Livingston Teen, Son Of Ukrainian Immigrants, Wins Civil Air Patrol Award

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Livingston High School senior Nicolas Zaster has won the prestigious General Billy Mitchell Award from the Civil Air Patrol on North Jersey.

The Civil Air Patrol often seeks cadets in North Jersey. Founded in 1941 and established as a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air

Force, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for youth development and aerospace education.

"Zaster joined the Civil Air Patrol four years ago and immediately embraced the missions of the Civil Air Patrol, which include aviation, aerospace, volunteerism, and emergency services," said a release.

He was honored on Nov. 21 at a ceremony held at their meeting location, the American Red Cross Northern New Jersey Headquarters in Fairfield.

Only about 15 percent of cadets who join CAP earn the award. Civil Air Patrol has approximately 25,000 young adults age 12 to 18 in its cadet program.

Presented by Major Jimy Menoutis and Lt. Colonel Carol McCloud, the Mitchell Award recognizes Zaster’s sustained excellence in all four areas of cadet life: leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character.

As a recipient of the Mitchell Award, Zaster is elevated to the rank of cadet officer and promoted to the grade of Cadet Second Lieutenant. As an officer, he takes on more responsibility for leading junior-ranking cadets while continuing to develop himself as a “dynamic American and aerospace leader.”

Zaster joined the Civil Air Patrol four years ago and immediately embraced the missions of the Civil Air Patrol, which include aviation, aerospace, volunteerism, and emergency services. He pursued opportunities to learn and lead in his home squadron, the Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron.

Currently, Zaster serves as Cadet Commander for his home squadron, where he commands two flights of cadets (45 teens). He has held other squadron roles of Deputy Cadet Commander and Flight Sergeant, as well as duty assignments supporting public affairs and IT/technology.

Zaster has also participated in CAP activities at the New Jersey Wing and Northeast Region levels. In March, Zaster traveled to Washington, D.C., with 12 other cadet delegates to meet with elected officials and legislators about CAP’s impact and mission. He also served as photographer and public affairs support at the NJ Wing Cadet Conference (2023) and Rhode Island Wing 2022 basic encampment training. In 2021, Zaster attended the Wisconsin Cadet Academy at Camp Douglas.

Zaster lives with his siblings and parents, who are first-generation immigrants from Ukraine.

Bilingual, speaking Russian and English, Zaster is a 3.75 GPA honors student and an active community member.

He is a photographer for the Livingston High School Media Association and an executive board member for the National Art Honor Society chapter at Livingston High School. Last summer, he held an internship in Israel, working with a 3D printing start-up.

Zaster has been working to obtain a private pilot’s license for the last two years. He has logged over 30 hours of airtime and expects to complete his FAA private pilot licensing in early 2024. After graduation from high school, he plans to study aerospace as he continues to work towards a full-time career in commercial aviation.

About the Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron

Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron is a local unit of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) that has 45 cadets plus adult members who reside in West Orange, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, East Hanover, Fairfield, Livingston, Morristown, Parsippany, Roseland, and Wayne.

The squadron meets on Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the American Red Cross Northern New Jersey Headquarters, 209 Fairfield Road, Fairfield, NJ.

More about the CAP Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron is here: http://nj073.cap.gov/

The Gen. Billy Mitchell Award was established in 1964. The award honors the late Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, aviation pioneer and staunch supporter of an independent Air Force for America. The award is earned after completing the first eight achievements of the cadet program. Mitchell recipients must pass a series of examinations on leadership and aerospace topics and have completed a week-long encampment immersing them in a challenging leadership and STEM environment.

Mitchell Award recipients are eligible to attend CAP’s Cadet Officer School and the Civic Leadership Academy. Eventually, if they choose to enlist in the US Air Force, they may enter at the grade of E-3, Airman First Class. The award is also looked upon favorably by the admissions staff at the USAF Academy and the AFROTC.