making amazing discoveries each year and seeing farther back into space, and time, than ever before. It is a new Golden Age of exploration  and discovery. We are also actively planning to return humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, and within the next few decades we will likely send humans to Mars. Realistically, it may take us 20 to 25 years to develop the life-support technology that will enable us to reach the Red Planet and return safely back to Earth. But I often remind young cadets that when that day comes, they will likely be the same age as the Apollo astronauts were when they walked on the Moon. The first humans to walk on Mars are alive today - they just don't know that they will be the first to take the next leap onto another planet. The cadets today will be the generation that makes it happen. My goal is to ignite their imaginations, for it is their dreams and passion that will be the fuel to take us further into space.

What is the best CAP experience you have had since joining the organization?

A couple of years ago, I had the idea to develop a day-long, Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX)-type STEM event at a local private middle school. The program is called STAR EX, and it is an exploration of space, telescopes, astronomy, and rocketry. We brought in university professors (one of whom is a NASA Solar System Ambassador), local amateur astronomers, Aerospace Education Members (AEMs), and even cadets to give short presentations on various topics followed by hands-on activities. We used telescopes to determine focal length and magnification of targets indoors, we observed sunspots with properly equipped solar telescopes, and we built and launched model rockets. The highlight of the program was having retired astronauts join us (the first year via Zoom call, the second year in person) to share their experiences in space. The program has been very successful, and other schools have contacted us to host it at their schools. It is also a great opportunity to showcase the cadet program, and we have recruited several new cadets as a result of their participation in STAR EX. 

Please tell us about any Civil Air Patrol aerospace education programs you use internally and externally.

This past summer, I organized and led a summer aviation camp at a local community college. The FAA sponsors a program called the Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) Academy, and the Tennessee Wing volunteered to conduct the program at a local community college that is starting an Airframe & Powerplant program this fall. We brought in several AEOs from other squadrons as well as Tennessee Wing staff and used many of the STEM kits such as the flight simulators (a huge hit with the students) and the air navigation kits including the E6B paper flight computers. We also brought in guest speakers from local aviation career fields -- including pilots, flight attendants, a representative from the local airport, the department head of the new A&P program, and even a retired Air Force major general (who serves as president of the local AFA chapter) -- who spoke to the students about various career opportunities. It was a great success, and about a third of the students have expressed interest in joining CAP.

You attended your first CAP National AEO school this summer. Tell us about the experience and how you found it beneficial.

This summer, I attended my first AEO School in Dayton, Ohio. It was a wonderful experience! I enjoyed meeting AEOs from around the country (including Hawaii), and learning from those with years of experience. I was honored to offer a presentation on using the STEM Kit telescopes both to teach cadets about astronomy as well as how to use them in aerospace outreach to the local community. Meeting with other AE professionals and learning about all of the aspects of the CAP aerospace education programs at the National AEO School really brought everything into sharp focus for me!

What is the best advice you have for a new AE Officer working with cadets?

Aerospace Education is a very broad field -- from the skies to the stars and beyond! Whatever it is that sparks your curiosity or your interest, lead with that. Whether it's the history of flight, or the intricacies of weather, or the thrill of flying, or the sheer awe and wonder of looking at the stars - share your passion and you will light a spark in your cadets!

Do you have any suggestions for how to conduct outreach in schools (working with students and/or recruiting AEMs)?

Schools are eager for STEM resources, and they're very open to learn more about our AEM program. We find a lot of success in participating in school STEM nights and career festivals, sometimes bringing in cadets to help out. This not only promotes the resources we have to offer, but it also raises the profile of our cadet program. (It was our participation in such an event that led to the development of the STAR EX program).

Please tell an anecdote of a rewarding experience working with cadets and/or students or teachers in the AE program:

Recently one of our cadets mentioned that he hopes to eventually become an astrophysicist. He attributed this to my passion for astronomy and space exploration, and I was deeply touched. Our squadron motto is "Aim for the Stars," and I hope this becomes a personal motto for all of my cadets. 

Is there anything else that we didn’t ask that you’d like to add for this spotlight on an AE Officer? 

I am beginning a new chapter in my journey as an aerospace educator. This fall, I will begin teaching a semester-long course on Aerospace Education at our local Catholic high school, using the CAP textbook Aerospace: The Journey of Flight. My sons attended the school, and last year I approached the administration with the idea of offering the course (they offer a course on oceanography). They are excited about this new course, and the principal told me that he believes it will become very popular and demand will grow. Ad astra et ultra - To the stars and beyond!