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
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Springville Journal -- Fri, 05 Jun 2026 Springville resident Eric Emerling retires after 20 years of Army and Army National Guard service Springville resident Eric Emerling, a lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard, was recognized for his 20-year military career during a retirement ceremony on May 16 in New York... (more)
Geophysical Institute (University of Alaska) -- Thu, 04 Jun 2026 Frozen Arctic lakes becoming less capable of supporting cargo aircraft The ability to land a military cargo plane on a frozen Arctic lake is becoming less likely as a warming environment reduces the number of subfreezing days. That puts ice thickness below the... (more)
NNY 360.com -- Sun, 31 May 2026 106th Rescue Wing conducts five-day Combat Readiness Exercise at Fort Drum FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. More than 1,000 Airmen assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing completed a five-day combat readiness exercise, testing every element of the unit's... (more)