STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE- Major General Joseph Taluto, the Adjutant General, speaks to the incoming and outgoing commanders of the 2nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) during a change of command ceremony on Friday, Feb. 6.
Army National Guard Lt. Col. Matthew H. Cooper (left) turned over command of the 22-member joint unit to Air National Guard Major Rich Nunziato after holding the job for four years.
The 2nd CST is trained to detect biological, chemical or radiological agents, identify them, and provide the information to civilian or military responders in the event of an attack.
Nunziato is the forth commander for the unit, which served at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks and regularly conducts support missions in New York and other states.
Cooper will become the WMD Branch Chief at Joint Forces Headquarters- New Yoek
DMNA Press Releases
Loading Press Releases...NY National Guard In the News
WTEN -- Wed, 14 Oct 2026 Unknown Revolutionary War soldiers laid to rest at Saratoga National Cemetery SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) Nearly 250 years after a Revolutionary War battle on Lake Champlain, unidentified Continental Army soldiers who were killed were honored in Saratoga County on... (more)
WAMC -- Wed, 14 Oct 2026 Continental Army remains laid to rest at Saratoga National Cemetary (audio) 250 years after the Battle of Valcour Island, the remains of Continental Army soldiers who died in the conflict have been laid to rest in Saratoga County. It was a fitting day for a funeral... (more)
NationalGuard.mil -- Wed, 14 Oct 2026 New York Guard Mobilizes for Southern Border Mission BINGHAMTON, N.Y. New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 204th Engineer Battalion are mobilizing to the nations southern border for Operation Ardent Vanguard, supporting border... (more)