New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Col. Charles Hutson, a Pompey resident, awarded Bronze Star Medal

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New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Charles H. Hutson, Commander of the 174th Attack Wing Comptroller Flight, stands with a new member of the Afghan Local Police in the Kabul Green Zone .

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE, NY (10/24/2013)(readMedia)-- New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Charles Hutson, a Pompey resident, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Afghanistan earlier this year.

Hutson, a member of the 174th Attack Wing and the commander of the wing's Comptroller Flight, served as Chief of Fiscal Policy for the International Security Assistance Force's Reintegration Cell in Kabul during his six month deployment.

While deployed, Hutson played a critical role in the international community's effort to reduce the insurgency and enhance regional and community stability by advising and assisting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in administering the Peace and Reintegration Program.

He worked directly with senior Afghan government officials to administer a $176 million financial assistance fund, enabling the internationally-funded campaign to weaken insurgent networks through the peaceful removal of over 900 insurgent fighters from the battlefield during his tenure.

"It was definitely a unique experience working with the Afghans. You had to learn not only some language and customs, but also their culture's unique set of socio-economic values," Hutson said.

Hutson was the first deployed finance officer to develop a multi-lateral financial improvement team, which included the United Nations Development Program, the International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan's High Peace Council, several Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's Ministries, and diplomats from multiple donor nations, to make sure international funds were getting where they were most needed.

During his deployment, Hutson filled the role of Force Reintegration Cell Programs Branch Chief, a one-star general equivalent, for a period of six weeks.

His fiscal leadership not only contributed to decreasing the number of insurgent fighters on the battlefield, but more importantly, strengthened the foundation of an enduring sovereign program advancing durable peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, according to his award citation.

Hutson was awarded the Bronze Star, which is awarded for either meritorious service or valor, during a Sept. 7 ceremony at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse.