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Col. Jason Lefton is the commander of the 53rd Troop Command, which has 5,100 Soldiers in units located across New York.
Lefton previously served as the New York State Army Aviation Officer from 2021 through 2025. He also served as the commander of the 42nd Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade from 2021 to June of 2025. From 2017 to 2021 he commanded the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion.
Lefton has served in numerous leadership and staff positions in his 25-year career as an officer in the Army National Guard since earning his commission from the Marion Military Institute in 1996.
Lefton joined the New York Army National Guard as an artillery officer. In 2000 he transferred to aviation and became a UH-60 pilot in the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Regiment in January of 2001.
During his career, Lefton deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina in support of the Stabilization Force 12, as a Liaison Officer for Multinational Division Southeast and the Task Force Battle Captain, and deployed as a staff officer to Iraq.
Lefton has served as also served as company commander, battalion executive officer, brigade executive officer, and battalion commander. During his time as a Battalion Commander for the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Regiment, Lefton lead the Battalion to Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Irma and Maria.
Lefton holds a master’s in strategic studies from the United States Army War College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and Communications at the State University of New York.
He has civilian work experience as a fully registered representative in the financial services industry. He holds a Commercial Helicopter Pilot license, a Single Engine Airplane license, and a Commercial Multi-Engine with instruments license. He is rated to fly the C12, UH-60 A/L/M helicopters, the CH-47D, the UH-72A, the UH-1, and the TH-67.
In civilian life he is the Director of Real Property and Facilities Management for the New York State Office of General Services.
Lefton’s awards include the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal , the Global Warn on Terrorism Service Medal Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal for service in the former Yugoslavia, the Combat Action Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, and Air Assault Wings.
He and his wife Heather, have two sons.
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