Dix Hills resident Vincent Fondacaro retires from the New York Air National Guard after 40 years of service
Westhampton Beach, New York (07/15/2022) — Westhampton Beach, NY - New York Air National Guard Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Fondacaro, a Dix Hills resident, ended a 40-year military career with a retirement ceremony on June 4 at the 106th Rescue Wing Firehouse at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base.
Fondacaro is a veteran of deployments to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and most recently, Operation COVID-19 Joint Taskforce 1 Long Island.
He last served as the 106th base facility manager and senior enlisted leader for the facilities section.
Lt. Col. Robert Siebelts, the 106th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, and presiding official of the ceremony, praised Fondacaro for his service and leadership over the years.
"You are great at bringing people together to create solutions and have mentored and taught both enlisted and officers," Siebelts said. "I'm very proud to have served with you."
In his remarks, Fondacaro thanked the wing leadership, his wife and kids, fellow Airmen, and friends for their support over the years.
"Special thanks to my wife Yvonne for your love and continued support during my many years of service," Fondacaro said. "I am truly blessed."
He also thanked his "awesome kids" Nicholas, Kourtney, and daughter Samantha Fondacaro, who is an Air Force lieutenant and a C-17 pilot, for their support.
Samantha served as the and master of ceremonies for her dad's retirement, closed with an emotional message of gratitude.
"I'm honored and proud to be standing here on your special day," she said. "Thank you for guiding and believing in me even when I sometimes didn't believe in myself."
"You deserve every minute of your retirement, and I love you, dad, cheers to you," Samantha Fondacaro added.
During the ceremony, Fondacaro was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal for Outstanding Service, the Air Force Certificate of Retirement, the Presidential Certificate of Achievement and was placed on the U.S. Air Force Reserve Retired list.
In civilian life, Fondacaro is retired from the New York City Fire Department, owns a cement company, and is the captain of his own yacht.
In closing, Fondacaro said, "All my brothers and sisters in arms, stay safe, thank you, and God bless."
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