Staff Sgt. Christopher Muncy, 106th Rescue Wing member, wins Air National Guard Photography Awards

F.S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. (02/17/2016)(readMedia)-- New York Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Christopher Muncy, a member of the 106th Rescue Wing based at Westhampton Beach, and a New York City resident, has been named Military Photographer of the Year by the Air National Guard.

Muncy, who has worked as a freelance photojournalist for the Village Voice, New York Times, New York Daily News, Newsday, and the Wall Street Journal, also received two first place photography awards in the nationwide Air National Guard media competition whose results were announced on Feb. 10

.His work will be entered into competition against submissions from Active Air Force and Air Force Reserve photographers in an Air Force-wide media competition whose results will be announced in March.

Muncy's military photographs have appeared in military and civilian publications and have appeared on the Air Force, National Guard, and Department of Defense websites.

"Staff Sgt. Chris Muncy is an outstanding photographer whose work highlights members of the 106th Rescue Wing, the Air National Guard and the entire joint team in action, defending our nation. We are very proud of his

exceptional contributions to the total team effort," said Col. Tom Owens, the commande of the 106th Rescue Wing.

This is not the first time he has been recognized for his photography skills.He took two first place awards in the 2014 Air National Guard media competition and a third place finish in the Air Force-wide competition that year. He was also awarded a first place in the National Geographic's "Full Story" competition in 2012 and a first place award in the U.S. Air Force Instagram Top Shots of 2014 competition.

Muncy also received a National Press Photographers Association Short Course Travel Grant in 2012.

The Military Photographer of the Year award requires the submission of five photographs showing a broad range of topics. The pictures he submitted ranged from a V-22 Osprey landing and discharging troops, to a member of the New York National Guard's 24th Civil Support Team conducting a training mission in full hazardous materials suit.

He took first place in the categories of pictorial and feature photography.

The feature photograph depicts New York Air National Guard Technical Sergeant Paul Clementi, a member of the 106th Rescue Wing Security Forces Squadron, firing an M4 carbine during a snowy day of training at the Suffolk County Police Range in Westhampton, N.Y. on February 5th, 2015.

The pictorial photograph depicts members of the 106th Rescue Wing Security Forces Squadron using laser rangefinders at night at the Suffolk County Police Range in Westhampton Beach, N.Y. on May 7, 2015.

Muncy is originally from the Syracuse area, graduating from Jamesville Dewitt High School in 1999.He joined the Air Force in 2003, and originally served as a personnel technician in the Air Force Reserve before becoming a public affairs specialist in 2009.

He has served at the 106th Rescue Wing since 2007.His military awards include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

See Staff Sgt. Christopher Muncy's prize wining photographs here:https://www.flickr.com/photos/nyng/albums/72157662231184523

Posted Wednesday February 17, 2016 at 09:02 am by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Thursday February 18, 2016 at 08:05 am