NY Air Guard's 105th Airlift Wing names five Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2025

Airmen being recognized come from Spring Valley, the Bronx, Lindenhurst, New York City and Bergenfield, New Jersey

Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York (01/21/2026) — The New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing, based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, has announced the five enlisted Airmen who won the wing's 2025 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Awards.

The Airmen recognized come from Spring Valley, the Bronx, Bergenfield, New Jersey, Lindenhurst and New York City.

"These Airmen represent the very best of our wing and set the standard for what it means to serve with distinction and pride," said Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Cohan, the 105th Airlift Wing command chief.

"Their professionalism, resilience and commitment continue to make us a premier airlift wing ready to answer the nation's call anytime, anywhere," he said.

To be awarded this title, Airmen are scored on several criteria: executing the mission, leading people, managing resources and improving the unit are the four categories.

The Airmen are:

Airman of the Year: Airman 1st Class Tinatin Sadzaglishvili, a member of the 105th Base Defense Squadron, who lives in Spring Valley.

Sadzaglishvili was selected as Airman of the Year for her exemplary performance and vital contributions to the 105th Base Defense Group's mission, according to Chief Master Sgt. Flavio Martinez, the base defense groups senior enlisted leader.

Sadzaglishvili is responsible for safeguarding the 105th by controlling access, verifying credentials and ensuring prohibited items do not enter the installation. She contributed to more than five arrests and multiple contraband discoveries at the base gate, directly enhancing installation security.

She was assigned to a state active duty mission, earned certifications to man the main gate independently and trained other defenders on gate procedures. She is originally from Tbilisi, Georgia.

Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Ada Torres, a member of the 137th Airlift Squadron, who lives in the Bronx.

Torres was selected as NCO of the Year for her exceptional mission impact, leadership and unwavering commitment to Airmen, according to Chief Master Sgt. Janine Rossi, the 137th Airlift Squadron's senior enlisted leader.

She managed flight authorizations, post-mission reviews and crew coordination, enabling 724.9 flying hours, the movement of 3.9 million pounds of cargo and the safe evacuation of 917 patients from austere locations. She ensured the transport of presidential vehicles, earning exclusive recognition from the Secret Service.

Torres delivered nearly 200 hours of instructor training and revolutionized squadron readiness by creating instructional videos that standardized and elevated loadmaster training.

She also built the 105th Airlift Wing's Operation Group Student Flight Program for both prior and nonprior service members, setting expectations for incoming Airmen.

Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Master Sgt. Justin Murphy, a member of the 105th Base Defense Group from Bergenfield, New Jersey.

Murphy was selected as the Senior NCO of the Year for his exceptional leadership, dedication to duty and his role in strengthening the readiness and effectiveness of the 105th Base Defense Group, according to Chief Master Sgt. Flavio Martinez, the base defense group's senior enlisted leader.

As the NCO in Charge of Standardization and Evaluations, Murphy ensured unit standards were maintained at the highest levels, playing a key role in evaluating training, certification and operational compliance.

His efforts improved mission performance and ensured that defenders were fully prepared to execute both domestic security missions and globally deployable operations.

First Sergeant of the Year: Master Sgt. Luis Murria, assigned to the 105th Maintenance Squadron, is from Lindenhurst, New York.

As a first sergeant, Murria has limited time to work with 105th Maintenance Squadron Airmen, senior leadership and student flight members during regularly scheduled drill weekends but consistently seeks opportunities for one-on-one counseling with members and visits all work centers, according to 1st Lt. Alec Degraff, the 105th Maintenance Squadron maintenance operations officer.

Murria is a first sergeant for more than 150 Airmen. He aids in the leadership of squadron formations and coordinates awards, decorations, promotions and retirement ceremonies for members.

As a first sergeant, he provides guidance to leaders and helps ensure a mission-ready team. Murria refined the family care packages for maintenance squadron members and continuously refines communication procedures to all squadron members.

Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Albert Romano, 205th Base Defense Squadron, from New York City.

Romano was selected as the company grade officer of the year for his outstanding contributions to the 105th Airlift Wing while serving with the 205th Base Defense Squadron, component of the wing's 105th Base Defense Group.

Romano's performance demonstrated exceptional leadership, resource management and mission execution. His proactive approach to leading troops, improving unit processes and advancing the effectiveness of defensive operations strengthened the wing's overall readiness.

Romano balanced operational requirements with Airmen development, fostering teamwork and innovation. He was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, and currently resides in New York, New York.

The Award Process:

To nominate Airmen for the annual award, wing units compile award packages highlighting Airmen in the four categories they're scored on.

They then submit the award packages to their respective groups.

Each group from the wing, including the 105th Base Defense Group, 105th Medical Group, 105th Maintenance Group, 105th Mission Support Group and the 105th Operations Group, selects their top Airmen for each category then sends their award packages to the wing to compete against the other group-level winners.

Finally, a review board consisting of senior enlisted leaders from across the wing score the award packages and host an in-person review of the nominees. The senior enlisted leaders sitting on this board selected the final five nominees to be awarded the title Outstanding Airman of the Year for 2025.

Each of the five winners from the 105th will now go on to compete at the New York Air National Guard level against the other wings from across New York. Then those winners, except those in the company grade officer of the year category, will go on to compete at the regional level.

This is an annual award that honors the top enlisted members of the 105th, as well as Airmen from across the National Guard Bureau. According to Cohan, the 105th's winners demonstrated exceptional professionalism, technical expertise and unwavering dedication to the mission and Air Force Core Values.

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