NY Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Thomas Ciampolillo, a Glenville resident, becomes top enlisted leader for 4,000 National Guard troops
This release has been updated with a photograph from the ceremony and some comments.
Latham, NY (10/16/2018) — New York Army National Guard Command Sgt.Major Thomas Ciampolillo, a Glenville, New York resident, and a veteran of the Iraq War, will became the top enlisted Soldier in the New York Army National Guard's 53rd Troop Command during an Oct. 14 ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site.
Ciampolillo replaced Command Sgt. Major Corey Cush who is moving onto a similar position with the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division.
The 53rd Troop Command oversees about 4,000 of the New York Army National Guard's Soldier in units located across the state.
"It's a good day to be an American Soldier, " Ciampolillo told 200 Soldiers and guests, during the ceremony. " I'm looking forward to serving with all members of the 53rd Troop Command."
Ciampolillo entered the New York Army National Guard in January 1980.
In May 1982 Ciampolillo enlisted in the United States Navy and completed Navy Boot Camp and Aviation Apprentice Training at Great Lakes, Illinois. He was discharged from the United States Navy 1986 and enlisted in the New York Army National Guard once again.
Ciampolillo has served in tank, air defense artillery, infantry and military police units during his career. He has served as command sergeant major for the 102nd Military Police Battalion, the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the Joint Multinational Training Group- Ukraine, and the 106th Regional Training Institute.
Ciampolillo deployed to Iraq in 2005 and served as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the 42nd Infantry Division Police Training Team in Samarra, Iraq. He also served as operations sergeant major for the 4th Iraqi Division military training team in Tikrit, Iraq.
In 2018 he deployed to Ukraine as the top enlisted Soldier for a 220-member New York Army National Guard team working with other NATO nations to train the Ukrainian Army.
Following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Ciampolillo served as the battalion task force command sergeant major for a team providing security at New York City airports as part of Operation Noble Eagle.
His military education includes the Sergeant Majors Academy and the U.S. Army Service Support Course along with other military schools.
His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Naval Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.
Ciampolillo retired from the Schenectady Police Department as a Detective.
He and his wife Toni have one daughter, Casey, and two step-sons Daniel and Ben.
Media Attachments
Command Sgt. Major Thomas Ciampolillo
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michel Natali, commander, 53rd Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, passes the noncommissioned officer sword to Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Ciampolillo, incoming command sergeant major of the 53rd Troop Command, during a change of responsibility ceremony at Camp Smith Training Site, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., Oct. 14, 2018. The ceremony marked the change of the 53rd Troop Command’s senior enlisted advisor from outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Corey K. Cush to incoming Command Sgt. Maj. Ciampolillo. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Davis)
New York National Guard
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