Lt. Col. Jacob Searles, a Whitesboro resident becomes commander of the New York Air Guard's 224th Support Squadron
ROME , New York (08/26/2026) — Air Force Lt. Col. Jacob R. Searles of Whitesboro officially became the commander of the New York Air National Guard's 224th Support Squadron on August 21 during a ceremony at the Eastern Air Defense Sector.
Col. Joseph J. Miller Jr., commander of the 224th Air Defense Group, presided over the ceremony.
Lt. Col. Searles commissioned into the Regular Air Force in May 2005 as a Communications Officer.
His first assignment was at Ramstein Air Base, where he served as the Officer in Charge of the Satellite Ground Station.
He was then assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., serving as the Military Aide to the Director.
After five years of active duty, Searles transitioned to the Air Force Reserve as a Cyber Warfare Officer and worked as a software developer.
In 2011, he joined the New York Air National Guard at the 109th Airlift Wing in Scotia, New York, where he served as the Commander of the Communications Squadron.
In 2016, he transitioned to the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS), serving as the Flight Commander of the Mission Systems Flight.
He then served as the Deputy Commander for the 224th Support Squadron before ultimately assuming command of the squadron.
The Eastern Air Defense Sector, headquartered in Rome, New York, is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and is responsible for the air defense of the homeland. The 224thAir Defense Group, an independent wing-equivalent group of the New York Air National Guard, is located at EADS and provides the forces to conduct the air defense mission.
The 224th ADG has several squadrons and detachments. The 224th Air Defense Squadron, the 224th Support Squadron, the 224th Security Forces Squadron and a Canadian Element NORAD detachment serve in Rome. Two geographically separated units, the 223rd Air Defense Squadron and the National Capital Region Coordination Center detachment, serve in the Washington, D.C. area.
For more information about the New York Air National Guard, visit http://www.dmna.ny.gov/. For more information on the Eastern Air Defense Sector and the 224th Air Defense Group, visit http://www.eads.ang.af.mil/
Media Attachments
New York Air National Guard Col. Joseph Miller, 224th Air Defense Group commander, and Lt. Col. Jacob Searles stand at attention during the 224th Support Squadron assumption of command ceremony held at the Eastern Air Defense Sector on August 21, 2026. Miller presided over the ceremony, welcoming Searles as the squadron’s new commander. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Barbara Olney)
New York Air National Guard Col. Joseph Miller, 224th Air Defense Group commander, and Lt. Col. Jacob Searles exchange salutes during the 224th Support Squadron assumption of command ceremony held at the Eastern Air Defense Sector on August 21, 2026. Miller presided over the ceremony, welcoming Searles as the squadron’s new commander. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Barbara Olney)
New York National Guard
Barbara Olney , 315-334-6536Share this Story
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