U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff presents a leader�s challenge coin to New York Army National Guard Spc. Jason DeFazio from the 27th Brigade Combat Team and Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix in Kandahar, Afghanistan, July 11. Mullen conducted a six-day tour of the region to visit troops and host a USO contingent including NFL All-Pros Drew Brees, quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, and Osi Umenyiora, defensive end for the New York Giants, as well as the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. Members of CJTF Phoenix provided a transportation team to support Mullen during his time in Kandahar. Among the troops tasked with the transportation assignment were Spc. Joe Adle, Spc. Jason Defazio, Spc. Gary Dennis, Spc. Douglass Moore. Spc. Edward Nickles, Spc. James Penlon, Spc. Stephanie Wolfanger, Sgt. Michael McGrath, Sgt. Darren Ringler, Sgt. Steven Watt, Staff Sgt. Maurice Edwards, Staff Sgt.Fred Fah, Tech. Sgt. Dennis Marks and Lt. Cdr Edward Ferguson. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley.
DMNA Press Releases
NY National Guard In the News
NationalGuard.mil -- Thu, 26 Jun 2025 New York Guard Trains for Disaster Response NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. One hundred New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from across the state participated in Operation Buffalo Falls, a Homeland Response Force (HRF)... (more)
Times Union -- Tue, 17 Jun 2025 Churchill: We need a greater honor for Albany's Henry Johnson In light of Donald Trump's decision to strip the hero's name from a Louisiana Army base, Assemblyman John McDonald is proposing to rename the Patroon Island Bridge in Johnson's... (more)
27East.com -- Mon, 16 Jun 2025 Malloy Promoted to Chief Master Sergeant in the New York Air National Guard Riverhead resident Timothy Daniel Malloy was promoted to chief master sergeant in the New York Air National Guard, during a ceremony on June 6 at the 106th Rescue Wing firehouse at Francis... (more)