NY Naval Militia Capt. David Hawley, a Johnsonville resident, receives NYState Medal for Meritorious Service

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LATHAM, NY (06/26/2018) New York Naval Militia Capt. David Hawley, a Johnsonville resident, has been awarded the New York State Medal for Meritorious Service in recognition of his service as the Naval Militia's senior enlisted leader in downstate New York

Hawley was honored for his service from December 2014 to June 2018 while serving as the Chief of Staff for the 2,800-member New York Naval Militia.

Hawley is employed by the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs as the full-time civilian administrator of the Naval Militia as well as serving in the force.

The New York Naval Militia is composed of current Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve members who agree to serve on state active duty when called by the state of New York. They put the skills they've honed in federal military service to work for New York's citizens.

A small number of Naval Militia personnel are retired military members.

Naval Militia members responded to Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the Buffalo snowstorm in 2014, Lake Ontario flooding in 2017 and snow storms in the Hudson Valley earlier this year.

The Naval Militia also operates a fleet of nine patrol boats which respond to state emergencies, augment law enforcement agencies and support the U.S. Coast Guard.

The New York State Medal for Meritorious Service is awarded to members of the New York National Guard, the New York Naval Militia or the New York Guard who distinguish themselves by exceptionally meritorious achievement or exceptionally meritorious service.

Hawley was recognized for improving the process for putting members of the Naval Militia on military duty, standardizing regulatory and administrative processes for the force, and playing a key role in planning for joint disaster preparedness and emergency missions with other elements of the New York Military Forces.

"The New York Naval Militia has become a standard element when organizing personnel requirements for emergencies because Captain Hawley has placed Naval Militia readiness in operational planner's minds," his cituation reads.

The award was presented to Hawley during a June 22 ceremony prior to a change of command ceremony in which responsibility for the New York Naval Militia passed from Naval Militia Rear Admiral Ten Eyck Powell to Rear Admiral Timothy Zakriski.