Local Winchester man recognized with national instructor pilot award

WINCHESTER, Va. (Aug. 17, 2025) – Civil Air Patrol Lieutenant Colonel Dean “Norm” Anderson, of Winchester, has been selected as Civil Air Patrol’s 2025 Order of Daedalians Exceptional Instructor Pilot of the Year.

In partnership with Daedalians, Civil Air Patrol recognizes instructor pilots who have mentored cadets towards achieving their private pilot certificate. This award recognizes an instructor pilot whose notable membership enabled a cadet’s dream of becoming a pilot.

Lt. Col. Anderson has mentored and inspired numerous cadets along their pilot journey to their solo flight and to private pilot certificate. Some of his students drive over 50 miles to Winchester Regional Airport to obtain his instruction. He volunteers several hundred hours of his time every year training cadets. Lt. Col. Anderson also supports orientation flights in multiple states which are available to all Civil Air Patrol cadets to learn the fundamentals of aviation. He provides expert guidance to cadets applying for flight scholarships through Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Wings program. He has traveled to Camden, South Carolina, serving as a key instructor at the Colonel Roland Butler National Flight Academy.

Lt. Col. Anderson supports Civil Air Patrol’s emergency services mission serving as a mission pilot, mission observer, aerial photographer, check pilot, check pilot examiner, mission check pilot, and mission check pilot examiner. He flew as a “fighter” for the 274th Air Support Operations Squadron, acting as a training asset for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers as they trained to deploy to a combat zone, and other missions in the national capital region as a “lost” aircraft, helping train fighter jet response. He also helps United States Air Force airmen directly with the Civil Air Patrol-United States Air Force (CAP-USAF) Rated Preparation Program (RPP), where he taught non-rated airmen how to fly.

His passion and dedication for aviation and mentoring cadets and adult members at all levels in Civil Air Patrol continues to be felt across the entire organization. 

About Virginia Wing
Civil Air Patrol's Virginia Wing is home to 21 squadrons spread throughout the Commonwealth and has approximately 2,250 members, 12 light aircraft, 6 small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), and 28 multi-mission vehicles. These assets are available to federal, state, and local governments, as well as to emergency responders and law enforcement agencies to perform search and rescue, homeland security, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and counter-drug missions. For more information on Virginia Wing, visit the wing’s website at https://vawg.cap.gov.
 
About Civil Air Patrol
Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
 
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