Air Guard Senior Master Sgt. Christine Wiesen, an Erie resident, honored by New York Air National Guard.

Veteran Airman named Senior Non-Commissioned officer of the Year by the 5,900-member New York Air National Guard.

Syracuse, New York (02/07/2022) — Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Christine Wiesen, an Erie, Pennsylvania resident who serves in the New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing, has been named Senior Non-Commissioned officer of the Year by the 5,900- member New York Air National Guard.

Wiesen was selected for the top honor based on her leadership, job performance and personal achievement, from names submitted by the New York Air National Guard's five flying wings and the Eastern Air Defense Sector. The New York Air National Guard is the largest Air Guard element in the nation.

Another member of the wing, Senior Master Sgt. Tricia Shiver was named the First Sergeant of the Year.

The 174th Attack Wing operates the MQ-9 remotely operated aircraft and is based at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York.

"I am extremely proud that two 174th Attack Wing members were selected as New York Air National Guard Outstanding Airmen of the Year, said Col. William McCrink III, the commander of the 174th Attack Wing.

The two will now compete against Airmen in the 53 other Air National Guards to see who is picked as the best Airmen in the Air National Guard of the United States.

"This is excellent example of the outstanding work that happens here at the 174th Attack Wing. I have no doubt they will compete well at the regional and national levels and I wish them the best," McCrink said.

Wiesen serves as the superintendent aviation resource manager for the 174th Attack Wing's 174th Operations Group.

She manages all aviation resource management system functions and oversees the interface functionality of two aircrew scheduling systems for 369 aircrew members at seven flying squadrons, four of which are geographically separated. She is responsible for the training and development of the wing's aviation resource management personnel.

Wing operations include MQ-9 flight training unit, MQ-9 combat operations, and the Eastern Air Defense Sector's ground based radar operations.

She was recognized for creating a new method of tracking pay, training and medical requirements for air crew members. She was selected by the National Guard Bureau to be the Air Combat Command and Air National Guard subject matter expert regarding the new tracking method for all MQ-9 units throughout Air Combat Command.

Wiesen was also selected as the subject matter expert by National Guard Bureau as the Air Battle working group manager that has been standardizing flight training requirements within her career field throughout the Air Force.

At the wing, Wiesen also served as the point of contact for facilitating discussion for 250 members during a training day focused on combating extremism in the military.

Wiesen enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1999. During the first five years of her career she deployed once in support of an air expeditionary force rotation, and four times in support of operations in Afghanistan. In January 2005 she separated from the Active Air Force and joined the Air Force Reserve as an individual mobilization augmentee with the 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field Florida. She has served in key positions across multiple commands including her time as a first sergeant.

In May 2020 Sergeant Wiesen separated from the Air Force Reserve, and joined the 174th Attack Wing.

Prior to her current position, senior master sergeant Wiesen was the Non-commissioned Officer in Charge of Squadron Aviation Resource Management, 514th Flight Test Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Her awards include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

She has also been recognized numerous times for outstanding service.

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