Photo By Master Sgt. Betty Squatrito-Martin | National Guard Counterdrug Host Nation Rider Program Airmen: retired Lt. Col. Omar...... read more read more
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MIAMI--The Colombian Air Force awards Distinguished Service to Air Defense and Air Navigation medals to six Airmen here March 4.
Retired Lt. Col. Omar Velasquez, Senior Master Sgt. Luis Montanez, Master Sgt. Juan Castro, Master Sgt. Joseph Nagengast, retired Master Sgt. Xavier Florez, and retired Master Sgt. Jose Alicea were honored for their effort and invaluable collaboration with the National Guard Counterdrug Federal Operations Host Nation Rider Program in partnership with the Colombian Air Force. These Airmen were recognized for their invaluable cooperation with the Colombian Air Force throughout the Host Nation Rider Program.
“The effort of these six Airmen helped protect our communities by keeping well over 40 billion U.S. dollars’ worth of narcotics out of the U.S.,” Chief Master Sgt. Walter Hernandez, superintendent Host Nation Rider, said. “A well-deserved award--It is great to see them being recognized for their outstanding performance--a job well done.”
"This is one of the greatest days of my life," Master Sgt. Joseph Nagengast said. "After working side-by-side with the Colombian government for the past 14 years, I am deeply honored to have been bestowed such an award.”
The Airmen supported aerial and maritime interdiction operations and were key players in the articulation of operational activities, planned and required, by the Colombian Air Force and the United States government.
“The enduring support given by these Airmen in articulating the planning and the execution of combined operations enabled the execution of various national and international activities with the highest quality and excellence,” Colombian Air Force Tech. Sgt. Yesid Rios said.
“Thanks to these fine Airmen the Colombian Airspace is now secure from drug traffickers and once again safe to fly,” Hernandez said. “During their tenure, and thanks to their hard work, JIATF-South [Joint Interagency Task Force-South] has been able to confiscate over 2,000 metric tons of illegal drugs.”
The medal, Distinguished Service to Air Defense and Air Navigation, was created to exalt and award the dedication and sacrifice of those, military and civilian, who labor in the air defense and air navigation fields. It honors those whose efforts have contributed to elevate air traffic control, meteorological information service, and air defense as key components in the planning and development of aerial operations, as well as to those officials and entities whose great contributions have supported the evolution and improvement in these areas.
“This medal will always hold a very special place in my heart and forever reflect just how two nations can come together to make this world better," Nagengast said.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.16.2016 14:50 |
| Story ID: | 192597 |
| Location: | FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 684 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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