New York National Guard

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. -- Winslow Township resident Steven Ferrari, a veteran of the War in Iraq and commander of the New York Army National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division, was promoted to two-star Major General in the New York Army National Guard on Saturday, August 12 during a ceremony to honor the centennial of the 42nd Division at the division's Camp Mills mobilization site near Garden City, New York. Ferrari, who joined the Army Reserve in 1981, has served as the commander of the historic "Rainbow" Division since May 6. He had previously served as Assistant Division Commander for the combat headquarters since 2011. The ceremony took place at the Rainbow Division World War One Memorial, erected by Rainbow division veterans in 1940, which marks the site of Camp Mills and commemorates the division's World War I service. The monument was renovated earlier this year at a cost of just over $9,000 with the village of Garden City and the Rainbow Division Veterans Foundation splitting the cost. A number of famous Soldiers served in the 42nd Infantry Division during World War I, including Col. Douglas McArthur, who came up with the concept of the division; Lt. Col. William "Wild Bill" Donovan who won the Medal of Honor; Sgt. Joyce Kilmer, who wrote the poem "Trees"; and Father Francis Duffy, the fighting Catholic Priest, Ferrari noted during his remarks. But most of the division's Soldiers, then and now, are just good Soldiers who do their duty to the best of their ability, Ferrari said. One of those World War I Soldiers was Pvt. Martin Treptow, who enlisted in the Iowa National Guard and joined the division as a member of the 168th Infantry Regiment, Ferrari said. Treptow served as a runner--a Soldier who carried messages in the days before radio--and was killed in July 1918. After his death his diary was found and a passage Treptow wrote summarizes how Rainbow Soldiers have always served, the general said. "America must win this war," Treptow wrote. "Therefore I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.'' Treptow is typical of the Soldiers of this division, "who I am so proud to be associated with," Ferrari said. "It is a privilege and it is an honor to lead the 42nd Division," Ferrari said. The 42nd Infantry Division is based in Troy, N.Y. but has training responsibility over National Guard brigades throughout the northeast including units in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In 2005, the 42nd Infantry Division was responsible for command of 23,000 Soldiers in north-central Iraq for combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 42nd Infantry Division is also responsible for the Federal Emergency Management Region II Homeland Response Force which can deploy 1,200 New York and New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen in the event of an emergency. Ferrari joined the New Jersey Army National Guard in January 1981 and was commissioned through Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning Georgia in March 1982. He served as an Active Duty, full-time, Guardsman from June 1986 to August 2011. Ferrari served as the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2008-2009) which served as a Security Force Brigade with duties in Camp Cropper, Camp Bucca, Balad, Ashraf and Baghdad. He has held numerous field artillery staff assignments and leadership positions at the battery and battalion level before assignments to the New Jersey Army National Guard Joint Force Headquarters as Director of Military Support, Strategic Planner and Chief of Staff. His military education includes the Army War College, Dual Status Commander Course, Army Strategic Leadership Development Program - Intermediate and Basic, Command and General Staff Officer Course, Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course, and the Master Fitness Trainers Course. He holds a Bachelor's of Science in Business Information Systems and a Master's degree in Strategic Studies. Ferrari's awards include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraqi Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass and M Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, and the New York Meritorious Service Medal. Ferrari and his wife Tracy have four children Steven, Nicholas, William and Malyssa.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

New York Air National Guard Col. Denise Donnell, a Clifton Park resident, took command of the 105th Airlift Wing from Col. Howard Wagner during a ceremony here on Sunday, August 6. Donnell ,a command pilot with more than 3,800 hours of flying time in seven different types of aircraft who has been serving as the wing vice commander, is the first woman to command one of the New York Air National Guard's five flying wings. Wagner, who has led the wing since 2016, is retiring after a 34-year military career. "Col. Donnell is a highly qualified officer with the experience and training to lead the 1,300 men and women of the 105th Airlift Wing," said Major General Anthony German, the Adjutant General of New York and commander of the New York Air National Guard. "I am proud of her past accomplishments and look forward to seeing where she will lead the 105th in the future."

New York Army National Guard Col. Theresa VanCort, a Schenectady resident and an Afghanistan War veteran, has retired from the National Guard after 36 years of military service.

Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard's Bravo Company, 642 Aviation Support Battalion spent their 2017 annual training (AT) out of state, heading across Long Island Sound July 22 from their home station at Ronkonkoma to apply their maintenance skills on Army aircraft in need of repair. The company deployed 36 Soldiers to Groton in order to provide support to the Connecticut Army National Guard's 1109th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group (TASMG). The unit is one of only four facilities of its type in the Army and Army National Guard.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General of New York, announces the recent service accomplishment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their initial commitment to serve community, state and nation. The newest Citizen Soldiers to complete Army basic combat training and advanced individual training were welcomed to their units during a New York Army National Guard battle handoff ceremony. The ceremony marks their completion of the National Guard Recruit Sustainment Program, a preparatory training program that provides new recruits with training, lessons and skills to excel at their initial military training. The New York Army National Guard welcomed 111 new Soldiers to their units during the May 21 ceremonies around the state.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the recent retirement of members of the New York Army National Guard, marking their end of service to community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

New York Army National Guard Colonel Christopher R. Cronin, a Victor resident, who currently serves as commander of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, has graduated from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The War College provides graduate-level instruction to senior military officers and civilians to prepare them for senior leadership assignments and responsibilities. Each year about 800 Active Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard colonels and lieutenant colonels are enrolled in the college. Half the students, like Cronin, enroll in a two-year long distance learning program that includes two-week sessions at the Carlisle Campus. The other students take part in a ten-month resident program. Graduates receive a master's degree in Strategic Studies. "The educational highlight of this program for me was understanding the strategic implications of gray zone wars in the current volatile and complex global environment," said Cronin. Cronin graduated from the course on July 28.

New York Army National Guard Pfc. Tyler Wilson, a Rochester resident and an infantryman assigned to Charlie Troop, 2nd Battalion, 101st Cavalry stands guard at an observation post at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, Australia, during exercise Talisman Saber, on July 14 in this photograph. Wilson is one of 800 New York Army National Guard Soldiers who is in Australia as part of a joint Australian/ American training exercise called Talisman Sabre. The exercise is held every other year and involves 30,000 Australian and American military personnel at six different locations conducting field exercises and command and control exercises.

New York Army National Guard Sgt. Anthony Coppola, a Lackawanna resident who is an assistant team leader assigned to Charlie Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment stands guard at an observation post at the Australian military training site at Shoalwater Bay in Queensland Australia on July 14 in this photograph. Coppola is one of 800 New York Army National Guard Soldiers who is in Australia as part of a joint Australian/ American training exercise called Talisman Sabre. The exercise is held every other year and involves 30,000 Australian and American military personnel at six different locations conducting field exercises and command and control exercises.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General, announces the recent reenlistment of members of the State National Guard in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Catherine A. Hutson, a Manlius resident and veteran of the Iraq War, has been promoted to Colonel in the New York Air National Guard. Hutson, the commander of the 174th Maintenance Group was promoted during a June 29 ceremony at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base. Hutson has served in the Air Force and Air National Guard since 1991, when she graduated from the Air Force ROTC program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the recent retirement of members of the New York Army National Guard, marking their end of service to community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General, announces the recent reenlistment of members of the State National Guard in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Robert Giordano, a Rexford resident and an Iraq War veteran, has retired from the National Guard after 34 years of service. Giordano joined the New York Army National Guard in 1983 and served while attending college as a Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet. In 1988 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology. During his career, Giordano has served in a number of positions to include mortar platoon leader, company executive officer, company commander, public affairs officer, battalion operations officer, battalion commander, Provost Officer for the 42nd Infantry Division, and most recently Antiterrorism and Force Protection Officer for the New York National Guard. Giordano deployed to Tikrit, Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division in 2005 and served as a public affairs officer. He also was part of the New York National Guard response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and has participated in numerous emergency response mission in support of state and local governments. He deployed to the Southwest Border in 2006 as part of a New York National Guard task force mobilized to increase border security and also deployed to Egypt in 2007 to participate in joint U.S. / Egyptian Bright Star exercises. His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. He holds a bachelor's of science degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and Masters of Public Administration from Marist College. He is also a graduate of the Army's Command and General Staff College and the NATO Senior Reserve Officer Course in Oberammergau, Germany. In civilian life Giordano is Senior Vice President of Business Development for Renaissance School Services. He and his wife Erin Giordano have three children; Alex age 22, and Sophia and Gabriel at home.

