YORK —The General Billy Mitchell Award, the first of four major Civil Air Patrol cadet awards, was recently presented to former Cadet Robert Piazza in a ceremony in the office of Col Richard Martell, NHANG Commander. Piazza earned the award three years ago when he was a cadet in the Seacoast Composite Squadron, but due to his going away to college it was never presented. The ceremony was attended by his whole family as well as Squadron Commander, Maj. Nic Goupil, Deputy Commander Maj. Mike Hall, and former cadet Tim Brennan who is now attending the Air Force Academy.
Piazza the son of Charles and Cheryl Piazza of York is now a junior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. where he has chosen double majors in nuclear and mechanical engineering. Upon completing high school, he received a four year Naval ROTC scholarship to RPI. At Rensselaer Piazza is active in the American Nuclear Society, Rensselaer Christian Association of which he is vice president and the NROTC trick rifle team. He also volunteers weekly at a local food pantry in Troy and teaches a Bible study class at church.
Cadet Piazza earned eleven ribbons including the Mitchell while a member of Seacoast Composite Squadron, CAP which he joined his sophomore year in high school to gain leadership training and experience and to learn more about aerospace fields. His two brothers also joined CAP. Michael now attends the US Air Force Academy and Matthew is a Cadet Airman First Class having just recently joined the squadron.
After graduation in 2010 from PRI Piazza will receive his commission in the US Navy where he hopes to become a submariner.
Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer auxiliary of the United States Air Force and is tasked with 95 percent of the inland search and rescue missions. It also serves local, state and federal agencies in disaster relief, homeland security and counterdrug missions. It also has an outstanding cadet program for young people ages 12-18.
Photo caption: NROTC Cadet Robert Piazza with Col. Richard Martell, NHANG Commander (Lt. Cheryl Piazza, CAP photo)
