New York Air National Guard promotes West Henrietta Guard officer

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Colonel Greg Semmel, the 174th Attack Wing commander, congratulates Kathy O’Connor the wife of newly promoted Col. John O’Connor, 174th Attack Wing Mission Support Group commander on Jan. 5.

SYRACUSE, NY (01/14/2015)(readMedia)-- New York Air National Guard officer, and West Henrietta resident, John R. O'Connor was promoted to the rank of colonel during a ceremony held on Monday, January 5 at Hancock Field Air National Guard base.

O'Connor, currently serves as the Mission Support Group Commander at Hancock Field Air National Guard base in Syracuse. He is a full-time employee of the New York Air National Guard.

He graduated from the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business and Marketing in 1988. He was commissioned through the United States Air Force Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas in 1989 and earned a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Troy State University, Alabama in 1991.

His professional military education includes Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College Advanced Joint Professional Military Education course.

O'Connor served on active duty from 1989 to 1998, holding leadership positions in supply operations, fuels management and as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He joined the New York Air National Guard in 1998 as a drill status officer and held several key leadership positions in both the Mission Support and Maintenance Groups.

In 2005, he returned to full time status and served as the Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander and Deputy Maintenance Group Commander before assuming his current duties as Mission Support Group Commander.

In addition to his leadership responsibilities, O'Connor serves as the International Military Student Officer responsible for all aspects of international military student attendance at the MQ-9 Reaper Field Training Detachment, supporting United States Foreign Military Sales training initiatives.

O'Connor's awards include several awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Award, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.

He and his wife Kathy O'Connor have three children Erin, Meghan, and Ryan.