ROME, NY (03/03/2011)(readMedia)-- Forty-five Air National Guard members who support the Air Force component of the ground-based air defense of Washington D.C. are now members of the New York Air National Guard's Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS), based at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park here.

The members of former the 24th Expeditionary Air Defense Squadron were transferred from federal control under the Air Force Northern Command to EADS. EADS is responsible for air defense of the United States east of the Mississippi.

The mission of these Air Guardsmen has not changed and they will continue to serve in the Washington, D.C.-area as part of the National Capital Region Integrated Air Defense System which includes both Air and Army Guard elements. They will become Detachment 1 and Detachment 2 of the Eastern Air Defense Sector.

The Airmen will formally become members of the New York Air National Guard, and their detachments will be activated, in a Tuesday, March 8 ceremony, that will be attended by Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York, and Eastern Air Defense Sector leaders. The ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C.

The administrative change was made to normalize command and control arrangements for the capital's air defense. The Guard Airman will be under the control of the New York Air National Guard until called upon to support the federal air defense mission under the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The Airmen will be transferred from federal, active-duty National Guard status to the New York Air National Guard as part of the move.

"On behalf of the New York National Guard, we want to welcome our new members serving in the National Capital Region," said Maj. Gen. Patrick A. Murphy, New York Adjutant General. "Our new detachments' geographic location makes them unique, but their mission is a familiar one. New York Air National Guardsmen at the Eastern Air Defense Sector have protected American airspace around-the-clock for more than 15 years and adding the new detachments will strengthen its ability to conduct this essential mission."

"The Eastern Air Defense Sector's mission has always included the National Capital Region and integrating the 24th Expeditionary Air Defense Squadron into EADS improves organizational and operational efficiency," said Col. John Bartholf, EADS Commander. "Combining the units also expands the administrative, training and personnel support available to our new Airmen, which will enhance operational skills while providing additional opportunities for education and professional development."

Detachment 1 will operate as part of the Joint Air Defense Operations Center at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. Detachment 2 will serve as the Department of Defense liaison at the National Capital Region Coordination Center in Herndon, Va. The NCRCC is an information sharing and coordination center for the federal agencies responsible for monitoring the Washington, D.C. airspace.

The Eastern Air Defense Sector is headquartered at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome. Staffed by active-duty New York Air National Guardsmen and a Canadian Forces detachment, the unit supports the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) integrated warning and attack assessment missions and the U.S. Northern Command's (USNORTHCOM) homeland defense mission. EADS is responsible for air sovereignty and counter-air operations over the eastern United States and directs a variety of assets to defend one million square miles of land and sea.

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Posted Thursday March 03, 2011 at 09:00 am by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Monday March 07, 2011 at 02:11 pm