Day:   Tuesday Evenings

Time: 1900 - 2100 (7:00-9:00 pm)    Note - During the summer we meet until 2130 (9:30 pm)

Place: Northport VA Medical Center, Building 5 (Auditorium)

When you plan to visit, please call Maj. McLaughlin, our Public Affairs Officer, at 631-682-9609 to advise us when you will be coming so that we can be ready to welcome you.

• Cadet
• Both male & female are welcome
• At least 12 years old (or attending 6th grade)
• Not yet 19 years old (though you may remain as a cadet until 21)
• Unmarried
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident status
• Satisfactory scholastic performance

• Senior (Adult) Member
• Both men and women are welcome
• At least 18 years old
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident status
• No military or flying experience required

Squadron Commander

1st Lt. Robert Litzke, CAP

1st Lt. Litzke joined Suffolk Cadet Squadron VII of the Civil Air Patrol in October2007. He quickly assumed the positions of Cadet Programs Officer and Leadership Officer of his squadron, and in 2008 was certified at the Technician Rating level for Cadet Programs. In November of 2008 he assumed command of the squadron.

He has successfully completed the testing process for Cadet Programs Officer (Technician, Senior, and Master Rating levels), IT Officer (Technician, Senior, and Master Rating levels), Safety Officer (Basic and Senior levels), Communications Officer (Technician Rating level), and Aerospace Education Officer (Technician Rating level). He has received certificates for completing the Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement, Basic Operational Risk Management training, and Skills Evaluator training. He has also achieved Emergency Service’s Ground Team Member Level 3 (GTM3) certification.

1st Lt. Litzke enlisted in the United States Navy (USN) shortly after graduating from high school, serving as a nuclear power plant operator aboard the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). After separation from service, he worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory as a Health Physics technician and the Environmental Safety and Health Officer for the Laboratory’s Superfund environmental cleanup. During that time, and obviously not having learned a thing from his initial enlistment in the USN, he enlisted as a Sergeant in the New York Army Reserve National Guard (NYARNG), qualifying as an NBC Warfare Specialist (MOS 54E) and Petroleum Supply Specialist (MOS 77A).  He presently works as an Environmental Programs Manager for a municipal government.

1st Lt. Litzke holds a B.A. in Sociology/Political Science and an M.S. in Environmental Science. He has also received certifications as a New York State Secondary Education Teacher for Earth Science and Social Studies. He has been happily married for well over 25 years and has a beautiful daughter and a wonderful son.

Deputy Commander, Public Affairs and Finance Officer

Maj. A. E. McLaughlin, Jr., CAP

Major McLaughlin joined CAP in August of 1994 and was appointed as Squadron PAO in 1995. He served as Supply Officer from 1995 until 1997 and as Aerospace Officer from 1995 until 1999. He was appointed  as Deputy Squadron Commander in 1997 and took over as Commander in 1998 and served until 2003. After a 14 month hiatus, he returned as Deputy Commander and PAO in 2005. He was appointed Finance Officer in 2008.

Major McLaughlin served 4 years in the United States Army Security Agency as a Crypto Equipment repair instructor. He earned his Private Pilot's license in 1967 and bought a Piper TriPacer in 1970, earning a Commercial and Instrument Ground Instructor License and an Instrument rating while accumulating more than 900 hours flying the Eastern half of the US.

Major McLaughlin retired from IBM after a 36 year career as Customer Engineer and Customer Engineering Specialist. He has been married to his beloved wife, Lucille for more than 50 years and has one daughter, Linda.

Aerospace Officer and Testing Officer

Lt. Col. W. Glenn Mackey, CAP

Lt. Col. Mackey joined CAP in 1999, becoming Aerospace Education Officer for Suffolk Cadet Squadron VII.  He has continuously served in that position earning five successive Aerospace Education Excellence Awards for the squadron. He became Squadron Commander in 2003 and served in that position until 2007.

He was educated (MIT) as an aeronautical engineer, and served in the US Air Force as a fighter pilot, engineer, and staff officer, retiring after 22 years as a full Colonel with over 4,300 flight hours in 23 aircraft types including a combat tour flying A-1 Skyraiders in Vietnam. 

