Clinton Airman receives Meritorious Service Medal

The 224th Air Defense Group (ADG) at the Eastern Air Defense Sector recently recognized seven New York Air National Guardsmen for outstanding performance. Recipients included Lt. Col. Rex Vernales from Clinton, N.Y., who received the Meritorious Service Medal.

A member of the 224th Support Squadron, Vernales successfully led a remote cyber survey of all North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) battle control centers. Other accomplishments included integrating new technologies and sensors into Eastern Air Defense Sector battle control system and leading a first-of-its-kind mobile radar integration project with the Canadian air defense forces.

The 224th ADG is composed of the 224th Air Defense Squadron and 224th Support Squadron, 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 mission. Part of 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.