More
than 170 New York Air National Guardsmen, Canadian Forces members and
guests were in attendance at the Radisson Hotel in Utica last Friday as
the Eastern Air Defense Sector recognized its outstanding performers
from 2013.
"EADS'
mission of protecting the eastern U.S. airspace requires consistent
excellence from all of our members," said Col. Dawne Deskins, EADS
Commander. "Our 2013 award winners distinguished themselves by going
above and beyond our high standards and I congratulate each of them on
their outstanding accomplishments and thank them for their extraordinary
efforts."
EADS
is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and is
composed of New York Air National Guardsmen, a Canadian Forces
detachment and a civilian support staff. The unit recognized outstanding
performers in six categories: company grade officer (junior officers
below the rank of major), senior noncommissioned officer,
noncommissioned officer, junior enlisted airman, honor guard member and
civilian.
Award recipients were:
- Capt.
Angela Hudson, Royal Canadian Air Force, Outstanding Company Grade
Officer. A senior director in operations, Hudson qualified as an
instructor in the shortest time possible. A third-year law student,
she was noted as a "stellar performer" on a major 1st Air Force operational inspection and was a national finalist for the prestigious RCAF Space Studies program.
- Master
Sgt. Jonathon Lake, Holland Patent, Outstanding Senior
Noncommissioned Officer. A versatile senior NCO, Lake maintained
three different operational qualifications. The only EADS member to
earn an "exceptionally qualified" rating as an emergency action
coordinator, Lake performed superbly in nine NORAD-level exercises.
He also developed a training program for military pay certifiers,
participated in eight Honor Guard details and was active in several
volunteer efforts.
- Master
Cpl. Sean Parent, Royal Canadian Air Force, Outstanding
Noncommissioned Officer. The first RCAF member to be assigned to
EADS data-link management control cell, Parent was recognized for
outstanding performance by the Commander and four visiting
generals. Parent is the Canadian Detachment's suicide prevention
adviser and serves on the unit's bi-national honor guard.
- Staff
Sgt. Benjamin Plumley, Herkimer, Outstanding Airman. A radio
transmission specialist, Plumley's ingenuity during installations
and maintenance saved thousands of dollars. As lead antenna
climbing instructor, Plumley trained five Airmen on safety and
rescue techniques, which contributed greatly to the unit's perfect
safety record in this area. An energetic volunteer, he served as a
youth baseball coach and helped with flood-relief and Thanksgiving
charity events.
- Tech.
Sgt. Amy Ough, Whitesboro, Outstanding Honor Guard Member. Ough
participated in more than 30 percent of the Honor Guard's 50
details, including 11 funeral ceremonies. She contributed more than
125 volunteer hours to the program, coordinating with local
funeral directors and training new personnel for ceremonial duties.
Ough has also been named the New York Air National Guard's Outstanding
Honor Guard member.
- Arnold
Zumbrun, Rome, Outstanding Civilian. Lead program manager for
computer room addition, which was completed on time and included
more than $1.3 million in communications equipment. As a resource
adviser, Zumbrun streamlined his section's budget, maintaining
mission critical support projects while reducing spending by more
than 20 percent.
The
Eastern Air Defense Sector is headquartered at Griffiss Business and
Technology Park in Rome. Staffed by active-duty New York Air National
Guardsmen and a Canadian Forces detachment, the unit supports the North
American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) integrated warning and
attack assessment missions and the U.S. Northern Command's (USNORTHCOM)
homeland defense mission. EADS is responsible for air sovereignty and
counter-air operations over the eastern United States and directs a
variety of assets to defend one million square miles of land and sea.