LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. — An Olean man’s lifetime of aerospace education contributions, given out of a selfless devotion to youth and service, was recently honored by the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary.
Lt. Col. George L. Fillgrove, of CAP’s New York Wing Headquarters at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, received the Frank G. Brewer Sr. Memorial Aerospace Award for Lifetime Achievement at the organization’s annual conference.
The Frank G. Brewer Sr. Memorial Aerospace Award is given annually to an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization in recognition of notable contributions of enduring value to the advancement of American youth through aerospace activities. Established in 1959, the award memorializes Alabama civic leader and businessman Frank G. Brewer, Sr., who had a lifelong interest in aviation, youth, and education.
Fillgrove is CAP NYW’s external aerospace education officer and the wing’s emeritus director of aerospace education. Nominated by his peers, the colonel was singled out from a field of CAP aerospace education officers representing units across the eight northeastern states that make up the CAP’s Northeast Region, including Pennsylvania and New York. He received separate awards, one from Headquarters, NY CAP Wing and the second from CAP Northeast Region.
Known for turning a simple paper airplane folding exercise into a lesson demonstrating physics and flight dynamics, Fillgrove was recognized for more than two decades of mentoring, instructing, developing syllabuses, lesson plans, evaluation tools, and public presentations on a variety of aerospace-related subjects. The colonel also established a successful wing-wide themed and interactive aerospace education competition where cadet teams from across New York compete annually through practical presentations on a variety of aviation subjects. During his tenure, Fillgrove promoted the use of desktop computer flight simulators, STEM, model rocketry, educator orientation flights, and aircrew qualification for non-rated officers. He has been an aviation and space subject matter expert and led several units in the achievement of the CAP Aerospace Education Excellence Award.
CAP is the USAF’s congressionally chartered all-volunteer civilian auxiliary and Total Force Partner. Aligned under the Air Combat Command’s 1st Air Force, CAP is assigned three broad missions: emergency services to include search, rescue, disaster relief, homeland security and assisting the Air Force in fulfilling its non-combat programs and missions; internal and public aerospace education programs to encourage awareness in local communities; and a military-styled cadet program for youth.
A Cold War and Desert Storm veteran, the colonel was already serving in CAP when he volunteered for USAF active duty in 1977. Fillgrove would serve two separate tours of active duty, starting with what is now the Air Force Security Forces. He transitioned into public affairs and later finished a special duty assignment as a line and in-service recruiter assigned to two different Air Force Reserve airlift wings undergoing a major aircraft and mission conversions and then mobilized for Desert Storm.
While on active duty, Fillgrove also served on military support teams coordinating visits to Alaska for President Jimmy Carter and Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping. He was one of the military photographers for President Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration and was published nationally: the author of a defense industry article that officially unveiled the now retired Grumman EF-111 Raven and its capabilities. He completed 24 months overseas, three deployments, took part in two U.S. Readiness Command joint-service arctic warfare exercises and was part of the Air Force’s response to the 1981 FAA Air Traffic Controller Strike.
Never far from his CAP roots, the colonel continued to coordinate military airlift, tours and orientation flights for CAP and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) personnel. He helped set up on-base schools, instructed, escorted and served as a base liaison.
After leaving active duty in 1994, Fillgrove resumed his CAP duties at Jamestown Airport.
Already a proven public affairs officer, a dedication to youth and a passion for all things aviation drew him into the aerospace education field. Various supervisory and leadership assignments at squadron, group and wing level would interrupt that interest, and he would eventually command the CAP’s Western New York Group, then headquartered at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base.
Retiring from CAP in 2015 with 44 years of service, Fillgrove was returned to duty in 2020 because of his expertise.
A rated senior observer, Fillgrove accumulated a substantial number of right-seat hours, flying a variety of missions aboard CAP aircraft, ranging from the DeHavilland U-6 to the Cessna T-41 and C-182T. The colonel is officially credited with one search and rescue find. While on active duty, he also flew as a scanner aboard USAF Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS) Lockheed HC-130s, Sikorsky HH-3s, and Bell UH-1s.
Among the colonel’s many awards, decorations and badges are five Air Force Commendation Medals. Most noteworthy of those decorations is one citing him for “extraordinary professionalism and courage,” while acting without regard to his personal safety, as an initial responder to the crash of an armed USAF jet fighter.
Fillgrove holds a master’s degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania; a bachelor’s degree from Manchester College; and a diploma in quality leadership and management from Regis University. He is a graduate of the Defense Information School, USAF Squadron Officers School and CAP’s National Staff College.
Locally, Fillgrove is a member of New York State (NYS) Senator George Borrello’s district staff. He serves on the board of directors for Connecting Communities in Action, Cattaraugus-Allegany Counties Joint Veterans Council, and the Bradford Family YMCA. He is a past Cattaraugus County American Legion commander, a member of the Olean City School District Strategic Plan Committee and past board chair of the Allegany County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Filgrove is married to the former Carolynn Hampshire of Friendship, herself a CAP major. The couple have six children, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
