Wing Commander

Col. Michael Marek joined Civil Air Patrol in 1984 and has held a series of progressively more responsible staff positions, including many at the wing (state) level, as well as region and national staff positions.

For his work on the national headquarters staff, he has received two highly prestigious CAP Distinguished Service Awards. He also holds multiple Exceptional Service, Meritorious Services, and Commanders Commendation awards and holds the highest award of the CAPs Senior Member Training Program, Gill Robb Wilson Award #1472. He holds Master ratings in Communications and Public Affairs and served as the North Central Region Encampment Commander in 2009, as well as other encampment staff positions in other encampments.

In operational missions for the U.S. Air Force, Col. Marek has CAP mission qualifications as high as operations section chief and wears senior observer and master ground team leader badges. He was public information officer for South Dakota Wing’s December 2020 COVID vaccine delivery missions, which gained national media attention. He has completed eight FEMA/ICS/IS courses.

Col. Marek holds an earned doctorate in educational administration, a masters in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in communication. He is an emeritus professor at Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska. He met his wife, Charlotte, in an online discussion group about Star Trek.