The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) appointed Lt. Col. Michael Gieraltowski to command its Long Island Senior Squadron (LISS). The change of command from Capt. Randolph Lewis to Lt. Col. Gieraltowski took place at a ceremony on February 8 in East Meadow.
Lt. Col. Gieraltowski comes to the LISS command position with a wealth of leadership experience from the military (full bio enclosed). He joined CAP in 2021 following a 35-year career with the New York Army National Guard, in which he served in numerous posts, including Echo Troop Executive Officer, Assistant Professor of Military Science at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Commander Alpha Company Recruiting and Retention Battalion, and Garrison Commander of Camp Smith Training Site. He deployed to Iraq in 2004 with the E Troop 101st Cavalry.
Earlier in his career, Lt. Col. Gieraltowski served in the US Army from 1983 to 1986 as an Air Traffic Control Specialist. He holds a BS in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The transition comes as CAP continues to develop its emergency services mission capabilities – including increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles – for the U.S. Air Force as well as state and federal agencies.
“I hope to use my military experience and connections to further develop CAP’s relationships with our local, state, and federal partners,” commented Lt. Col. Gieraltowski. He added, “CAP has a lot to offer other agencies, and most are not aware of our capabilities.”
CAP has a long history of service protecting the homeland, dating back to anti-submarine warfare operations during World War II. In Lower New York, the organization played a support role post-9/11 and has assisted response efforts during national disasters in the area and nationwide. Long Island’s CAP squadrons have been instrumental in that effort. They hold joint training missions regularly to ensure interoperability and readiness when called to action.
