Two 105th Airlift Wing members names Airmen of the Year by the New York Air National Guard

NEWBURGH, New York (02/10/2023) — Two members of the 105th Airlift Wing, based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, have been named Airmen of the Year by the 5,880-member New York Air National Guard.

Senior Master Sgt Renea Turner, a Middletown resident was selected as First Sergeant of the Year for 2023, while Capt. Zachary German, who lives in Oneonta, was named the Company Grade Officer of the Year for 2023.

Turner will now compete against her peers from the other 53 state and territorial Air Guards to be named best in the entire Air National Guard.

Turner, who enlisted in the New York Air National Guard in 2003, is assigned to the 105th Airlift Wing's Operations Group. As the First Sergeant for the group and the wing's staff agencies, she advises the commander on the readiness, health, welfare, and morale of Airmen and families within the unit.

Additionally, she is responsible for working with the Command Chief to ensure first sergeants and additional duty first sergeants across the wing are properly trained and equipped to support their respective units.

German, who joined the New York Air National Guard in 2017, is the medical plans and operations officer for the wing's 105th Medical Group Detachment 1. He is responsible for daily operations and readiness of the medical detachment and coordination for all training, exercises, and operations.

He also serves as a liaison to the New York Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Task Force commander regarding medical operations during domestic operations missions.

"Capt. Zachary German and Senior Master Sgt. Renae Turner represent the full-spectrum embodiment of today's Air National Guard," said Brig. Gen. Gary Charlton, the commander of the 105th Airlift Wing.

"Capt. German came to the wing as an Ivy League educated, honors graduate with a thirst to put his education to use in service to his state and nation. He has proven to be a critical team member of the 105th Medical Group, instilling mission-pride, and a can-do spirit throughout the group," Charlton said.

"Senior Master Sgt. Turner has called the wing home since she first enlisted in our maintenance squadron. She personifies the diverse career opportunities the Air National Guard has to offer working as a maintainer, recruiter, personnelist, budget analyst, and first sergeant. Throughout it all, what remained consistent was her unparalleled dedication to the wing and its Airmen," Charlton said.

"Together, these Airmen represent what our wing has to offer, and we are proud to see them recognized at the state level," he said.

Turner has served in several positions during her career. These have included additional duty first sergeant for the 105th Force Support Squadron and 105th Maintenance Operations Flight, a security manager, honor guard member, fitness assessment monitor, unit career advisor and base defense augmentee.

German entered the Air National Guard through a direct commission into the Medical Services Corps after completing degrees in biology and science from Hartwick College.

He completed military's Health Services Administration School at Fort Sam Houston in February 2018 and earned a Master of Public Administration shortly after in May 2018. He earned a degree in business administration from Cornell University in 2018 as well.

German also serves as an instructor with the Defense Institute for Medical Operations and is the treasurer for the Air National Guard Medical Services Corps Society.

German previously held roles as the operations officer for the United States Air Forces of Europe Headquarters Eastern European International Affairs Branch. Prior to this current job, German served as a joint medical plans officer at the United States European Command to support medical efforts during Operation Allies Refuge, the joint mission to evacuate Afghans who worked for the United States from that nation, and on Ukraine Support Operations.

The 105th Airlift Wing flies the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter to locations worldwide from Stewart Air National Guard Base.

The New York Air National Guard, with five flying wings and the Eastern Air Defense Sector is the largest state Air Guard in the nation.

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