CONTACT: Mr. Eric Durr 518.786.4581 or (cell) 518-429-5186

FOR RELEASE: Thursday, Apr 23, 2009

Lt. Col. Mark Slusar, an East Chatham resident and full-time member of the New York Army National Guard, has been selected to assume command of the 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation in the fall. Slusar joined the Army National Guard in 1988 after serving on active duty from 1985 to 1988. He is assigned to the Domestic Operations branch of the New York National Guard’s Joint Forces Headquarters- New York in Latham. Slusar, who deployed to Bosnia on peacekeeping duty from June 2002 50 May 2003 with the battalion he will lead, was selected by the New York Army National Guard’s Command Selection Board of general officers. The 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation is headquartered in Latham at the Albany International Airport and also has elements at McArthur Field in Ronkonkoma on Long Island. The battalion, which operates UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, is currently deployed in southern Iraq providing transportation services to coalition forces there.