Two women from Syracuse-based 174th Attack Wing named New York Air Guard Airmen of the Year winners

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE, NEW YORK (02/07/2022) (readMedia)-- Two Airmen assigned to the Syracuse-based 174th Attack Wing -- Senior Master Sgt. Christine Wiesen, an Erie, Pennsylvania resident, and Senior Master Sgt. Tricia Shiver, who lives in Canastota-have been named Airmen of the Year for the 5,900-member New York Air National Guard.

The two women were selected for the top honors based on their leadership, job performance and personal achievement, from names submitted by the New York Air National Guard's five flying wings and the Eastern Air Defense Sector.

Shiver was named the First Sergeant of the Year, while Wiesen was recognized as Senior Non-Commissioned officer of the Year.

"I am extremely proud that two 174th Attack Wing members were selected as New York Air National Guard Outstanding Airmen of the Year, said Col. William McCrink III, the commander of the 174th Attack Wing.

The two will now compete against Airmen in the 53 other Air National Guards to see who is picked as the best Airmen in the Air National Guard of the United States.

"This is excellent example of the outstanding work that happens here at the 174th Attack Wing. I have no doubt they will compete well at the regional and national levels and I wish them the best," McCrink said.

Shiver serves at the first sergeant for the 174th Attack Wing's 138th Attack Squadron which flies the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft on missions around the world from a command station at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse.

As a first sergeant, she is expected to be experts on all Airman readiness issues and problem solvers for health, morale, welfare and quality of life issues within the squadron. She is the key enlisted advisor to the squadron commander on these matters and works directly with Airmen on their professional development and leadership skills.

Shiver entered the Air Force in 2004 and served as an aerospace ground equipment specialists. She deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan three times over the next eight years while stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.

In 2012 she transferred to the MQ-9 program and served as a sensor operator. The MQ-9 sensor operator is responsible for controlling the multi-million dollar cameras and other equipment which allow the aircraft to track people and equipment on the ground.

In 2013, she transferred to the RQ-170 program and served as evaluator, and operations superintendent, conducting operational tests and evaluations. She also deployed once again in support of combat operations.

Shiver joined the 174th Attack Wing in 2019, and served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of training for the 138th Attack Squadron before becoming first sergeant.

Shiver's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

She was also the 2016 Distinguished Graduate at the Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy.

Shiver was selected by the New York Air National Guard State Command Chief to attend the new Senior Non-Commission Senior Enlisted Course, and has been invited back to serve as a course facilitator.

She also coaches a location t-ball team and assisted with the wing suicide prevention efforts and facilitated the wing officer development course.

Wiesen serves as the superintendent aviation resource manager for the 174th Attack Wing's 174th Operations Group.

She manages all aviation resource management system functions and oversees the interface functionality of two aircrew scheduling systems for 369 aircrew members at seven flying squadrons, four of which are geographically separated. She is responsible for the training and development of the wing's aviation resource management personnel.

Wing operations include MQ-9 flight training unit, MQ-9 combat operations, and the Eastern Air Defense Sector's ground based radar operations.

She was recognized for creating a new method of tracking pay, training and medical requirements for air crew members. She was selected by the National Guard Bureau to be the Air Combat Command and Air National Guard subject matter expert regarding the new tracking method for all MQ-9 units throughout Air Combat Command.

Wiesen was also selected as the subject matter expert by National Guard Bureau as the Air Battle working group manager that has been standardizing flight training requirements within her career field throughout the Air Force.

At the wing, Wiesen also served as the point of contact for facilitating discussion for 250 members during a training day focused on combating extremism in the military.

Wiesen enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1999. During the first five years of her career she deployed once in support of an air expeditionary force rotation, and four times in support of operations in Afghanistan. In January 2005 she separated from the Active Air Force and joined the Air Force Reserve as an individual mobilization augmentee with the 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field Florida. She has served in key positions across multiple commands including her time as a first sergeant.

In May 2020 Sergeant Wiesen separated from the Air Force Reserve, and joined the 174th Attack Wing.

Prior to her current position, senior master sergeant Wiesen was the Non-commissioned Officer in Charge of Squadron Aviation Resource Management, 514th Flight Test Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Her awards include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

She has also been recognized numerous times for outstanding service.

Posted Monday February 07, 2022 at 02:01 pm by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Tuesday February 08, 2022 at 11:38 am