LATHAM-- New York State Trooper Edward Stefik, who is also Master Sgt. Stefik of the 107th Security Forces Squardon of the New York Air National Guard, recieves the Master Sgt. Joseph Longobardo Trophy for best novice marksman at the annual Adjutant General’s Match from Brig. Gen. Patrik Murphy, the Adjutant General, during a short ceremony at State Headquarters on Wednesday, June 30.

Stefik, a 13-year member of the New York State Police and a rifleman on the State Police Special Operations Response Team, has been a member of the 107th Airlift Wing, based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, for the past two years. Prior to that he served with the 98th Division of the United States Army Reserve and spent a year in Iraq, where he was awarded the Combat Action Badge.

The Longobardo Trophy, the New York National Guard’s top award for shooters participating in the annual competition for the first time, is named after New York State Trooper Joseph Longobardo, who was also a member of the New York Air National Guard and who was killed in the line of duty on August 31, 2006.

• (Read the full story)