Michael Blass, a Maplecrest resident and a veteran of the War in Iraq, has been promoted to Master Sergeant. in the New York Army National Guard. Blass, who serves full-time as the Senior Army Assistant Inspector General for the New York National Guard, was promoted during a May 31 ceremony at New York National Guard Headquarters here.

Ballston Lake resident Scott Ehler, a military chaplain, has been promoted to Lt. Colonel in the New York Army National Guard.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General of New York, announces the recent service accomplishment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their initial commitment to serve community, state and nation. The newest Citizen Soldiers to complete Army basic combat training and advanced individual training were welcomed to their units during a New York Army National Guard battle handoff ceremony. The ceremony marks their completion of the National Guard Recruit Sustainment Program, a preparatory training program that provides new recruits with training, lessons and skills to excel at their initial military training. The New York Army National Guard welcomed 111 new Soldiers to their units during the May 21 ceremonies around the state.

New York Air National Guard Colonel Brian Backus, the commander of the 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron of the 109th Airlift Wing will serve as the Grand Marshall for the 89th annual Scotia-Glenville Memorial Day Parade on Wednesday, May 24. Backus, a Niskayuna resident, joined the New York Air National Guard in 1994. During his career he has deployed to Qatar, Afghanistan and Haiti. Prior to joining the Air National Guard, Colonel Backus was an Army Combat Medic Instructor and a Navy Submarine Nuclear Propulsion Machinist Mate. His awards include a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, repeated awards of the Air Force, Army and Joint Service Commendation and Achievement Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal. The Scotia-Glenville parade will kick off at 6:15 p.m.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the recent retirement of members of the New York Army National Guard, marking their end of service to community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Christopher Panzer, an Albany resident and a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been promoted to Colonel in the New York Army National Guard. Panzer is a full-time National Guard officer who serves as director of plans, operations, and training for the New York Army National Guard. He was promoted during a May 16 ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters. Panzer's father, Philip Panzer, a former Marine, had the honor of pinning his son's rank on his uniform. Panzer enlisted in the Army in 1987. His first duty assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor in Germany as an Armored Calvary Scout. After leaving active duty, Panzer joined the New York Army National Guard, where he was selected for Officer Candidate School and commissioned as a second Lieutenant in June 1991. Upon completion of the Infantry Officers Basic Course, Panzer was assigned to the 105th Infantry Battalion. Panzer is a graduate of Regents College, the Army Command and General Staff College, and he will receive his master's degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College this July. Panzer has two combat deployments, one to Iraq in 2005 and one to Afghanistan in 2008. Over the course of his career, Panzer has held many leadership positions such as the bravo company Executive officer with the 105th Infantry, 27th Brigade, the battalion executive officer of the 42nd Infantry Division Special Troops battalion, and the battalion commander of the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters Battalion. Panzer's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National Defense service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. Panzer was also joined at the ceremony by his uncle, Joseph O'Leary, a retired Brigadier General of the U.S. Army. Jump to Toolbar

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General, announces the recent reenlistment of members of the State National Guard in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General of New York, announces the recent service accomplishment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their initial commitment to serve community, state and nation. The newest Citizen Soldiers to complete Army basic combat training and advanced individual training were welcomed to their units during a New York Army National Guard battle handoff ceremony. The ceremony marks their completion of the National Guard Recruit Sustainment Program, a preparatory training program that provides new recruits with training, lessons and skills to excel at their initial military training. The New York Army National Guard welcomed 75 new Soldiers to their units during the April 9 ceremonies around the state.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the recent retirement of members of the New York Army National Guard, marking their end of service to community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General, announces the recent reenlistment of members of the State National Guard in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General of New York, announces the recent service accomplishment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their initial commitment to serve community, state and nation. The newest Citizen Soldiers to complete Army basic combat training and advanced individual training were welcomed to their units during a New York Army National Guard battle handoff ceremony. The ceremony marks their completion of the National Guard Recruit Sustainment Program, a preparatory training program that provides new recruits with training, lessons and skills to excel at their initial military training.