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Airman assigned to Rome-based 222nd Command and Control Squadron named Airman of the Year for Air National Guard

Senior Airman Dhruva Poluru recognized for excellence by 100,000-member Air National Guard

ROME, New York (06/27/2023) — 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 100,000-member Air National Guard.

Senior Airman Dhruva Poluru, who joined the New York Air National Guard in 2019, is assigned to the 222nd which is headquartered at Griffiss Technology Park.

The squadron is a component of the 107th Attack Wing, which is headquartered at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. The 222nd 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 and is a full-time Guardsman working at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, Virginia.

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 incredibly proud of Poluru winning the Airman of the Year Award for the entire Air National Guard", said Colonel Andrew Carlson, 107th Attack Wing commander.

"His demonstration of dedication, hard work, innovation, and ambassadorship is a great reflection of what the 107th Attack Wing is all about, Carlson said.

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.

His awards include the Air and Space Commendation Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal, Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon, the National Defense Service Ribbon, and the Air and Space Achievement Medal.

"The work that Poluru has done, the impact goes well outside the 222d Command and Control Squadron," said the 222nd Command Chief Master Sergeant Stephen Davies.

"His commitment to space operations tradecraft and overall professional development as an airman is extremely motivating," Davies said.Poluru is credited as being instrumental in several projects, including delivering high profile operations briefs with Brazilian Air Force command staff during State Partnership events, managing roughly $150 million worth of U.S. Space Force assets, and preparing his team for the Air National Guard's first ever participation in a key war game.

"To see that the work that I do being recognized, even working remotely, and leadership from all around the world seeing the results of my work means more than I can express," Poluru said.

Poluru said he also made time to organize a 72-member charity golf event, the proceeds of which supported an impoverished athletics program in Hyderabad, India."I truly enjoy what I do for all the different organizations I support, and I'm glad I can bring my technical background and expertise into it," said Poluru.

Media Attachments

Senior Airman Dhruva Poluru, who has been recognized as the Airman of the Year for the entire Air National Guard, working from his remote office in Chantilly, VA, June 12 2023. Poluru currently serves with the 222 Command and Control Squadron, a geographically separated unit under the command of the 107th Attack Wing. ( U.S. Air National Guard photo by 1st Lt Jason Carr)

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