EADS Recognizes Outstanding Performers

  • Published
  • By Tim Jones
  • EADS
Rome, NY --  Nearly 200 New York Air National Guardsmen, Canadian Forces members, federal civilians and guests were in attendance at the Radisson Hotel in Utica last Friday as the Eastern Air Defense Sector recognized its outstanding performers from 2011.

"EADS' mission of protecting the eastern U.S. airspace requires consistent excellence from all of our staff," said Col. John Bartholf, EADS Commander. "Our 2011 award winners distinguished themselves by going above and beyond our high standards and I congratulate each of them on their outstanding accomplishments and thank them for their extraordinary efforts."

EADS employs more than 400 active-duty military, federal civilians, civilian contractors and part-time Air National Guardsmen and the unit recognized outstanding performers in seven categories. The categories were: company grade officer (junior officers below the rank of major), senior non- commissioned officer, noncommissioned officer, junior enlisted airman, honor guard member and honor guard program manager. The outstanding civilian of the year was also recognized.

Award recipients were:

· Capt. Aaron Mahoney, Camden, Outstanding Company Grade Officer. The chief of the weapons and tactics section, Capt. Mahoney successfully facilitated more than 150 training sorties and nearly 40 alert scrambles. He also serves as the Office in Charge of the unit's honor guard.

· Master Sgt. Edward Rojo, Clinton, Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer. An assistant flight superintendent, Master Sgt. Rojo managed the operational, administrative and personnel requirements for 40 Airmen. Master Sgt. Rojo maintains a 4.0 grade point average while pursuing a master's degree in management and volunteers at a local Feed Our Veterans food bank.

· Technical Sgt. Justin Bush, Camden, Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer. A joint interface control cell officer, Tech. Sgt. Bush plays a key role in air picture management for EADS and its higher headquarters. A youth soccer coach, he is pursuing a master's degree in education and maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

· Senior Airman Andrew Ross, Renovo, Pa., Outstanding Junior Enlisted Airman. A cyber systems operations journeyman, Sr. Airman Ross was recognized for his ability to quickly fix critical radar issues. Sr. Airman Ross recently received his college degree in applied mathematics, graduating magna cum laude, and tutors junior college students in advanced mathematics.

· Master Sgt. Thomas Whiteman, Rome, Outstanding Honor Guard Member. Master Sgt. Whiteman participated in more than 30 ceremonies and organized volunteers who contributed more than 800 off-duty hours to honor guard details. He also led a combined fire, police and military color guard for the 9-11 10th anniversary commemoration in Rome.

· Master Sgt. Jeffrey Lamarche, Deansboro, Outstanding Honor Guard Program Manager. In addition to organizing and coordinating honor guard schedules, Master Sgt. Lamarche personally participated in 65 percent of EADS honor guard details, including 35 funerals. Master Sgt. Lamarche was also named outstanding Honor Guard Program Manager for New York State for the second consecutive year.

· Krispen Dorfman, Rome, Outstanding Civilian. A resource advisor and information technology specialist, Dorfman is responsible for the operations division budget and oversees a wide variety of supporting tasks. This is the third consecutive year that Dorfman has been named EADS Outstanding Civilian.


A number of distinguished guests also attended the awards banquet. Brig. Gen. Anthony P. German, Chief of Staff, New York Air National Guard (NYANG) and Chief Master Sgt. Richard, the NYANG's Command Chief, were in attendance. Chief Master Sgt. Christopher E. Muncy, the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Air National Guard, was the featured speaker.

The Eastern Air Defense Sector is headquartered at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome. Staffed by active-duty New York Air National Guardsmen and a Canadian Forces detachment, the unit supports the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) integrated warning and attack assessment missions and the U.S. Northern Command's (USNORTHCOM) homeland defense mission. EADS is responsible for air sovereignty and counter-air operations over the eastern United States and directs a variety of assets to defend one million square miles of land and sea.