NY Air National Guardsman from Camden, is NORAD Senior NCO of the Year for 2016

Master Sgt. James Burke is honored at Colorado Springs event

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Gen. Lori Robinson and Chief Master Sgt. Harold Hutchinson (right) present the NORAD Senior NCO of the Year award to Master Sgt. James Burke.

ROME, NY (03/20/2017) (readMedia)-- Master Sgt. James Burke of the Eastern Air Defense Sector's 224th Air Defense Group has been named the North American Aerospace Defense Command's outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2016.

Burke received the award on March 14 during a ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

A Camden resident, Burke was recognized for his outstanding performance as a mission crew commander technician and his superb management of more than 90 evaluations as the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the standardization and evaluation section.

Under Burke's leadership, the section also received the highest overall rating on a recently-completed Air Combat Command Capstone inspection.

"Being recognized as the best Senior NCO in an organization as large as NORAD is a remarkable achievement and I congratulate Master Sgt. Burke on his accomplishment," said Col. Emil Filkorn, EADS Commander. "Master Sgt. Burke's professional excellence and technical skill sets a great example for the Airmen he leads and the officers and senior NCOs he works with."

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is a bi-national U.S. and Canadian military organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for the North America. It is composed of the Alaskan NORAD Region, the Canadian NORAD Region and the U.S. Continental NORAD Region.

An Ohio native, Burke enlisted in the Air Force in December 2001. His initial assignment was with the 611th Air Control Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, where he served as a tracking and identification technician and earned instructor qualifications in both fields. In 2004, Burke transferred to the Western Air Defense Sector, where he served as a tracking technician evaluator.

Burke joined the New York Air National Guard in 2007 and was assigned to EADS. He currently serves as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Command and Control Systems for the 224th Air Defense Squadron.

Burke is a graduate of Airman Leadership School and the Air Force's NCO Academy. He has an associate's degree in Space Technology from the Community College of the Air Force and a bachelor's in history from American Military University. He currently maintains a 4.0 grade point average as he pursues a master's degree in military history.

Burke's awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal with one device and the Joint Meritorious Unit award. Burke was also the U.S. Continental NORAD Region-First Air Force Command and Control Warrior of the Year (enlisted) for 2016.

The Eastern Air Defense Sector is a North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) headquarters unit located at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome, New York.

Responsible for the air defense of the eastern United States, EADS is composed of New York Air National Guardsmen from the 224th Air Defense Group, a Canadian Forces detachment, Army, Navy and Coast Guard liaison officers, and federal civilians. EADS also has two detachments located in the National Capital Region.