Following his Air Force service, he joined Fairchild Republic as an avionics manager working on upgrades and technical support for the A-10 program.  When that program was moved to Grumman, he assumed responsibilities in the A-10 engineering flight simulator laboratory, retiring in 1992

Cadet Programs Officer and Logistics Officer

1st Lt. Mitchell Sahagian, CAP

1st Lt. Mitchell J. Sahagian joined CAP approx. 2.5 years ago to assist his son Matthew in going into the Air Force. He is now is the Squadron's Senior Cadet Programs Officer, Assistant Aerospace Officer and Supply Officer. He is is married and has one son and two daughters.

1st Lt. Sahagian is an Architect by profession with over 30 years experience working on Hi-Rise as well as Specialty Buildings. Some of his award winning projects include projects like Trump Tower in New York City, MasterCards World Data and Operations Center in St. Louis, Missouri, ATT Operations Center in New Jersey, KAUST University in the United Arab Emirates, LifeTime TV headquarters in New York City and Ann Taylor headquarters in New York City, which won the best project award in 2006.

As a mentor in professional life, it was a natural move to join CAP.  He has guided many cadets toward a career in the military, including his son Matthew, who is currently enrolled as an AFROTC cadet at Embrey-Riddle Aeronautical University. 1st Lt. Sahagian has remained in CAP to mentor other cadets.

1st Lt. Sahagian has received two consecutive SCSVII Senior Member of the Year awards and the Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award.  He is currently starting squadron-level aerospace competitions geared to help cadets focus as a team while being creative and having fun. He hopes to bring this idea to the Group level and perhaps eventually Wing level.

Some of 1st Lt. Sahagian's other interests include model railroading; (He is the owner of a small model building company.) He enjoys traveling and is an avid Ford Mustang enthusiast. His favorite saying is " Knowledge and experience is power; Money is just the dessert." 

Safety Officer

1st Lt. David Bloom, CAP

1st Lt. Bloom joined CAP shortly after his son, Matthew, in early 2006. He is currently the Safety Officer in Squadron VII and working towards his Captain grade.

He is currently employed at Schindler Elevator at JFK Airport, where he maintains the escalators and elevators for American Airlines.  As to his home life, 1st Lt. Bloom says, "My son and I have always shared an interest in Military history, especially World War II. We are very privileged to have family members as a living testament to the War. I have a keen interest in tanks and hopefully will one day be able to ride in one."

Character Development Officer

2nd Lt. Gregg Gunderson, CAP

    Second Lieutenant Gregg Gunderson joined our Squadron with his son, Daniel in 2003.  Residents of Kings Park, Daniel progressed rapidly completing the cadet program to the rank of Cadet Captain while his father served as our squadron's Moral Leadership Officer. Lieutenant Gunderson has served in the leadership of the church he belongs to in Smithtown and is employed in the construction industry.

    The common themes that are discussed in the monthly Moral Leadership Seminars with the cadets include honesty, integrity, character and the CAP Core Values.

    Lieutenant Gunderson states,   "My desire is to see the cadets develop their own moral compass, which will serve them throughout their lives, and guide them to do the right thing in any circumstance, and at any cost.”

Administration Officer and Personnel Officer

Technical Flight Officer Jon Miranda, CAP

TFO Miranda joined CAP in October of 2005 as a sophomore in high school, in order to to pursue his interest in the field of aviation. He completed the CAP Cadet Program all the way through the Mitchell Award, achieving the grade of C/2^nd Lt.   He has previously attended a leadership encampment and the Long Island Ground Search and Rescue Academy, earning his Ground Team Member Level 2 (GTM2) ground search and rescue qualification.

After his 18^th birthday, he switched his CAP status to the senior member program and now serves as the squadron's Administration Officer and Personnel Officer.

He is currently a sophomore at SUNY Farmingdale University, and is working on a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Science: Professional Pilot. He recently earned his private pilot certificate, and hopes to become a CAP pilot this summer.

Current Vacancies:

Emergency Services Officer

Senior Professional Development Officer

Communications Officer

Legal Officer

Medical Officer

Cadet Command

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