Air Guard Capt. Andrew Rodgers, A Buffalo resident, takes charge of 107th Support Squadron

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Capt. Andrew Rodgers ( right) accepts the guidon of the 107th Support Squadron during Change-of-Command ceremonies held on Saturday, Oct. 3.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION (10/06/2015)(readMedia)-- New York Air National Guard Capt. Andrew Rodgers , a Buffalo resident, took command of the 107th Support Squadron during an Oct. 3 ceremony held here.

In the traditional ceremony, the outgoing commander, Major Bryan Dalporto, symbolically passed the Squadron's flag to the new commander. Dalporto is now serving as the wing's Inspector General.

The squadron is part of the 107th Airlift Wing.

Rodgers was previously the full time director of personnel of the 107th Airlift Wing, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Base, and Niagara Falls, New York.

He has over 14 years of service in the New York Air National Guard.

Rodgers enlisted as a Utility Systems Craftsman of the 107th Civil Engineering Squadron in 2001. He has been involved with Operation Jump Start in Arizona 2007, deployed is support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and 2008, and has supported multiple civil support operations.

Capt Rodgers earned his bachelor's degree from the University at Buffalo in 2003. He was commissioned in 2009 and has served in multiple roles while assigned to the 107th Force Support Squadron.

Col. Donald McGuire, 107th Mission Support Commander, selected Rodgers to lead the Force Support Squadron.

"Capt Rodgers has done an outstanding job as the Human Resource Officer and his work has been critical to the FSS" success." said McGuire. "He has managed the day-to-day operation and provides essential leadership at time when many of the squadron's experienced personnel retired."

"I have enjoyed working with Capt Rodgers over these past few years. It great knowing I could always depend on him to represent me and the squadron with the highest degree of professionalism and knowledge." said Major Bryan Dalporto.

Rodgers will be responsible for leading the 107th Force Support Squadron. His duties will include handling all human resources functions of the Wing's 630 full and part time military members.

Rodgers directly manages 16 fulltime employees that provide the 107th Airlift Wing personnel, recruiting, lodging, feeding, fitness, and contingency casualty collection support. He will also advise and brief senior level Wing leadership daily of all aspects of personnel management.

"The place that I learned about hard work was my parent's living room. That was the places were Math and spelling flash cards were painstakingly reviewed with my father when he came home from work" said Rodgers. "When I became frustrated, my father would leave me with the phrase "inch by inch life is a cinch, yard by yard life is hard." I would go to bed and he would start his preparation for his next day of work.

Rodgers addressed the men and women of the FSS saying, "Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to this organization. I will continue to stand by you as we face the new challenges of the future."