Capt. John Allan Robertson Memorial Endowment to Allow Other Youths in CAP to Soar, Just Like He Did

On Aug. 8, Civil Air Patrol established the Capt. John Allan Robertson Memorial Endowment in partnership with the Texas Wing's Rio del Fierro Composite Squadron and Robertson's family. The endowment will annually pay for one cadet to attend a national powered flight or glider academy and realize their dream of becoming a pilot.

Before his passing earlier this year, Capt. John Allan Robertson was assigned to the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, as a first assignment instructor pilot on the T-6A Texan II.

From the time he was 5, Robertson dreamed of following in his dad's footsteps as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. His father, Steve Robertson, had participated in CAP in the 1980s and went on to fly the F-15E in the Air Force.

Recognizing the challenge to achieve his goal, John Robertson excelled in school and sports and joined the North Carolina Wing's Iredell County Composite Squadron. His six years in CAP proved critical, allowing him to develop valuable leadership lessons that directly contributed to his becoming a pilot.

"Civil Air Patrol played a big role in our lives, helping us grow as individuals and as leaders." said Felix Reyes, who joined CAP with Robertson. "We were both naturally quiet, but through CAP we found in each other a bond that allowed us to open up and form a lasting friendship that spanned nearly two decades."

As a cadet, Robertson attended national glider and powered flight academies, enabling him to earn glider and pilot ratings while in high school.

Robertson's cadet career culminated with CAP's highest cadet honor – the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award, achieved by less than one-half of 1% of all cadets.

"When I met John, one of the first things he told me was he was going to become an Air Force pilot one day, and he did just that," Reyes said.

Robertson was accepted into the Air Force Academy, where he belonged to the Precision Flying Team (whose motto is "Fly Like a Champion!"), further honing his flying and leadership skills.

The opportunities that Civil Air Patrol provided truly shaped John into the young leader he became and opened the door to a flying career in the Air Force." – U.S. Army Capt. Pat Robertson

He graduated from the academy in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in military strategic studies and a slot to attend the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, the world's premier Air Force fighter training school. Upon graduating from the program he was assigned to the 80th Flying Training Wing as a first assignment instructor pilot, or FAIP, on the T-6A Texan II.

"The opportunities that Civil Air Patrol provided truly shaped John into the young leader he became and opened the door to a flying career in the Air Force," said his brother, U.S. Army Capt. Pat Robertson.

"John took advantage of every opportunity in Civil Air Patrol," his dad said. "If not for his participation in CAP, John would not have been able to serve our country as a U.S. Air Force pilot with the passion, ability, and effectiveness that he did.

"Our family, his friends, and fellow pilots miss him deeply but are inspired by his legacy to maximize every day for others."

John Robertson passed away May 14 while an instructor pilot at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, where he had spent 1½ years in the "FAIP Mafia" training pilot candidates on the T-6A.

While at Sheppard, Robertson was also heavily involved with his church community and volunteered as a member of the Rio del Fierro Composite Squadron. Through the generosity of his squadron, family, and countless friends, his legacy will live on as others are empowered to fly as he did.

Members of Robertson's family celebrate his graduation/commissioning in May 2019. With Robertson (third from left) are (from left) brother Sasha Robertson, sister-in-law Catherine Robertson, and brother Pat Robertson.

Members of Robertson's family celebrate his graduation/commissioning in May 2019. With Robertson (third from left) are (from left) brother Sasha Robertson, sister-in-law Catherine Robertson, and brother Pat Robertson.

John was a truly special man whose kindness, humor, and integrity were bedrocks for us, his family, his pilot hangar, and his CAP community," Pat Robertson said. "His passion for his craft as an aviator was second only to his love for God, which is evident in the impact he has had on all who knew him."

Recognizing his love for serving others, Robertson's family hopes the endowment will provide others with the opportunities Civil Air Patrol gave him and ignite within them the same passion for flight that enabled him to soar.