Vice Commander
Lieutenant Colonel Robert A. Hotchkiss Jr is the Vice Commander of Delaware Wing Civil Air Patrol. He also serves as the Wings Public Affairs Officer and Government Relations Advisor.
Prior to assuming his current position, Lt Col Hotchkiss was the Wing Director of Cadet Programs, where he oversaw cadet programs and activities in the Wing. He is the former Commander of the Delaware Air National Guard Cadet Squadron (DANG) where he commanded one of the largest squadrons in the nation with over 125 members, earning his squadron a Unit Citation.
Lt Col Hotchkiss joined CAP as a cadet in 1975 and earned the Ira Eaker Award in 1979. He was selected as the 1978 Delaware Wing Cadet of the Year. He attended the Cadet Officers School, International Air Cadet Exchange (Sweden) and was the Delaware Wing Encampment Cadet Commander in 1979. He briefly transitioned to a senior member serving as a Warrant Officer before a separation of service from 1983 to 2009. In 2009, Lt Col Hotchkiss rejoined CAP at the DANG Cadet Squadron where he assumed command of the squadron 6 months after rejoining.
Lt Col Hotchkiss is a graduate of National Staff College, Northeast Region Staff College, Inland SAR Planning Course, and the Basic Inland SAR Course,
He is a Ground Team Leader, Mission Observer and Public Information Officer rated. Lt Colonel
Hotchkiss holds Master ratings in Command, Health Services, and Cadet Programs and a Technician rating in Emergency Services, Safety, Public Affairs and Aerospace Education.
Lt Col Hotchkiss has been awarded the Exceptional Service Award, Meritorious Services Award, Commander’s Commendation Award, CAP Achievement Award, and Gill Robb Wilson Award, among others. He was also selected as 2014 Delaware Wing Senior Member of the Year.
Lt Col Hotchkiss earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Delaware. He is the Chief Executive Officer/EMS Chief for Southern Chester County EMS and is a Pennsylvania and Nationally licensed paramedic. He is a second of three generations of his family that has served in the Delaware Wing Civil Air Patrol.
