Lt. Col. Edward Cook, a Manlius Resident, Honored as Outstanding National Guard Citizen Airman

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Lt. Col.Edward Cook (left) receives the Gouverneur Morris Citizen Soldier Award from Major General Verle Johnston, commander of the New York Air National Guard on March 3.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE NY (03/06/2013)(readMedia)-- New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Edward Cook Jr., a member of the 174th Attack Wing and a Manlius resident, has been awarded the New York National Guard's Colonel Gouverneur Morris Citizen Soldier Award.

The award recognizes members of the New York Air and Army National Guard and New York's two state defense forces-the New York Guard and New York Naval Militia-who contribute to their community and also excel in the military. Cook received the award from Major General Verle Johnston, commander of the New York Air National Guard at a ceremony here on Sunday, March 3.

The award is named after Gouverneur Morris, a member of the New York Militia who helped reform the Continental Army as a member of the Second Continental Congress and also helped draft the United States Constitution.

Cook has been the commander of the 90-Airman 174th Logistics Readiness Squadron since 2009. The squadron provides logistical support to the 174th Attack Wing. This involves coordinating supplies, fuel, and transportation for missions given to the wing.

He lead the deployment of Air Guard personnel from Hancock Field Air National Guard Base to New York City following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and organized logistics support for the National Guard response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

He's also been involved in National Guard emergency response training missions and conducts Air Force Honor Guard missions to support military funerals.

In his civilian life Cook is a member of the Salvation Army Christmas Bureau Committee, is a Boy Scout Explorer Post Advisor, a Defensive Driving Instructor, a soccer coach, a volunteer firefighter, and a Board member of the ARISE Foundation, which administers a community independent living center.

Cook enlisted in the Air Force in 1988. He joined the Air National Guard in 1992 and served as an enlisted Airman while teaching school at Manlius Pebble Hill School in DeWitt. In 1998 he was commissioned as an office and went to work full-time at what was then the 174th Fighter Wing.

He has deployed seven times to Southwest Asia in support of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. His service in theater included service as Director of Logistics for the Gulf Air Warfare Center in Abu Dhabi; Deputy Director of Logistics at Joint Base Balad in Iraq and Director of Logistics at the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command in Afghanistan.

His awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award and NATO Medal.

He and his wife Svea have two children, Emily and Edward III.