Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Muncy | New York Air National Guard Col. Michael Bank (left) passes the guidon of the 106th...... read more read more
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GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.--Members of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing will enter the New Year with a new command chief at the helm.
Chief Master Sgt. Michael Hewson, an Oakdale, N.Y. resident, became the highest ranking enlisted Airman in the Wing during a Saturday, Dec. 3 ceremony at Gabreski Air National Guard Base.
Hewson, a veteran of the War in Afghanistan and a trained pararescue Airman, serves as a Suffolk County Police Officer in civilian life.
As Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 106th Rescue Wing, Hewson will serve as senior enlisted advisor to Col. Michael Bank, the wing's commander, on issues affecting the enlisted Airmen and their families.
Hewson previously served as the 106th Rescue Wing Operations Group Superintendent.
"I cannot think of a better example to guide, mentor, and lead the 106th enlisted force," Bank said during the induction ceremony. "(He) serves a nation, a state, and a community and is the very definition of the National Guard Citizen-Airman. His wealth of experience, will serve this wing and its airmen well today, and into the future."
In his remarks Hewson emphasized the teamwork involved in the military.
"Nothing we do is ever done by one person, it's always done with a team concept," Hewson said. "You have to rely on everybody to do their part, to be a follower, to be a leader, to participate."
Hewson said he stepped out of his comfort zone, in his role as operations superintendent to become command chief. In his remarks he challenged Airmen to avoid being pigeonholed in their Air Force Specialty code tasks.
Airmen should seek out opportunities for base leadership roles, he said.
Hewson enlisted in the Air Force in 1986 as an avionics communications and navigation specialists. He left the active Air Force in 1989 and joined the 106th Rescue Wing's 102nd Rescue Squadron as a pararescue specialist.
During his 30 years of service Hewson has served in the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan and supported operations Southern Watch and Northern Watch in Iraq.
In addition, he was part of the 106th Rescue Wing's support of Space Shuttle launches, and long-range over ocean search and rescue missions. He was one of many 106th Rescue Wing Airmen who took part in the New York National Guard's response following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Hewson is a graduate of the demanding, two-year Air Force pararescue training program, known as "the Pipeline", in which candidates must successfully complete the Air Force Pararescue Development and Air Force Pararescue Indoctrination Course, the Army Airborne School, the Army Military Freefall Parachutist School, the Air Force Combat Diver Course, the Air Force Basic Survival School, the Air Force Pararescue EMT-Paramedic Course, and the Air Force Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course.
He is currently working on a bachelor's degree in Homeland Security.
Hewson's military awards include the Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Coast Guard Unit
Commendation, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the NATO Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
| Date Taken: | 12.03.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2016 08:33 |
| Story ID: | 217263 |
| Location: | WESTHAMPTON BEACH , NY, US |
| Hometown: | OAKDALE, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 505 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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