NY Air Guard's 105th Airlift Wing rated tops in environmental restoration efforts by Air National Guard
The 105th Airlift Wing's 105th Civil Engineer Squadron has been awarded the General Thomas D. White Award for Environmental Restoration
NEWBURGH, N.Y. (05/13/2026) — The New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing's 105th Civil Engineer Squadron has been awarded the General Thomas D. White Award for Environmental Restoration by the Air National Guard.
The 105th Airlift Wing's environmental efforts were rated best in the Air Guard and were a runner-up at the Air Force wide level.
The award recognizes the wing's effort to work with the local community to remediate the PFOS chemical contamination that was identified at Stewart Air National Guard Base in 2016.
The PFOS was contained in the fire fighting foam which was formerly used at the base.
The 105th Airlift Wing's environmental office worked to create the Stewart Air National Guard Restoration Advisory Board to review proposed environmental remediation efforts.
The advisory board is made up of representatives from the Air Guard, local environmental groups, local and state government officials and Newburgh community members. The board holds quarterly public meetings to inform and engage with the community, as well as receive public feedback.
The restoration teams have led numerous successful projects which have made a significant impact on the community, according to Michael Oettinger, the 105th Civil Engineer Squadron's environmental manager.
"Bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders who share a common goal has been a key factor in our progress," Oettinger said.
"By combining the expertise of our base personnel, environmental partners and the local community we've been able to accelerate restoration efforts and move critical projects forward," he added.
Lt. Col. Thomas Maguire, the 105th Mission Support Group commander. Who chairs the advisory board, credited Oettinger with playing a key role in the process.
"Mike has been dealing with this for over a decade and he hasn't lost the energy or the drive to better the process, so he has definitely gone above and beyond," Maguire said.
"From my perspective, I'm so comfortable with him making these decisions. I just know that they're well researched and the projects he oversees are always on time," he added.
The environmental team has used over $16 million in funds for restoration projects since the Restoration Advisory Board was created.
Significant improvements were made around the area to reduce PFOS contamination, according to Oettinger.
A state-of-the-art foam fractionation system with Granulated Activated Carbon polishing was deployed to control contaminated groundwater and prevent off-base migration.
Additionally, 6,600 ft of deteriorated stormwater infrastructure will be restored, creating an impassible barrier and reducing the risk of PFOS migration through utility lines, he said.
The team also forged a strong partnership with New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health through consistent communication and regular updates, ensuring seamless coordination and a unified message, Oettinger said.
"This award reflects meaningful progress but there is still work to be done," said Oettinger.
"Our focus remains on continuing restoration efforts that protect human health and the environment while reducing the further spread of PFOS contamination, he added.
Media Attachments
Members of the Stewart Air National Guard Base Restoration Advisory Board, designed to provide a forum for effective two-way communication between the community and the New York Air National Guard about the environmental work that is being conducted at Stewart Air Guard Base, tours the water decontamination project site and its state-of-the-art equipment on May 30, 2024. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Daniel Hotter)
New York National Guard
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