Master Sergeant Glenn Blair, a Manlius resident, is Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for New York Air Guard
Syracuse, New York (03/21/2024) — New York Air National Guard Master Sergeant Glenn Blair, a member of the 174th Attack Wing and a resident of Manlius, has been selected as the top senior non-commissioned officer of the year for 2023 for the New York Air National Guard.
Blair is an MQ-9 Reaper maintenance inspector assigned to the 174th Maintenance Group of the 174th Attack Wing, based at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, N.Y.
As an aircraft maintenance inspector, Blair's duties include performing inspections and evaluations to ensure that policies and standards are upheld.
Blair is also a liaison for the MQ-9 test detachment, wherein he helps to coordinate the maintenance effort required to execute operational testing.
Blair enlisted in the Air Force in 2008 as an F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief. In 2014 he joined the Air National Guard to become an MQ-9 Reaper crew chief at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base. Blair then transitioned to the Field Training Detachment of the 174th Attack Wing in 2018 as an aircraft maintenance instructor. He has been an aircraft maintenance inspector since 2020.
The Field Training Detachment is an MQ-9 and Ground Control Station (GCS) maintenance school house. The student base consists of local Syracuse members, other MQ-9 Air National Guard units, United States Air Force active duty, and various NATO ally maintainers. Students attend training at the Field Training Detachment to learn maintenance and theory of the MQ-9 aircraft or GCS systems.
Blair was named Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the New York Air National Guard after competing against winners at five other New York Air National Guard wings last year.
"I'm honored to receive the recognition, and appreciate the help and support I received throughout the year from the great people working at the 174th Attack Wing," said Blair.
Blair added that the award encourages him to continue his hard work and dedication to service.
Col. John O'Connor, the commander of the 174th Attack Wing, praised Blair for his dedication.
"Master Sgt Blair epitomizes the Air Force Core Values and what we expect from our Senior NCO corps. We are very proud of his accomplishment that directly reflects the excellence of the 174th Attack Wing Airmen," O'Connor said.
The 174th Attack Wing, based at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York, operates and maintains the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. In addition to remotely operating the MQ-9 overseas, Airmen from the 174th staff the base's formal training unit and field training detachment where U.S. Air Force officers and enlisted Airmen receive MQ-9 pilot, sensor operator, and maintenance instruction.
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