Canastota resident receives Air National Guard award

The 224th Air Defense Group (ADG) at the Eastern Air Defense Sector recently recognized five New York Air National Guardsmen for outstanding performance.

Recognized Airmen included Master Sgt. Angelina Palmer, from Canastota, N.Y., who received the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Palmer was recognized for her work at EADS and at the Western Air Defense Sector in Tacoma, Washington, where she re-invigorated the unit's Drug Reduction Program, achieved 100 percent mission completion on two NORAD inspections, and incorporated 45 changes into a communications panel re-design, reducing time delays by 75 percent. Since joining the 224th Air Defense Squadron, Palmer has supported more than 70 Presidential temporary flight restrictions and coordinated intelligence with federal law enforcement and aviation agencies.

The 224th ADG is composed of the 224th Air Defense Squadron and 224th SPTS, located in Rome, and Detachment 1 and Detachment 2 that serve in the Washington, D.C. area. The 224th ADG provides the forces to conduct the Eastern Air Defense Sector's (EADS) mission. Part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Sector is responsible for the air defense of the eastern U.S.

For more information about the New York Air National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov. For more information on the Eastern Air Defense Sector and the 224th Air Defense Group, visit www.eads.ang.af.mil.