Eastern Air Defense Sector Recognizes Outstanding Performers at Annual Awards Banquet

ROME, NY (01/28/2015)(readMedia)-- Six members of the New York Air National Guard's Eastern Air Defense Sector were honored for their performance in 2014 during the command's annual awards banquet on Friday, Jan. 23 at the Radisson Hotel.

The Eastern Air Defense Sector Honor Guard Manager Staff Sgt. Richard Burns,was also recognized for being named the New York Air National Guard's Honor Guard Manager of the Year.

The unit presented awards in six categories: company grade officer (junior officers below the rank of major), senior noncommissioned officer, noncommissioned officer, junior enlisted airman, honor guard member and civilian.

Award recipients were:

• Capt. Brad Dunford, Wampsville, Outstanding Company Grade Officer. The lead controller on nine fighter scrambles and more than 40 exercises, Dunford developed and implemented an academic training program for 110 personnel. Also revised more than 30 operational checklists and expertly managed eight unit inspection programs.

• Master Sgt. Amy Taylor, Rome, Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer. Taylor superbly managed 14 computer maintenance personnel and conducted a rigorous cyber evaluation, ensuring EADS operated in compliance with Air Force guidance. Also oversaw the unit's transition from personal data assistants to I-phones. Taylor was recently elected President of the Top 3, a leadership group composed of the unit's Senior Noncommissioned Officers.

• Tech. Sgt. Christopher Kent, Rome, Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer. Kent flawlessly supported 40 air patrols and 139 training missions. He also provided command and control support for 10 major training exercises and nine evaluations, ensuring operations personnel were effectively trained.

• Senior Airman Kathleen Bielecki, Rome, Outstanding Airman. Recognized for her contributions to operations and training, Bielecki performed notably during 27 air patrols and more than 100 exercises. She was also recognized as a superior performer during VIGILANT SHIELD 15, NORAD's largest annual exercise.

• Master Sgt. Thomas Whiteman, Rome, Outstanding Honor Guard Member. Whiteman voluntarily served on 35 of the unit's 96 Honor Guard details. Details included providing colors at high-profile events such as Syracuse University basketball games and rendering final honors at 15 veterans' funerals. Also served as an influential mentor to other Honor Guard members.

• Mr. Krispin Dorfman, Rome, Outstanding Civilian. Responsible for prioritizing the unit's operations budget, Dorfman efficiently managed travel, contract and purchasing funds. Also integrated a new communications system onto the operations floor and oversaw major construction project in EADS headquarters facility.

• Staff Sgt. Richard Burns, Tonawanda, New York Air National Guard Honor Guard Manager of the Year. Burns dedicated hundreds of hours of personal time to planning, scheduling and training EADS Honor Guard. He personally participated in 38 details and planned an additional 58 events. An effective recruiter and trainer, Burns increased the number of qualified Honor Guard personnel to 30.

Photosof the awardees can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nyng/sets/72157650520693741/

The Eastern Air Defense Sector is located at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome. A headquarters element of the U.S. Continental North American Aerospace Defense Command Region (CONR), EADS is responsible for the air defense of the eastern United States. Staffed by active-duty New York Air National Guardsmen, a Canadian Forces detachment, joint service liaison officers and a civilian support staff, EADS directs a variety of assets to defend more than one million square miles of airspace east of the Mississippi River.