John Knowles: Cadet to Construction Executive
By Russell Slater
When 58-year-old CAP Col. John Knowles first joined CAP as a cadet back in 1972, little did he know that his involvement with the organization would blossom into a career that would lead to his commanding the Middle East Region, composed of 7 different wings. Throughout his 45 years of service, Knowles has climbed the ranks, taking on more responsibility as his experience grew. He has commanded a squadron, a group, a wing, and as of 2014, an entire region. Looking back, Knowles credits his success in business and in Civil Air Patrol with a solid foundation of leadership that was laid during his days as a cadet in the Maryland Wing’s Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cadet Squadron.
Leadership Lab
“Our commander, Capt. Bill Hicks, was an inspirational leader for those he touched during his time in CAP,” Knowles recalls. “He built a legacy in establishing a squadron that, to this day, still focuses on allowing cadets to serve as leaders, and to treat the cadet experience as a leadership lab.”
What has kept Knowles involved throughout the years? A core value of service, instilled in him at an early age by his father, a World War II and Korean War veteran.
“This has been a touchstone for me my whole life, and I found in CAP an amazing organization that allows me to serve my community, state, nation, and my fellow man,” Knowles said.
According to Knowles, providing a place for youth to learn about teamwork, integrity, service and respect is especially important in today’s world of interaction with computers, social media, and individually-focused activities. The cadet program “is a world-class opportunity for cadets to explore options and careers that they may want to pursue.”
Membership and active involvement with CAP is a family affair for Knowles, who met his wife of 35 years, Maj. Teri Hanna Knowles, when both were cadets together (she is still a member of CAP and serves as a Health Services Officer, along with supporting her husband’s service). Their children have continued the tradition, serving as cadets before moving on to successful careers.
“All of my family are CAP members. All of us started as cadets in the same squadron. We each learned something different in our experiences, but we all benefited from our time as cadets.”
His daughter, Maj. Rachel Hanna Knowles, who currently serves as the Maryland Wing’s deputy director of cadet programs and is very active as a ground team leader, used her cadet experience to help make her way through college and medical school to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy. Her older brother Michael served on the staff of NESA for two years as a cadet, while their younger brother Daniel took the skills he learned as a cadet with him to the oldest Merchant Marine Academy in the country. Both sons are current Senior Members.
“One thing every cadet learns is self-discipline,” Knowles said. “They understand the mission focus and the need to put others before themselves.”
Knowles’s family also endows the Lt. Col. William E. Hanna, Jr. Memorial CAP Cadet Flight Scholarship, which provides up to $5,000 to help cadets attain a private pilot’s license. The late Lt. Col. Hanna was Knowles’ father-in-law, and the family chose this scholarship as a way to honor him and his commitment to service.
Climbing the Ladder
“John and I were members of the Maryland Wing and became good friends when we were Group Commanders between 2004 and 2006,” said Col. Jerry Weiss, the Middle East Region’s Vice Commander-East/Operations. “I was selected to be the Wing Commander in 2006, and John served as my Vice Commander.
We developed and implemented a program that set goals, measured progress, emphasized learning from lessons learned, and focused on helping any cadet or officer who wanted to participate and advance their personal goals and grow the organization. We continue this program at the region level today.”
While in command of the Maryland Wing (2010–2014), Knowles saw 12 cadets under his command earn the Gen. Carl Spaatz Award, 24 cadets experienced solo flying through the wing’s Solo School Program, and nearly 1,000 cadets graduated the Tri-Wing Encampment. His leadership proved invaluable during the wing’s relief efforts following the damage caused by Super Storm Sandy along the Atlantic coast in 2012. During his time in charge, the wing found 52 missing persons and saved 8 lives.
In 2014, both Knowles and Weiss applied for the position of Middle East Region Commander, and Knowles was selected. He then chose Weiss to serve as the region’s Vice Commander-East, with responsibility for Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Wings.
Since he assumed command of CAP’s Middle East Region (which is made up of the Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Delaware, West Virginia, and National Capital wings), Knowles has shepherded the region through various large-scale events, such as South Carolina’s “1,000-Year Storm” in 2015, West Virginia’s “1,000-Year Flood” in 2016, and the multi-state impacted Hurricane Matthew in 2016. In every instance he showed leadership and helped coordinate efforts of the different wings, putting the region’s motto, “No Borders, No Boundaries,” into practice.
In addition to his current job commanding the 7,250 plus members of Middle East Region, Knowles is also vice president of the Clark Construction Group LLC, one of the largest private construction companies in the United States, where he is in charge of the company’s logistics and equipment, valued at $70 million.
A True Leader
“John has great respect for each member’s time, talent and treasure,” Col. Weiss said. “He understands the volunteer ethos and builds on it. He treats others as he would like to be treated and with John Knowles what you see is what you get. He is extremely fair and does not ask others to do what he will not.
He brings personnel to leadership and staff positions and lets them do their jobs, ready to mentor when asked. He manifests the core values of the organization each time he encounters a member or is representing the organization. This comes easy to him because the core values are part of his fiber.
I am glad to know him, he is a reliable friend.”
In recognition of his service to youth, Knowles, an Eagle Scout, was awarded the Saint George Medal by the Boy Scouts of America in 2006, and his dedication and leadership in CAP were acknowledged twice in 2009 when he was named both the Maryland Wing Senior Member of the Year and the Middle East Region Senior Member of the Year.
With more than 26,000 youth ages 12–20 in the CAP cadet program, those in the Middle East Region can take comfort in the fact that they are commanded by a true leader who is guided in his actions by his extensive experience as a former cadet himself, a leader of cadets, and a parent of cadets.
*Originally published in CAP Volunteer Magazine
