How Kansan Regena Aye's lifetime of service has led her to top spot at Civil Air Patrol

Kansan Regena Aye always knew she wanted to live a life of service.

Aye has volunteered in an auxiliary branch of the Air Force for 30 years, was a foster parent for more than 50 boys with her late husband and taught students in community college.

And in August, she will become the second woman and first Kansan to be the CEO and national commander of the Civil Air Patrol.

"It's humbling to think about going from cadets to the national commander, but our current national commander was also a former cadet," said Aye, who grew up in Burlingame. "So it's not unheard of by any means but so humbling because ... it's a big organization. We have a quarter of a billion dollars in assets.

Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary branch of the Air Force that is volunteer-based with roughly 67,000 volunteers across the country. It works with communities through outreach, disaster recovery and other efforts.

"We have 540 aircrafts, 1,100 vehicles and 67,000 people — that's a lot," said Aye, who has been the national vice commander for the past three years. "But it's also inspiring, because I believe in our missions. I believe in all those people, and I think we can do some great things. So I'm excited for the journey."

Aye has been in the Civil Air Patrol for most of her life. She first joined as a cadet in 1989 when she was 17 years old and took a short leave to pursue higher education. She has volunteered for the patrol for 30 years.

A lifelong passion

Aye had health complications that prevented her from joining the military, but she grew up around family who had served and knew she wanted a life of service. When Aye joined the patrol as a cadet, she fell in love with the program.

"This was a way I could serve — and I was really attracted to the leadership training — but that really was of interest to me," Aye said. "Of course, once I started participating, I fell in love with all their missions and everything they did, and 30 years later I still do. So that's when you know you're right."

When Aye joined the Civil Air Patrol, she had no idea she would spend a lifetime there.

"Those possibilities really opened my eyes to what was beyond that little town I grew up in," Aye said. "So I didn't move very far away from it, just nine miles from Burlingame, but CAP showed me the world."

When Aye left the patrol for college, it was her husband, Phillip Aye, who brought her back. They met when she was teaching history at Allen Community College.

"He stayed after class every week," Aye said. "I thought it was because he wanted to go to Korea to get his master's, which is where I got my master's, and because he was a history major, but it was something more."

Aye said before her husband died, they often were competitive with each other but in the best way. When looking for something for them to do, her husband came across Civil Air Patrol. Phillip Aye previously served in the Army so he thought he'd be ranked higher than her in the patrol but he was wrong.

Despite their competitive natures, Aye said her husband softened her outlook. He survived a plane crash accident while serving in the Army, which changed his mindset.

"He made me so much of a better person because I had that toxic competitive nature," Aye said. "When you're with the person who collided with the planet at terminal velocity and lived, they temper you."

Phillip Aye died in 2009.

Burlingame native enjoys traveling with her family and doting on dogs

When Aye isn't doing work for Civil Air Patrol, she's teaching at Baker University or traveling with relatives.

"I love spending time with my family," Aye said. "I like to go on a trip every summer with my nieces or grandnieces and nephews if I can. We went to Yellowstone, which was great. They're all teenagers. So it's a good time."

This year, the family will visit the ruins in Mexico.

Aye said she is a homebody who loves staying home curled up with a good book and her two pugs, Cleopatra and Winston Churchill. Aye said the pugs "rule with an iron fist."

"Cleopatra — queen of denial," Aye said. "I didn't take your shoe. I didn't bring that stick in the house, that kind of thing."

She said she has an eclectic taste in books and often reads historical fiction.

New people along the way

While working for the Civil Air Patrol, Aye has served on rescue teams, worked with aviation crews and given presentations to Congress. She said one of the best parts of her job is all the interesting people she's met over the years.

"So every member has a story and they have some absolutely amazing stories," Aye said. "So I think that's probably the most inspiring thing and you never know if it's going to be a veteran member that inspires you or a brand new cadet that you get to meet who inspires you and just gives you your why."

Aye said she has been thankful to meet so many people.

"I've met a lot of really neat people," she said. "I'm really lucky in that regard."

Hopes for the future

When asked what she hopes to achieve in her three years as commander, Aye said she doesn't want to lose sight of the big picture.

"I'm on a listening tour," Aye said. "One of the key things that new leaders fail to do, especially CEOs, is they think they know everything from the position they're in an organization. I'm in the No. 2 seat right now. So, I don't want to fall victim to that."

Aye said she is meeting with people to ask what the organization needs. While she doesn't have a personal checklist, she said she would like to see it grow in diversity and positive experiences.

"I would like to think about is how do we ensure that everyone has like a world-class experience," Aye said. "I think that can connect to everything we often do without derailing initiatives. Every cadet should have a great experience, every employee at our headquarters should have a great experience and every pilot who flies our aircraft should have a great experience.

"So, I think that's something that is resonating with me and that I would like to be an overarching direction."

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansan Regena Aye's service has led her to Civil Air Patrol's top spot