Ballston Spa resident is top crew chief for the Air National Guard

Master Sgt. Karl Burghart, a member of the 109th Airlift Wing, is being recognized for his outstanding work

Scotia, New York (07/17/2024) — New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Karl Burghart, a Ballston Spa resident, has been recognized as the top crew chief in the 100,000-member Air National Guard.

A crew chief is responsible for ensuring that an aircraft is properly maintained.

Burghart, who is assigned as an LC-130 crew chief in the 109th Airlift Wing, has been awarded the Chief Master Sgt. Thomas N. Barnes award.

The 109th is based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia.

This award recognizes the Air Force Crew Chief who provided the most significant contribution to the overall operational mission during this past year.

He will now compete against the best crew chiefs in the active Air Force and the Air Force Reserve to be the best in the total Air Force.

During 2023, Burghart trained and improved the skills of thirty-five Air University crew chiefs. Their work in 3,241 successful flying hours conducted by the 109th Airlift Wing.

He served as his squadron's additional duty First Sergeant, working with eighty-one squadron members. He spent 545 hours annually overseeing four promotions, seventeen awards and decorations and one Change of Command ceremony.

When not on duty, Burghart serves his community as a member of in the Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Ballston Spa VFW Post 358 and the Enlisted Association of New York National Guard.

Burghart is working towards an Aeronautical Engineering degree with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

He was also a major large contributor to the successful 2023 Unit Effectiveness Inspection for the 109th Airlift Wing.

He was also selected as the 2023 109th Maintenance Group's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Burghart has deployed to Antarctica in support of National Science Foundation missions there and has also deployed to Greenland.

He has been awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

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