109th AW Airmen selected as New York Air National Guard Airmen of the Year

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Catharine Schmidt
  • 109th AW Public Affairs
STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. --  Two Airmen with the 109th Airlift Wing have been selected as the New York Air National Guard Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2016 based on their superior leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements.

Master Sgt. Lynette Tangredi, 109th Security Forces Squadron, was selected as New York’s Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year, and Airman 1st Class Jason Malm, 109th Medical Group, was selected as the state’s Outstanding Airman of the Year.

“The extraordinary efforts of these Airmen reflect outstanding leadership and dedication to duty,” said Col. Shawn Clouthier, 109th AW commander. “I am very proud of their accomplishments and have confidence they will represent the 109th Airlift Wing and New York well as they go forward to compete at the national level."

First Sergeant of the Year

Tangredi, a 20-year Air Force veteran, said being a first sergeant was always something she wanted to do.

“When I was active duty, (the first sergeant) was the one guy I remembered who was always the point of contact -- always helping, always reassuring, and he just he left an impression on me,” she said. “I just knew that I wanted to do that one day.”

Tangredi spent much of her career with the 109th Airlift Wing in the Communications Flight and was determined to one day become a first sergeant.

“Everybody always said it’s the best job in the military, and they’re right,” she said. “I absolutely love it – it’s amazing being able to go to Greenland and Antarctica and to just see a completely different aspect of the way the Wing works. It’s an extremely rewarding job.”

Tangredi said she applied for a few first sergeant positions before being selected for the Security Forces Squadron. “They are so well put together,” she said of the Airmen with the SFS. “They don’t miss a bit, they’re always on point. They look out for each other – there’s a lot of brotherhood and a lot of camaraderie.”

"The Shirt has been an enormous asset to Security Forces and the Wing,” said 1st Lt. Gregory Durrant, 109th SFS operations officer. “Not only does she support SFS but she has deployed as a first sergeant to Greenland and to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze. She is always looking for new ways to incorporate volunteerism and self-improvement for all squadron members and has become irreplaceable in her support for family members whose loved ones are currently deployed."

When Tangredi was selected as the Wing First Sergeant of the Year and then the state’s she said she was surprised and humbled.

“To think that there’s so many amazing first sergeants on this base and (across the state) – just being at that level of competition was very humbling,” Tangredi said.

Airman of the Year

Malm joined the 109th Airlift Wing’s Medical Group in 2014 as a dental technician. He was already a dental hygienist with a local dental practice as well as a firefighter with the Johnsonville Fire Department when he made the decision to join the military.

“I started the firefighting and loved serving my community and it was just an extension of that service; to bring what I was doing in the community to a higher level,” he said. The combination of his civilian career as a dental hygienist and firefighter enabled him to bring the two things he loved together.

"In his short time at the 109th MDG, A1C Malm has firmly established himself as an invaluable asset,” said Master Sgt. Sean Carty, 109th MDG superintendent of administration. “It is clear that he sets high standards for himself as he has exceeded every expectation to date in his career. From job proficiency to dress and appearance, physical fitness and continuing education both on and off duty, A1C Malm is an excellent role model for all Airmen to emulate. We are very proud to have A1C Malm represent the 109th and the NY Air National Guard as outstanding airman of the year."

“It’s a privilege, it’s an honor, it’s humbling,” Malm said of his selection. “Since Day 1 I’ve been all in. When you’re selected among your peers who are all outstanding, it’s humbling. (The MDG) has a lot of faith in my abilities; for them to nominate me for that was enough of an honor. It’s a responsibility that I don’t take lightly, and I wholeheartedly plan to represent the Wing with the utmost honor and integrity.”