Col. Brett Batick, a Manlius resident, takes command of the 174th Attack Wing on Saturday, Dec. 6.

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Col. Brett Batick

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE, NEW YORK (12/04/2025) (readMedia)-- New York Air National Guard Col. Brett Batick, a Manlius, NY resident, will take command of the New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing during a ceremony at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.

Batick will replace Brig. Gen. John O'Connor, a resident of Rochester, who has led the wing since 2023.

O'Connor is relinquishing command to serve as the chief of staff for the New York Air National Guard at NYANG headquarters in Latham, NY.

Members of the press are invited to attend the ceremony.

WHO: Maj. Gen. Michael Bank, the commander of the New York Air National Guard and the presiding officer for the ceremony; Col. Brett Batick, the incoming commander; Brig. Gen. John O'Connor; and the men and women of the 174th Attack Wing.

WHAT: A traditional change of command ceremony, during which the guidon of the wing will be transferred from O'Connor to Bank and then to Batick. The ceremony symbolizes the transition from one commander to another.

WHEN: Reporters must be at the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base gate no later than 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025

WHERE: Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, 6001 E. Molloy Rd., Syracuse, NY, 13211

Members of the media must contact the 174th Airlift Wing public affairs office at 315-233-2651 no later than 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, for access to this secure military facility.

Media Opportunity:

Reporters will be able to collect still imagery and video of the ceremony and speak to the participants.

BACKGROUND:

Col. Brett Batick

Col. Brett Batick graduated from the University of Florida in 1998 where he earned a

Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Additionally, he earned a

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 2011.

He previously served in the United States Marine Corps as an F/A-18 Pilot, 2-Plane

and 4-Plane Flight Lead, and Airframes Maintenance Division Officer in Marine

Fighter Attack Squadron 251, Beaufort, South Carolina. He went on to be an Advanced Jet Flight Instructor in Training Squadron 9 in Meridian, Mississippi.

After transitioning to the New York Air National Guard, Hancock Field, Syracuse, New

York in 2013, he qualified as an evaluator pilot in the MQ-9 and served as the

Commander, 174th Maintenance Group, Commander, 174th Operational Support

Squadron, and Commander, 138th Attack Squadron.

Batick is a Command Pilot with more than 3500 hours. He has flown over 170

combat missions and 190 combat support missions in Operations Iraqi Freedom,

Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom's Sentinel.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal with two silver and two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal with bronze 'R' device, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with bronze star, and the Remote Combat Effects Medal with bronze star.

Brig. Gen. John O'Connor

Brig. Gen. John O'Connor graduated from the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh in 1988. He was commissioned through the United States Air Force Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas in 1989 and earned his Master of Science Degree in Human Resource Management from Troy University, Alabama in 1991.

O'Connor served on active duty for nine years holding leadership positions in supply operations, logistics management and as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He joined the New York Air National Guard in 1998 and held squadron and group command positions in both the Maintenance and Mission Support Groups.

Additionally, O'Connor served as the Principal Deputy Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection at the National Guard Bureau Air National Guard Readiness Center. He has deployed in support of combat operations in Operation Desert Storm/Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom.

His awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with eight oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 3 'M' devices, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze star.

The 174th Attack Wing

The primary mission of the 174th Attack Wing is to operate the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. In addition to operationally deploying the MQ-9 system, the wing hosts a Formal Training unit that provides MQ-9 aircrew training and certification to MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators.

The 174th Attack Wing additionally oversees a field training detachment that provides MQ-9 maintenance training for U.S. and allied servicemembers.