Bishop is new 224th ADG Commander

  • Published
  • By Tim Jones
  • Eastern Air Defense Sector

Col. Paul M. Bishop formally took command of the New York Air National Guard’s 224th Air Defense Group (ADG) Thursday afternoon during an assumption of command ceremony at the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS).

The 224th 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 mission. Part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Sector is responsible for the air defense of the eastern U.S.

Bishop received command before a crowd of about 100 family, friends and fellow Airmen. Brig. Gen. Timothy J. LaBarge, the Commander of the New York Air National Guard, served as the officiating officer for the ceremony.

Bishop replaces Col. Paul J. Quigley, who is retiring.

A 1989 U.S. Air Force basic training graduate, Bishop has served in the Air National Guard for 30 years. His first assignment was at the 174th Fighter Wing in Syracuse, where he was as an F-16 avionics maintenance specialist. In 1991, he deployed with the 174th to Al Kharj Air Base, Saudi Arabia, for Operation Desert Storm.

In 1993, Bishop transferred to the 113th Air Control Squadron (ACS) in Syracuse and subsequently received his commission through the Academy of Military Science at McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee. He then completed Weapons Director training at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

In 1994, Bishop moved to Rome when the 113th ACS assumed the NORAD mission at the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS).

Over the past 25 years, Bishop has worked more than 31,000 mission crew hours. He holds numerous Air Battle Management qualifications including Battle Commander, Mission Crew Commander, Weapons Director, Weapons Director Technician, Weapons Assignment Officer and Senior Director.

Bishop has played a key role in several critical projects since joining EADS. He helped plan and implement the Northeast Air Defense Sector’s transition into the Eastern Air Defense Sector, a change that more than doubled the unit’s geographic area of responsibility. Bishop planned and executed the first-ever live fly exercise in the Washington, D.C. area that integrated NORAD fighter planes with U.S. Army ground-based air defense assets, and supervised an analytical project that devised a new work schedule that reduced crew fatigue.

While a member of the 224th Air Defense Squadron, Bishop held several leadership positions including Director of Operations, Flight Commander, Assistant Flight Commander and Weapons Section Officer-in-Charge. Prior to taking command of the 224th ADG, Bishop was the Commander of the 224th Support Squadron

A 1998 graduate of Columbia College, Bishop has completed the Squadron Officers Course, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College.

Bishop is married and has two daughters.