Col. Joseph F. Roos is the Commander of the 224th Air Defense Group, New York Air National Guard. The 224th ADG is deployed in place in Rome, New York to execute the mission of the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS). EADS is one of two North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) air defense sectors in the Continental United States (CONUS) and reports directly to First Air Force-Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. EADS is responsible for the aerospace defense of the eastern United States to include the national capital region around Washington, D.C., and supports NORAD’s Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment and U.S. Northern Command’s homeland defense missions.
Col. Roos, a native of East Syracuse, New York, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1996 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. His first assignment was at the 325th Training Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., where he was the Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Undergraduate Air Battle Manager School. Following Air Battle Manager training, he was assigned to the 603d Air Control Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy. During his three-year tour, he was qualified as a Weapons Director, Evaluator Air Surveillance Officer and Evaluator Senior Director, participating in Operation DELIBERATE GUARD, NOBLE ANVIL and ALLIED FORCE. While at Aviano, Colonel Roos was selected as the United States Air Forces in Europe Air Battle Manager of the Year for 1999.
In 2000, he was re-assigned to the 325th Training Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla. as an Instructor Air Battle Manager, Flight Commander, and Chief of Training. Responsible for the instruction of over one-third of the nine-month course, Colonel Roos taught more than 500 future Air Battle Managers and was named 325th Air Control Squadron Flight Commander of the Year for 2002.
In 2003, Col. Roos joined the New York Air National Guard and was assigned to the Northeast Air Defense Sector, Rome, N.Y. From 2003 to present, he has served in a variety of positions including Evaluator Senior Director, Evaluator Mission Crew Commander, Flight Commander, Inspector General, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation and Director of Operations while continually supporting Operation NOBLE EAGLE. Prior to his current position, Col. Roos was the Commander of the 224th Air Defense Squadron.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2017 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1996 – May 1997, Student, Air Battle Manager Training, 325th Training Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2. May 1997 – May 2000, Chief Combat Operations, 603d Air Control Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
3. May 2000 – January 2003, Instructor Air Battle Manager, Flight Commander, 325th Training Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
4. January 2003 – October 2003, Chief of Training, 325th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. October 2003 - September 2007, Officer in Charge of Weapons, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
6. September 2007 - October 2010, Assistant Chief Standardization and Evaluation, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
7. October 2010 – June 2015, Flight Commander & Assistant Flight Commander, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
8. June 2015 – June 2017, 224th Air Defense Group Inspector General, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
9. June 2017 – January 2018, 224th Air Defense Squadron Chief, Standardization and Evaluation, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
10. January 2018 – September 2018, Director of Operations 224th Air Defense Squadron, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
11. September 2018 – May 2020, Commander, 224th Air Defense Squadron, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
12. May 2020 – present, Commander, 224th Air Defense Group, Griffiss IAP, Rome, N.Y.
MAJOR AWARDS
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Combat Readiness Medal with five oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Training Ribbon
NATO Medal
DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant June 17, 1996
First Lieutenant June 17, 1998
Captain June 17, 2000
Major December 20, 2006
Lieutenant Colonel September 13, 2011
Colonel July 31, 2019
(Current as of June 2020)