Major Thomas Benton, a Gansevoort Resident, Takes Command of New York National Guard Civil Support Team

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Major Thomas Benton accepts the guidon of the 2nd Civil Support Team from Brig. Gen. Renwick Payne (left) on Sept. 13, marking his assumption of command of the 2nd Civil Support Team.

SCOTIA , NY (09/14/2011)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Major Thomas Benton, a Gansevoort resident, has taken command of a highly specialized National Guard unit trained to identify radiological, biological, and chemical agents that might be used in a terrorist attack.

Benton, who joined the New York Army National Guard in 1995 after spending eight years in the Navy as a nuclear power plant operator, replaces New York Air National Guard Major Rich Nunziato, Slingerlands resident, as the unit's commander.

He is a combat veteran, deploying to Afghanistan in 2008 as a member of an Embedded Training Team in Helmand Province and Kandahar, where he trained Afghan National Army Soldiers.

Nunziato, a Slingerlands resident, will be retiring after 27 years in the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard.

The 2nd Civil Support Team, which Benton took command of on Sept. 13, is based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia. The team can deploy throughout upstate New York or the northeast from that location. The 2nd CST routinely sends teams to be available during major events which could be the target of an attack like the Watkins Glen races, the U.S. Open, the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, and the World Series.

"Commanding troops is the best duty an officer can have," Benton said. "Being the commander of the 2nd CST is special to me since I helped stand up the unit during my first tour  back in 1998-2002, when I came to the team as a 2nd Lieutenant."

During that time Benton deployed to New York City on Sept. 11, 2001 as part of the National Guard response to the attacks on the World Trade Center that day.

The 24-member 2nd CST is one of two Civil Support Teams manned by the New York National Guard. The unit is manned by full-time members of the New York Army and Air National Guard. The 24th CST is based at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn and focuses operations on the New York City Area.

The abbreviation CST is short for Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team.

Benton is originally from Frederick Maryland. He was commissioned through the Officer Candidate School program in 1997 and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nuclear Technology from New York Excelsior College. He also holds a Masters Degree in Fire Service and Emergency Management from American Military University.

While in the Navy he served as a engineering laboratory technician and diver on board the USS Gato, the USS Sand Lance, and the USS Trepang. His Army National Guard assignments have included service as a field medic, a platoon leader, survey team leader and operations officer for the 2nd CST, Plans and Operations Officer for the Domestic Operations Directorate of the New York National Guard, and deputy commander of the 2nd CST.

He is married to Suzanne Murphy, formerly of Queensbury, and has two children, Sarah and Christopher.

His awards include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, Submarine Warfare Badge, Scuba Diver Bade, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and NATO Medal.

Major Rich Nunziato was named 2nd CST commander in February 2009 after serving as the deputy commander.

He and his wife Dawn have a daughter, Amber. Dawn Nunziato is a Board Member of the New York State Board of Examiners of Sex Offenders.

Nunziato served in the Active Air Force for six years before joining the Air National Guard in 1990. He has worked with the 2nd CST since 1999.

His awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

A video of Major Thomas Benton discussing his 9/11 experience can be seen on the National Guard Bureau website here: www.ng.mil/assets/911/default.aspx