Lt. Col. Michael Tagliafierro, Porters Corners resident, retires from the New York Army National Guard
Latham, NY (01/26/2021) — New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Michael Tagliafierro, a Porters Corners resident, ended a military career which began in 1983 with a retirement ceremony on Monday, January 25 at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham.
Tagliafierro is a veteran of two deployments to Iraq and is authorized to wear the combat patch of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division, the Minnesota Army National Guard's 34th Infantry Division, and the Active Army's 1st Infantry Division.
He most recently served as the Regional Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) response planner for Federal Emergency Management Region II.
Major General Michele Natali, the Assistant Adjutant General, Army for the New York National Guard, praised Tagliafierro for his service over the years.
"You are truly symbolic of the history of the Army and the New York Army National Guard, an old Cold Warrior who came back to serve again," Natali said.
"Thank you for all you have done over the years and for your service," he added.
In his remarks, Tagliafierro thanks his wife Maureen for her support over the years, starting from his enlistment in the Army in September 1983 in Albany.
"My wife and number one supporter was there with me that day and she has been with me for every step of my military career," Tagliafierro said. "It would have been impossible for me to serve without her."
He also thanks his children Sophie, Michael and John Paul for their support as well.
"The Army has been very good to me and my family and is has been an honor of a lifetime to serve in the New York National Guard," he said.
During the ceremony, Tagliafierro was presented the Order of St. Maurice, an award for excellence in infantry, the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Tagliafierro served in the Active Army from 1983 to 1987, first as a Cavalry Scout with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Cavalry on what was then the West German border, and then at the Armor School At Fort Knox, Kentucky.
He joined the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 210th Armor in Albany as a cavalry scout and then earned a commission as a second lieutenant and became the commander of the battalion's Scout platoon.
When the 201th Armor stood down in 1993, Tagliafierro transferred to the Inactive Ready Reserve. He briefly left the military in 2000 and then rejoined following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Tagliafierro served as a tank company executive officer, the personnel officer of the 642nd Military Intelligence Battalion, and the commander of the 42nd Infantry Division's headquarters company before joining the New York National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in 2010.
During that period he deployed to Tikrit, Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division in 2005 and then served in Iraq again with the 34th Infantry Division and the 1st Infantry Division from February 2009 to November 2010.
While assigned to Joint Force headquarters, Tagliafierro specialized in homeland defense. He served as the Homeland Response Force implementation and plans officer and as the future operations branch chief for the New York National Guard Joint Operations Directorate.
He also served as the commander of the 2nd Battalion 106th Infantry Regiment-a training unit-and then as the regional CBRN planner for FEMA Region II.
His awards also include two awards of the Bronze Star Medal, two earlier awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals.
In civilian life Tagliafierro works at the New York State Comptroller's Office in the Local Government and School Accountability Division in Glens Falls.
Media Attachments
Major General Michele Natali, the Assistant Adjutant General, Army for the New York National Guard, ( left) congratulates Lt. Col. Michael Tagliafierro, after awarding hi the Order of St. Maurice, the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal during his retirement ceremony at New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham, New York on January 25, 2021. ( U.S. Army National Guard photo by Eric Durr )
New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Michael Tagliafierro,pins a family recognition award on his wife Maureen during his retirement ceremony at New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham, New York on January 25, 2021.( U.S. Army National Guard photo by Eric Durr )
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