Westhampton Beach, New York — New York Air National Guard Master Sergeant Joeselyn Sanabria, a Coram resident originally from Manhattan N.Y., has been selected as the New York State First Sergeant of the Year for 2025.
Sanabria currently serves as the 106th Rescue Wing Force Support Squadron first sergeant, at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York. As first sergeant, Sanabria is responsible for advising the commander on readiness, health, morale, welfare, and quality of life of Airmen and families to ensure a mission-ready force.
Sanabria enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1994 and served there until 2001. He joined the Air National Guard in 2012 where he was assigned to the 106th Maintenance Squadron as a hydraulics system specialist. In 2023 he was selected as the first sergeant for the 106th Civil Engineering Squadron, then in 2025 as the first sergeant for the 106th Force Support Squadron.
Sanabria was named his wing's 2024 First Sergeant of the Year, and went on to earn the 2025 New York State First Sergeant of the year title, besting candidates from all five air National Guard wings across the state.
"It's personal for me and to be the best in the state is humbling,” said Sanabria. “I had a really good first sergeant in maintenance, who is still my mentor to this day and I just want to pay it forward.”
This is the second consecutive year the New York State First Sergeant of the Year was selected from the 106th Rescue Wing.
“First Sergeant Sanabria is the face of our Wing and the state’s first sergeants,” said Senior Master Sgt. John McGhee, another first sergeant at the 106th. “We’re the tip of the spear for first sergeants in New York.”
The 106th Rescue Wing, based at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, operates and maintains the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, and the HH-60W Jolly Green II search and rescue helicopter. The 106th Rescue Wing is home to a special warfare squadron with pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, specializing in rescue and recovery, and deploys for domestic and overseas operations