Ceremony Welcomes New Top Enlisted Leader at 105th Airlift Wing on Saturday, Oct. 3

STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NEWBURGH, NY (10/02/2015)(readMedia)-- Chief Master Sgt. Mark A. Cozzupoli, a veteran of deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, takes over as the top enlisted Airman in the 1,000- member 105th Airlift Wing on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2105.

Members of the press are invited to attend the change-of-authority ceremony as Cozzupoli takes over from Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Rizzo as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the wing. Rizzo is retiring after 33 years of military service.

WHO: Chief Master Sgt. Mark A. Cozzupoli, the incoming Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 105th Airlift Wing; Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Rizzo, the outgoing Command Chief Master Sergeant; Col. Timothy LaBarge, the commander of the 105th Airlift Wing, and the men and women of the 105th Airlift Wing.

WHAT: A Change of Authority ceremony in which Rizzo transfers the responsibilities of the senior enlisted Airman for representing enlisted force issues to the commander, and overseeing training of the enlisted force, to Cozzupoli. The two men will exchange the wing's colors, representing the transfer of authority, before a formation of Airmen.

WHEN: 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. (Members of the press should be at the main gate at 1030 for access to this secure military facility.)

WHERE: Stewart Air National Guard Base, 1 Maguire Way, Hangar 102, Newburgh, NY 12550

Members of the media must contact Major Patrick Cordova at 845-563-2040 or Capt. Eric Durkins at 845-563-2004 for access to this secure military facility.

Coverage Opportunities:

Media will be able to interview Command Chief Master Sgt. Cozzupoli, Command Chief Master Sgt. Rizzo and Col. LaBarge. Visual opportunities include troops in formation and the colors transfer ceremony.

BACKGROUND:

Chief Master Sgt. Mark. A Cozzupoli

Chief Master Sgt. Mark Cozzupoli enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1993 and served on Active Duty for four years before transferring to the New York Air National Guard and the 105th Airlift Wing in 1997.

Cozzupoli has deployed on 5 occasions, including deployments to Balad Air Base, Iraq in 2005 and Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in 2011. Prior to his current assignment, he was the 105th Logistics Readiness Squadron Superintendent, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, N.Y. He has served in a number of positions ranging from supply management journeyman to Unit Deployment Manager and Materiel Management Flight Chief.

As the Command Chief, he reports directly to the Wing Commander on enlisted personnel issues, to include professional military education, enlisted promotions, mentorship, morale, family readiness, community relations, and esprit de corps.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Manhattan College and a Master of Business Administration from Mount St. Mary College. He is a graduate of the Air Force Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education and the Air National Guard Chief Executive Course and has an Associate degree in Applied Science, Logistics from the Community College of the Air Force, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

Cozzupoli has also been named the 105th Airlift Wing Unit Career Advisor of the Year in 2004 and 2006 and was Senior NCO of the month for the 455th Air Expeditionary Squadron in Afghanistan in 2011. He was also named a rising star by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce in 2006.

He lives in Highland.

Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Rizzo:

Chief Master Sergeant Joseph F. Rizzo is the outgoing Command Chief for the 105th Airlift Wing. Rizzo joined the New York Air National Guard's 213th Engineering Installation Squadron, October 1981. He has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and has served as the top enlisted leader at the 105th Airlift Wing since 2009.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the National Defense Service Medal.

He is a resident of Selden.

105th Airlift Wing

The 105th Airlift Wing operates the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York.

Wing aircraft regularly fly missions around the world to supply U.S. and allied military units. Members of the Wing have deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and have responded to support New Yorkers here at home during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Tropical Storms Lee an Irene in 2011.