Col. Shawn Clouthier, a Coxsackie Resident, Will Command 109th Airlift Wing

30-Year Guard Veteran Replaces Col. Timothy LaBarge on April 15

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Colonel Shawn Clouthier

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SCOTIA, NY (03/28/2012)(readMedia)-- Col. Shawn Clouthier, a 30 year veteran of the New York Air National Guard with over 6,000 hours of flight time, has been tapped to become the commander of the 109th Airlift Wing.

Clouthier, a Coxsackie resident, will replace Col. Timothy LaBarge, the current commander of the 109th Airlift Wing, who will assume command of the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh on April 15.

Clouthier, age 50, who currently serves as Commander of the 109th Operations Group, takes command on April 15. A formal Change of Command Ceremony between the two men will be held on May 5.

The 109th Airlift Wing flies the LC-130 "Skibird" aircraft which are fitted with skis as well as wheels, and are the only aircraft in the United States military equipped to land on snow in remote locations. The members of the wing support National Science Foundation research stations in Antarctica and Greenland.

Clouthier is an instructor/evaluator navigator with over 6,800 hours of flight time. He has served as the Air Expeditionary Group Commander for Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. military's effort to support National Science Foundation research operations in Antarctica during the 2011/12 season.

"His experiences as a flight crew member, Operations and Maintenance Group Commander and most recently Air Expeditionary Group Commander for Operation Deep Freeze have uniquely prepared Col. Clouthier to lead one of the most professional and mission focused organizations in the Air Force," said Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York.

"I am extremely honored and privileged to have been selected as the next Commander of the 109th Airlift Wing," Clouthier said.

"The men and women of the 109th are among the Nation's finest, carrying out a unique mission set to the Polar Regions along with answering the call during State and National emergencies. I look forward to enhancing our already strong relationship with the National Science Foundation and our local communities," he added.

Clouthier, a graduate of Fort Plain High School, Herkimer County Community College and the State University of New York, Regents College, was commissioned through the Academy of Military Science at McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville, TN in 1982.

After training as a navigator, he was assigned to the 139th Tactical Airlift Squadron, a part of the 109th Airlift Wing, as a traditional drilling Air National Guard Airman.

He became an Air National Guard technician-- working at the unit full-time -- in 1995, after working for 13 years as an employee of the New York State Senate.

He has served as the Maintenance Squadron Commander, Deputy Maintenance Group Commander and Maintenance Group Commander prior to taking over as the 109th Operations Group Commander.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Antarctica Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal. His New York State Awards include the Louisiana Emergency Service Medal for those who responded to Hurricane Katrina, the New York Long and Faithful Service Award and the Defense of Liberty Ribbon awarded to those who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001 attack.

Clouthier and his wife Janice have two daughters, Tori and Alexa.

The 109th Airlift Wing is one of five flying units of the New York Air National Guard (NYANG) that provides worldwide airlift support for operations as directed by the Air National Mobility Command and the Air National Guard. It has the only ski-equipped C-130 aircraft in the Air Force and is the sole provider of heavy airlift is support of military and National Science Foundation directed operations in the Arctic and Antarctic Polar Regions.

The Wing's 1,000 men and women regularly supply the United States science station at the South Pole and fly airlift missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.