CONTACT: Tim Jones (315) 334-6536

FOR RELEASE: Friday, Mar 18, 2011

ROME , NY (03/18/2011)-- Two New York Air National Guardsmen from the Eastern Air Defense Sector recently received 1st Air Force Warrior of the Year awards. Capt. Bradley Dunford of Wamspville was named Command and Control Warrior of the Year for officers and Staff Sgt. Matthew Cummings of Rome received the enlisted Command and Control award. The awards were announced at the 1st Air Force’s annual awards dinner at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. "On behalf of the entire unit, I want to congratulate Captain Dunford and Staff Sergeant Cummings for winning this prestigious and extremely competitive award," said Col. John P. Bartholf, EADS Commander. "There are more than 2,300 Airmen and civilians serving in the 1st Air Force and having two EADS Airmen win Warrior of the Year honors is a remarkable achievement." The 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern) is headquartered at Tyndall AFB and commands units across the United States. In addition to EADS, 1st Air Force units include the Western Air Defense Sector, located at McChord AFB, Wash., nine Air National Guard fighter wings, a computer support squadron and the 601st Air and Space Operations Center and Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. The Eastern Air Defense Sector is headquartered at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome. Staffed by active-duty New York Air National Guardsmen and a Canadian Forces detachment, the unit supports the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) integrated warning and attack assessment missions and the U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM) homeland defense mission. EADS is responsible for air sovereignty and counter-air operations over the eastern United States and directs a variety of assets to defend one million square miles of land and sea. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to create your own news and distribute it in minutes? Sign up now! News From New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs Contact Information Tim Jones (315) 334-6536 Share this News Print Email Click here to embed this news release on your own website. Recent News New York National Guard Enlists Second Olympic Bobsledder Hidden Assets: New York Army National Guard Soldiers Are the Eyes and Ears of Infantry Battalion Suppy Lines in the Sky: New York Army National Guard Soldiers Learn Helicopter Loadout Skills New York Army National Guard Wants to Collect Hudson Valley Soldiers Stories New York Air National Guard Begins Saying Farewell to Giant C-5A Cargo Planes New York Guard Women Are At Home in The Sky EADS Airmen Receive Prestigious 1st Air Force Warrior of the Year Award Area Guardsmen Graduate From Air Force Senior NCO Academy Of Pride, Parades and Pooches: Dogs of Fighting 69th a Fixture at NY St. Patrick’s Day Parade Former Rochester National Guard Soldier Receives Purple Heart for Afghanistan Combat Action New York’s Historic 69th Infantry to Lead St. Patrick’s Day Parade Read more news from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs...