105th Airlift Wing's Base Defense Group becomes first in Air National Guard history, Saturday, December 7

Media Advisory

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NEWBURGH, NEW YORK (12/05/2024) — The 105th Base Defense Group will be activated during a ceremony at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh on Saturday morning, December 7.

Members of the press are invited to cover the ceremony.

WHO: Col. Ryan Danneman, commander of the 105th Airlift Wing; Lt. Col. Michael Curtis, commander of the 105th Base Defense Group; Maj. Brian Ibbs, commander of the 105th Base Defense Squadron; Maj. Joseph Carpentieri, commander of the 205th Base Defense Squadron; Capt Steven Morris Jr., commander of the 105th Security Support Squadron; and the Airmen of the 105th Airlift Wing.

WHAT: A formal activation ceremony during which the 105th Base Defense Group will be officially established as a new unit of the 105th Airlift Wing, encompassing three squadrons: the 105th Base Defense Squadron, 105th Security Support Squadron and 205th Base Defense Squadron.

This will be the first base defense group activation in the entire U.S. Air National Guard.

WHEN: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec.7, 2024. (Ceremony is at 10 a.m. Media members must be at the gate by 9:30 a.m.)

WHERE: One Maguire Way, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, N.Y. (across from Healey KIA dealership)

Media opportunities:

The press will be able to obtain still and video imagery of the activation ceremony and the wing's Airmen in formation. Interviews with the incoming commanders can be arranged.

Members of the media who wish to cover this event at this secure military facility must contact Master. Sgt. Daniel Hotter at 845-972-1013 or 845-563-2075, or email: 105.AW.PA.Mailbox.Org@us.af.mil no later than 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.

BACKGROUND:

105th Base Defense Group

The 105th Base Defense Squadron will reorganize into a group of over 300 Airmen divided between three squadrons. These squadrons include the 105th Base Defense Squadron, 105th Security Support Squadron and 205th Base Defense Squadron, with each unit tasked with individual missions pertaining to global and domestic defense.

The roots of this transformation can be traced back to a 2009 partnership initiative between the 105th and the 820th Base Defense Group. During this time, 105th Airmen were deploying regularly with the 820th, strengthening deployment readiness and defense capabilities within both units. This began the process establishing the 105th Base Defense Group with three distinct missions divided between three squadrons, prioritizing deployment readiness while maintaining domestic defense capabilities.

Members of the 105th Base Defense Group train to protect, defend, and support Air Force and coalition missions anywhere around the world. They train to perform base defense, airfield security assessments, mounted and dismounted patrolling, and command and control of defensive forces.

The 105th's defenders have experience in both combat and combat losses.

Staff Sgt. Louis Bonacasa, Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lemm, and Staff Sgt. Todd Lobraico, all members of the 105th Base Defense Squadron, were killed in action in Afghanistan, Lobaraico in 2013 and Bonacasa and Lemm in 2015. The three received posthumous heroism recognitions for their actions.

Col. Ryan Danneman

Col. Ryan F. Dannemann is the commander, 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Newburgh, New York. He is responsible for the combat readiness of assigned units by providing the necessary equipment, supplies, and facilities. The 105th Airlift Wing is assigned C-17A Globemaster III aircraft and has coordinating responsibilities for a United States Marine Corps tenant unit.

Col. Dannemann received his commission from the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson ANGB in 2002. He graduated from Miami University in 2001, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He attended undergraduate pilot training in 2003 and completed C-5 qualification training in 2004. He has served both as a C-5 and C-17 instructor pilot flying with the 137th Airlift Squadron, and has held positions in the wing IG office and squadron command in both the maintenance and operation groups.

Col. Dannemann has flown combat missions in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM, and Operation NEW DAWN. Humanitarian response missions include strategic airlift of first responders and recovery operations capabilities after natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami. He is a command pilot with over 5,000 flying hours in the T-37, T1, C-5A/B and C-17A. Prior to his current assignment, Col Dannemann was the commander of the 105th Operations Group, Stewart (ANGB), Newburgh, New York.

Lt. Col. Michael A. Curtis

Lt. Col. Michael A. Curtis is the Commander of the 105th Base Defense Group, 105th Airlift Wing, Newburgh NY, and is responsible for the mission readiness and welfare of over 300 Airmen across three squadrons, each with distinct mission sets.

Lt. Col. Curtis enlisted in the Navy in February 1993. He graduated from Gunner's Mate "A" School at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, in February 1994 and was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii onboard the USS Salvor (ARS-52). Lt Col Curtis then enlisted in the Air Force Reserves at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii in June 1999. He graduated from the Fire Protection Apprentice Course at San Angelo AFB, Texas in May 2000. After graduating from Wayland Baptist University, Lt Col Curtis attended the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee and was commissioned in the Hawaii Air National Guard in September 2003. Upon graduating from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training in July 2005, Lt Col Curtis spent the next decade flying air refueling missions throughout the world as a member of the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron. In 2015, he became the Chief of Air Refueling Control Team for the 201st Air Operations Group before beginning a five year tour as the Commander, 154th Security Forces Squadron, JBPHH, Hawaii. Most recently he served as Director of J3-Air, Joint Force Headquarters - Hawaii National Guard Joint Staff, and was responsible for oversight of military support programs relating to situational awareness, direction, integration of planning, and joint military/civil support operations for National Guard personnel, mobilization readiness, and state aviation operations.

Lt. Col. Curtis currently has over 31 years of experience in the Armed Forces and has deployed multiple times in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Freedom's Sentinel, and Juniper Shield. Lt Col Curtis also has two special experience identifiers in Command/Control (C2) Air Ops Center (AOC) and Air Advisor. He also maintains a full-time civilian career as a Firefighter in Hawaii and has over 24 years' experience in the field.

The New York Air National Guard and the 105th Airlift Wing

The 105th Airlift Wing operates the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift cargo plane from Stewart Air National Guard Base. The wing's Airmen regularly fly missions providing support to U.S. forces worldwide. Wing members also deploy as members of Air Expeditionary Wings into operational areas throughout the world.

As members of the New York Air National Guard, Airmen of the 105th Airlift Wing respond to state emergencies when called upon by the Governor of New York.

The New York Air National Guard, with almost 6,000 members, is the largest Air National Guard in the country.

Along with the 105th Airlift Wing, the New York Air National Guard has four other flying wings: the 107th Attack Wing at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, the 174th Attack Wing at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, and the 106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach.

The New York Air National Guard also includes the Eastern Air Defense Sector whose 224th Air Defense Group is responsible for conducting the air defense of the United States east of the Mississippi and the Washington D. C. area.

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