Civil Air Patrol Selects Lt. Col. David McCollum as Oklahoma’s New Commander
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Tinker AFB, Okla. (February 23, 2024) – Civil Air Patrol today announced that Lt. Col. David E. McCollum has been selected as the incoming commander of the Oklahoma Wing, effective April 2024. The appointment was approved by Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP National Commander and CEO, and Col. Martha C. Morris, Southwest Region Commander.
McCollum will lead a volunteer force exceeding 800 members dedicated to CAP's core programs: aerospace education, emergency services and cadet programs. Based at Tinker Air Force Base, he will oversee CAP's critical role in Defense Support of Civil Authorities, working alongside the U.S. Air Force to ensure public safety and provide crucial training support. Additionally, he will prioritize member readiness, education and training opportunities while advocating for their interests across the state.
McCollum's journey with CAP began in 2008, fueled by a lifelong interest and spurred by the high-profile search for Steve Fossett, where CAP played a vital role. He honed his leadership and public affairs skills in various positions within the Texas Wing, ultimately becoming a qualified search and rescue mission pilot.
Joining the Oklahoma Wing in 2014, he served as wing public affairs officer, wing director of emergency services, wing chief of staff, and commander of the Oklahoma City Composite Squadron. Notably, during his leadership, his unit saw the lowest member loss rate in the Oklahoma Wing during the COVID-19 pandemic, defying national and regional trends.
Demonstrating unwavering commitment to continuous learning, McCollum graduated with honors from the Southwest Region Staff College and CAP's National Staff College. He boasts an impressive array of qualifications, including command pilot with more than 2,000 flight hours, mission check pilot, senior incident commander, and master ratings in public affairs and emergency services. Additionally, he holds senior ratings in command and operations, and actively shares his expertise as an instructor for CAP's Volunteer University.
A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, McCollum currently resides in Oklahoma City, where he embodies the volunteer spirit and unwavering dedication that define CAP's mission.
I am deeply honored to have been selected as the next commander of the Oklahoma Wing,” said McCollum. “I am committed to building upon the legacy of my predecessors while leading this dedicated group of volunteers in service to our communities and upholding CAP's vital missions.
A formal change of command ceremony will take place in April at the Oklahoma Wing's annual conference, where McCollum will reaffirm his oath of office and be promoted to the rank of Colonel. He will assume command from Col. Aaron Oliver who has led the wing since July, 2021.
(L-R) Lt. Col. David McCollum pictured with Oklahoma's Cadet Lt. Col. Melia Chandler and Cadet 1st Lt. Chloe Shannon during Civil Air Patrol's National Legislative Day in 2023.
