222nd Command and Control Squadron Senior Airman Dhruva Poluru named Best Airman in the New York Air Guard for 2023
Rome, New York (02/13/2023) — A young Airman assigned to Rome's 222nd Command and Control Squadron, who tracks the orbits of American satellites and those of other nations to ensure the security of U.S. space systems, has been named Airman of the Year for 2023 by the New York Air National Guard.
Senior Airman Dhruva Poluru, is assigned to the 222nd, headquartered at Griffiss Technology Park. The squadron, a component of the 107th Attack Wing, provides personnel to work with the National Reconnaissance Office, the agency which runs America's space surveillance systems.
Poluru, who lives in Herndon, Virginia, serves as a mission crew chief. He joined the New York Air National Guard in 2019.
He is responsible for orbital threat analysis and for the command and control of over 85 commercial data providers and orbital analysts who contribute to the United States Space Force's space protection and space defense missions.
Poluru also serves as the primary government representative to a team of 190 military, contractor, and international analysts geographically dispersed which provide space domain awareness support to the Commander, United States Space Command.
He has also been involved in meetings with Brazilian military officials to discuss space information sharing as part of the New York National Guard's State Partnership Program agreement with the Brazilian military.
"We are extremely proud of Senior Airman Dhruva Poluru, for representing the 107th Attack Wing and winning the highly competitive 2023 New York Air National Guard Outstanding Airman of the Year," said Col. Andrew Carlson, the commander of the 107th Attack Wing.
"Poluru is highly involved in the innovative commercial space domain awareness sector, which is a key enabler of our State Partnership Program," Carlson said.
Poluru was also named Airman of the Year of the northeastern states and will now compete to be the top Airman in the entire Air National Guard, according to Command Chief Master Sgt. Denny Richardson, the senior enlisted leader for the New York Air National Guard.
Poluru graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2022. After attending undergraduate school in Buffalo, he moved to Herndon while assigned to the 222d Command and Control Squadron.
Media Attachments
Senior Airman Dhruva Poluru, a member of the 222nd Command and Control Squadron, headquartered at Griffiss Technology Park, is the Airman of the Year for 2023 for the New York Air National Guard.
New York National Guard
Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581Share this Story
Recent News
- NY Army Guard Col. John Sandefur, a Gansefoort resident, receives Legion of Merit as he retires after 36 years of service
- Two Airman assigned to NY Air Guard's 105th Airlift Wing brave cold during Minnesota training course
- Clifton Park Airman is named New York Air National Guard Company Grade Officer of the Year
- NY Air Guard's 109th Airlift Wing moves 1,086 passengers and millions of pounds of supplies across Antarctica during 2025-26 mission season
- NY National Guard's "Fighting 69th" Infantry leads New York's St. Patrick's Day Parade for the 175th Time
- NY Air Guard Senior Master Sgt. John McGhee, a Bay Shore resident, wins New York Air Guard statewide honor
- NY Air National Guard Col. Andrew J. Wineberger, a Southold resident, Retires from 106th Rescue Wing After 39 Years of Service
- Officer assigned to Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division dies of undetermined causes in a non-combat incident while serving in Kuwait
- NY National Guard announces the death of Major Sorffly Davius of non-combat causes while serving in Kuwait
- NY Army Guard officer Sean Flynn, a Delmar resident, plays key role in NATO Joint Force Command headquarters