NY Air National Guard Lt. Col. Paul Salas, A Nesconset resident, assumes command of National Guard security force in New York City

Veteran Officer will lead Joint Task Force Empire Shield force which augments security at transport hubs

Fort Hamilton, NY (05/31/2019) — New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Paul Salas, a Nesconset resident, a Gulf War veteran, and a Suffolk County Police Officer, took command of the New York National Guard's security force in New York City during a ceremony at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.

Salas assumed command of Joint Task Force Empire Shield-a unit composed of up to 750 New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen-who work with law enforcement agencies in New York City to secure transportation hubs.

The members of Joint Task Force Empire Shield are under the command of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and perform their duties in a State Active Duty Status. The men and women in the task force also serve in their assigned Army and Air National Guard units and perform federal military duties.

Salas, who has been serving as the task force deputy commander, replaced Army National Guard Col. Peter Riley as the task force commander. Riley is retiring after a 30-year military career.

Salas, served in the United States Marine Corp and Marine Corps Reserve from 1987 to 2000 before joining the New York Air National Guard in 2003.

Salas was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1987 after graduating from the University of South Carolina. He served as an a combat engineer officer in Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 at Cherry Point, North Carolina; as a training officer for the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa; and as a facilities officer at Camp Pendleton California before transferring to the Marine Corps Reserve.

As a member of the Marine Corps Reserve he served at Fort Schuyler, N.Y. He was also assigned to Marine Forces Pacific in Hawai as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Salas joined the 106th Rescue Wing at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard base in Westhampton Beach in 2003 and served with the 106th Civil Engineer Squadron.

He commanded the 106th Services Flight as well as the 106th Force Support Squadron. He deployed to Al Dahfra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates in 2009 and again in 2010 where he served as the suqadron executive officer for the 363 Training Squadron.

In 2012 he served for six months at Air National Guard headquarters as a continuous process improvement lead.

He commanded the 106th Logistics Readiness Squadron from 2012 to 2017 and as the Wing Inspector General for the 106th Rescue Squadron. Salas is currently assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing as a special projects officer.

Salas is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, the United States Marine Corps Combat Engineer Officer Course, the Reserve Amphibious Warfare School, the Air Command and Staff College, the Air National Guard Commanders Development Course, the Air War College, and the Joint Task Force Commanders Training Course.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Air Force Expeditionary Service Medal.

Salas is currently on a leave of absence from the Suffolk County Police Department.

He and his wife Patricia have four children, Olivia and Conor Salas and EJ and Caitlin Gregory.

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