One of CadetStuff's founders, Senior Editor Shawn Stanford has worn a uniform for most of his life. He joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1977 at the age of 14, and rose to the rank of C/Capt in CTWG's Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron.

He joined the Marine Corps in 1981, graduating from MCRD Parris Island in January of 1982. He was trained as a computer programmer and spent time in Okinawa, Japan; Albany, Georgia; and Kansas City, Missouri before being honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1989.

In 1990, he rejoined Civil Air Patrol, specializing in Cadet Programs. He has served CAP as a Leadership Officer, Deputy Commander for Cadets and Squadron Commander in MOWG and PAWG.

He joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in early 2001 as an M1 Abrams tank crewman. In 2004 he was activated and deployed to Iraq as an MP, where he was attached to the Iraq Survey Group. Since returning, he has changed units and is now an artillery Fire Support Specialist.

In the spring of 2006 he joined the American Cadet Alliance and received a commission as a captain in the Army Cadet Corps. He also serves as a Training Officer in the Leadership Development Institute. He has a wife, a son and two daughters and is working on a book about his experiences in Iraq.