Colonel Jennifer L. Smith is the Missouri Wing Commander of the Civil Air Patrol, a non-profit, benevolent organization devoted to humanitarian activities, and by law the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

Colonel Smith has served as the Vice Commander for Missouri Wing before being selected as the Missouri Wing Commander and is currently responsible for CAP operations in the state of Missouri. She oversees more than 1000 members in almost 30 units across the state.

Colonel Smith is a native of St. Charles County, Missouri. She attended Central Missouri State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She currently works as the Assistant Director for St. Charles County Regional Emergency Management.

Colonel Smith first joined Civil Air Patrol in 1991 as a cadet with the Wentzville Composite Squadron and completed the CAP cadet program earning its highest award, the General Carl A. Spaatz Award, in 1996. As a cadet she participated in the International Air Cadet Exchange program where she travelled to Switzerland representing the United States.

Colonel Smith returned to CAP in 2012 when her son joined and served in multiple positions with the Wentzville Composite Squadron including Deputy Commander for Cadets, Deputy Commander, and Commander. She has served on wing encampment staff for five years, including two years as encampment commander, as Missouri Wing Group II’s Director of Cadet Programs, and most recently as the Missouri Wing Chief of Staff of Missions from 2019 to 2022. Colonel Smith has continuously served as a Character Development Instructor since 2013.

Colonel Smith’s Civil Air Patrol awards include the USAF Organizational Excellence Award, Exceptional Service Award, Meritorious Service Award with Clasp, three Commander’s Commendations, two CAP Achievement Awards, Crisis Service Award, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Award, Grover Loening Award, Paul E. Garber Award, and the Gill Robb Wilson Award. She was named the Missouri Wing Cadet Junior Officer of the Year for 1993, Missouri Wing Squadron Commander of the Year for 2018, Missouri Wing and North Central Region Character Development Instructor of the Year for 2019, and received the Torch Award in 2021. Colonel Smith holds master ratings in Professional Development, Character Development, Cadet Programs, and Command.

Colonel Smith lives in St. Peters, Missouri. Her son, Justin, also completed the CAP cadet program and earned his General Carl A. Spaatz Award in 2019.

Lt Col Mike Toedebusch serves as the Missouri Wing Chief of Staff - Missions.  A member of the Wing command staff, he is responsible for the coordination, supervision, and mentorship of the staff of the three primary mission areas of Cadet Programs, Emergency Services, and Aerospace Education.  He was appointed to the position in March of 2022.  In addition to his Missouri Wing Headquarters assignment, he also serves on the National Headquarters Staff on the National Cadet Team as the Senior Advisor to the National Cadet Advisory Council. In this capacity he, along with his advisor team, advises and mentors the Council which comprises of 18 cadet representatives from across the nation, who serve as the cadet voice to the National Command Team. Lt Col Toedebusch also serves as a Volunteer University instructor.

Previously, Lt Col Toedebusch served as the Missouri Wing Director of Cadet Programs. In this position, he was responsible for overseeing the plans, programs, activities, schools, and encampments; as well as supervising the Cadet Programs staff at the Wing level.  He was appointed to this position in January of 2018.

A resident of O'Fallon Missouri, Lt Col Toedebusch joined the Civil Air Patrol as a cadet in 1987, earning the General Carl A. Spaatz Award in 1993.  Following transition to Senior membership, he served terms as the Groups 1 and 2 Cadet Programs Officer, Wentzville Composite Squadron Deputy Commander for Cadets, and a brief tenure as the St. Charles Composite Squadron Commander.

Lt Col Toedebusch holds a Master rating in Cadet Programs and has completed Level V of the Civil Air Patrol Senior Member Education & Training Program.  Lt Col Toedebusch’s decorations include the Meritorious Service Award with three clasps, Commander’s Commendation Award (Region) with two clasps, Commander’s Commendation Award (Wing) with eight clasps, Achievement Award, and Crisis Service Award.

A 1995 graduate of the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, Lt Col Toedebusch has held multiple leadership positions in both the public and private sector.  Lt Col Toedebusch has two daughters, Kylie and Kelsey.