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Four New York Air National Guardsman at EADS Recognized for Outstanding Performance

ROME, N.Y. (09/07/2017) — The Eastern Air Defense Sector recently presented medals recognizing outstanding performance to four New York Air National Guardsmen.

Senior Master Sgt. Laura L. Scales, of Lee Center, Meritorious Service Medal. Scales managed the training and administrative requirements for more than 170 personnel while serving with the 224th Air Defense Squadron. Scales, who is retiring from the Air National Guard in October, was also cited for her superb work as the Superintendent of the 224th Air Defense Group's Inspector General section during a major Air Force inspection.

Master Sgt. Joshua J. Barrett, from Blossvale, Air Force Commendation Medal. A member of the 224th Air Defense Squadron, Barrett planned and coordinated 36 simulation exercises while managing training requirements for more than 80 Airmen. Barrett's work as a standardization and evaluation examiner was recognized as "best seen to date" during a recent Air Force inspection and he has been rated as "exceptionally qualified" in his primary occupational field.

Tech. Sgt. Nicholas R. Tharrett, a Rome resident, Air Force Commendation Medal., Tharrett, a tracking technician at the 224th Air Defense Squadron, successfully identified and responded to more than 160 radar tracks of interest. Tharrett has also been an outstanding instructor and evaluator, supervising more than 1,500 hours of training. His expertise contributed directly to the unit's success on three North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) alert force evaluations.

Staff Sgt. Kriston M. Brown, of Rome, Air Force Commendation Medal. Brown, a tracking technician at the 224th Air Defense Squadron, performed superbly during EADS enforcement of temporary flight restrictions for more than two dozen Presidential trips and the State of the Union address. Recognized for his outstanding work as an instructor and exercise coordinator, Brown was also runner-up in the unit's Top Scope competition, finishing ahead of more than 40 other tracking technicians.

The Eastern Air Defense Sector is a North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) headquarters unit located at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome, New York. Responsible for the air defense of the eastern United States, EADS is primarily composed of New York Air National Guardsmen from the 224th Air Defense Group, the 224th Air Defense Squadron and the 224th Support Squadron. Other personnel assigned to EADS include a Canadian Forces detachment, Army and Navy liaison officers, federal civilians and contractors, and two detachments of New York Air National Guardsmen located in the National Capital Region.

Additional imagery is available at: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/3720149/brown-receives-air-force-commendation-medal.

For more information about the New York Air National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov. For more information on the 224th Air Defense Group and the Eastern Air Defense Sector, visit www.eads.ang.af.mil.

Media Attachments

Senior Master Sgt. Laura Scales receives the Meritorious Service Medal on Tuesday, Aug. 8 from Eastern Air Defense Sector Commander Col. Emil Filkorn.

New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Joshua J. Barrett, right, received the Air Force Commendation Medal on Saturday, Aug. 12 from Col. John Balbierer, Commander of the 224th Air Defense Group at the Eastern Air Defense Sector.

New York Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Tharrett received the Air Force Commendation Medal on Saturday, Aug. 12 from Col. John Balbierer, Commander of the 224th Air Defense Group.

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