Antonio "Tony" Pineda Jr. was a National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol. The Civil Air Patrol removed Pineda as national commander after investigating complaints that another patrol member took Air Force tests for him.[1]

Antonio J. Pineda Jr.
Nickname(s)Tony
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branchCivil Air Patrol
Years of service1988-2007
RankMajor General (Revoked)
CommandsCAP National Commander
Southeast Region Commander
Florida Wing Commander
Awards
Distinguished Service Medal

Exceptional Service Award

Meritorious Service Award

Civil Air Patrol

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Background

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He began his Civil Air Patrol career as a member of the West Broward Composite Squadron in 1988.[2] Pineda completed all levels of the CAP professional development program, including the Paul Garber, Grover Loening, Charles Yeager Aerospace Education and Gill Robb Wilson awards. He attended both the Southeast Region Staff College and the National Staff College. He is also a graduate of the National Commanders Course.[3]

Timeline

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1988-1989: Joined CAP
1989-1996: Group commander, South Florida
1996-1998: Florida Wing vice commander
1998-2001: Florida Wing commander
2001-2004: Southeast Region commander
2004-2005; National Vice commander
2005-2007: National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol — Removed by the Board of Governors for misconduct and stripped of his rank.[4]

Controversy

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In 2007 the Civil Air Patrol Board of Governors voted to and removed Pineda, owing to allegations that he had his subordinates take his exams for him (for courses on security and leadership, among others). The Board also stripped him of his rank. The accusations were investigated & confirmed in an Inspector General report.[5]

Others

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Ranger Corps

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He subsequently created his own volunteer organization, the short lived and now defunct U.S. Ranger Corps, in which he gave himself the title of Lt. Gen.[6][7]

Police

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Pineda began his professional career in 1972 as a police officer and later a detective with the Hollywood, FL Police Department. [citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ On 2 October 2007, the Civil Air Patrol Board of Governors voted 9-1 to remove Antonio Pineda from his position as National Commander. He was removed from the CAP and stripped of his two-star general's rank after NEWS OF THE FORCE (http://newsoftheforce.org Archived 2018-08-31 at the Wayback Machine), a military news e-zine based in Tampa, Fla., first broke the story that Pineda had cheated on his Air Force Air Command and Staff College tests.
  2. ^ "sercap.us archives". archives.sercap.us/research-center/biographies.aspx. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  3. ^ Florida Wing-Civil Air Patrol Antonio_J._Pineda "Antonio J. Pineda, Jr".
  4. ^ On 6 August 2007, the Civil Air Patrol Board of Governors suspended the CAP national commander, Maj Gen Antonio J. Pineda, for a period of up to 180 days. Brig Gen Amy S. Courter, CAP national vice commander, assumed the duties of the National Commander during this period. "U.S. Civil Air Patrol's Board of Governors suspends CAP national commander". CAP News Online. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  5. ^ "Commander of Civil Air Patrol removed - USATODAY.com". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  6. ^ "Veronica.net". Feb 24, 2016.
  7. ^ "US RANGER CORPS INC - NonProfitLookup – Public Profiles of Non Profit Organizations". www.nonprofitlookup.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.