NY Air National Guard Master Sgt. Lynette Tangredi, a Glenville resident, named NY Air Guard First Sgt. of the Year

Stratton Air National Guard Base, Sciotia, N.Y., NY (03/09/2017) — New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Lynette Tangredi, a Glenville resident, and a member of the 109th Airlift Wing based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, has been named First Sergeant of the Year for 2017 by the New York Air National Guard.

Tangredi, who has served in the Air Force and the Air National Guard since 1997, serves as First Sergeant for the 109th Airlift Wing’s 109th Security Forces Squadron.

In that role she is the commander’s key advisor on enlisted personnel readiness matters.

Tangredi works full time as a criminal analyst for the New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, which provides support to civilian police agencies.

The First Sergeant of the Year Award recognizes outstanding senior enlisted leaders from across the 5,800-member New York Air National Guard. The winner of that award then goes on to compete against representatives from the other 53 state Air National Guards for the best in the Air Guard honors.

The New York National Guard is the largest Air National Guard in the United States. The New York Air Guard's five wings fly the C-17 strategic airlifter, the HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopter and HC-130 search and rescue aircraft, as well as the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft, along with the LC-130 "Skibirds" flown by the 109th Airlift Wing which can land on snow and ice.

The New York Air National Guard Airmen are also responsible for the air defense of the United States east of the Mississippi.

New York Air National Guard members also respond to state emergencies when called upon by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Tangredi joined the Air Force in 1997 and originally served as a computer systems operator assigned to the 83rd Communications Squadron at Langley Air Force Base and served in the Active Air Force until 2000.

She joined the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Aerial Port Flight In 2004. She joined the 109th Airlift Wing as a full-time communications lead for the United States Antarctic Program and deployed numerous times to Antarctica in support of the mission there as a member of the 109th Communications Flight.

In 2014 Tangredi served briefly with the 109th Small Air Terminal before joining the 109th Security Forces Squadron.

Tangredi, a 20-year Air Force veteran, said being a first sergeant was always something she wanted to do.

“When I was active duty, (the first sergeant) was the one guy I remembered who was always the point of contact -- always helping, always reassuring, and he left an impression on me,” she said. “I just knew that I wanted to do that one day.”

“Everybody always said it’s the best job in the military, and they’re right,” she said. “I absolutely love it – it’s amazing being able to go to Greenland and Antarctica and to just see a completely different aspect of the way the Wing works. It’s an extremely rewarding job.”

"Tangredi has been an enormous asset to Security Forces and the Wing,” said 1st Lt. Gregory Durrant, the 109th Security Forces Squadron operations officer. “Not only does she support our unit but she has deployed as a first sergeant to Greenland and to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze. She is always looking for new ways to incorporate volunteerism and self-improvement for all squadron members and has become irreplaceable in her support for family members whose loved ones are currently deployed."

 When Tangredi was selected as the Wing First Sergeant of the Year and then the state’s she said she was surprised and humbled.

“To think that there’s so many amazing first sergeants on this base and (across the state) – just being at that level of competition was very humbling,” Tangredi said.

Tangredi holds Associates degrees in Information technology, liberal arts and a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College.

Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Antarctica Medal.

 

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