Three Airmen Receive Medals

  • Published
  • By by Tim Jones
  • Eastern Air Defense Sector

The 224th Air Defense Group recently presented service medals for outstanding performance to three New York Air National Guardsmen.

  • Maj. Peter Onan, Meritorious Service Medal. A mission crew commander at the 224th Air Defense Squadron (ADS), Onan was recognized for his outstanding work directing operations supporting Presidential flights and National Special Security Events. Other contributions included developing and conducting qualification training for more than 60 Airmen, and spearheading the unit’s participation in a $1.6 billion test and evaluation project.
  • Master Sgt. Bernard Jowers, Meritorious Service Medal. The training and resources manager for the 224th Support Squadron’s Security Forces, Jowers received the award for writing a new and improved comprehensive master training program, while directing more than 600 hours of training for 40 Airmen. Jowers also established a personnel augmentation program that increased Security Forces manpower and directed and supervised 40 hours of training for the Air Force Research Laboratory police force
  • Staff Sgt. Gerald Williams, Air Force Commendation Medal and Air Force Achievement Medal. Williams received two medals for his outstanding work as a range safety officer and radio transmission craftsman with the 174th Operations Group at Ft. Drum, New York. The commendation medal recognized Williams’ superb support of more than 1,900 air sorties at the range, which trained 3,200 personnel. He also installed $244,000 in communications upgrades, improving training effectiveness and range safety. Williams was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal for his work during Operation Jaded Thunder, a major live fire exercise held at Ft. Drum in August 2017.

The 224th Air Defense Group (ADG) is composed of the 224th Air Defense Squadron and 224th Support Squadron, located in Rome, and Detachment 1 and Detachment 2 that serve in the Washington, D.C. area. The 224th ADG provides the forces to conduct the Eastern Air Defense Sector’s (EADS) mission. Part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Sector is responsible for the air defense of the eastern U.S.

For more information about the New York Air National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov. For more information on the 224th Air Defense Group and the Eastern Air Defense Sector, visit www.eads.ang.af.mil.