Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Andrew Pinckney, an Afghan war veteran and Rensselaer, N.Y., resident, takes...... read more read more
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RENSSELAER, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Andrew “Drew” Pinckney, a Rensselaer resident and veteran of two combat deployments to Afghanistan, has been named to command the New York National Guard's 2nd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (CST).
The 2nd CST is a joint Army and Air National Guard unit whose members are trained to identify chemical, biological or radiological agents employed in a terrorist attack or released in an accident.
“The 2nd Civil Support Team is a highly specialized National Guard unit that could play a key role in any terrorist attack in our state,” New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said. “Lt. Col. Andrew Pinckney is a battle-tested officer who is well qualified to command this important component of New York’s response to attacks here at home.”
The 2nd CST, headquartered at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, is equipped with high-tech detection equipment and the members are trained to operate in a hazardous environment.
The unit deploys teams on a regular basis in support of high-visibility events like the Super Bowl or the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly, and responded to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center.
Pinckney, a full-time member of the Army National Guard, will take over from Lt. Col. Thomas Benton in a ceremony on June 9.
Pinckney entered the Army as an enlisted Soldier in 1995 after graduating from SUNY Brockport in 1995. In 1998, he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as field artillery officer. He served in the 101st Air Assault Division, the 3rd Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division until he left active duty in 2004.
He served as a fire support officer in Kosovo in 2000 and 2001 with the 2rd Infantry Division and in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division in 2003.
Pinckney joined the New York Army National Guard in 2004, serving as the commander of Company C, 1st Battalion, 101st Cavalry in Hoosick Falls. He went on to serve as a personnel officer of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse and the executive officer of the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry in Buffalo.
He deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as a Security Force Advisory Team commander.
His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Kosovo Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from SUNY Brockport.
He and his wife have three children.
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2014 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 132085 |
| Location: | RENSSELAER, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | RENSSELAER, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 320 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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