NY Air Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing Names Five Outstanding Airmen for 2025

The 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh named its five Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2025, recognizing members for mission performance, leadership and unit improvement. Airman 1st Class Tinatin Sadzaglishvili of the 105th Base Defense Squadron from Spring Valley was named Airman of the Year. Tech. Sgt. Ada Torres of the 137th Airlift Squadron from the Bronx was named Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Master Sgt. Justin Murphy of the 105th Base Defense Group from Bergenfield, New Jersey, was selected as Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Master Sgt. Luis Murria of the 105th Maintenance Squadron from Lindenhurst earned First Sergeant of the Year. Capt. Albert Romano of the 205th Base Defense Squadron from New York City was named Company Grade Officer of the Year.

Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Cohan, the wing’s command chief, praised the honorees, saying, "These Airmen represent the very best of our wing and set the standard for what it means to serve with distinction and pride." He added, "Their professionalism, resilience and commitment continue to make us a premier airlift wing ready to answer the nation's call anytime, anywhere."

Selection for the awards was scored across four areas: executing the mission, leading people, managing resources and improving the unit. The evaluation framework emphasizes measurable contributions to readiness and to the 105th’s operational mission, which includes inter-theater airlift and expeditionary combat support. The 105th operates from Stewart Air National Guard Base and provides trained personnel and operationally ready equipment; if activated to federal service, the wing would fall under Air Mobility Command.

Photographs of honorees were taken Jan. 12, 2026, with images credited to Senior Airman Sarah Post. Photo captions note Master Sgt. Justin Murphy as the 105th Base Defense Group noncommissioned officer in charge of standardization and evaluations and identify Capt. Albert Romano as a 205th Base Defense Squadron member selected as the company grade officer honoree.

The recognition highlights service members from Spring Valley, the Bronx, Bergenfield, Lindenhurst and New York City and underscores the local footprint of the Guard in Orange County and the greater Hudson Valley. For residents, the awards put names and faces to the region’s military readiness and create community touchpoints for recruitment, retention and civic partnership.

For follow up, primary wing contacts include Master Sergeant Grant Drumgold, 105th Airlift Wing Recruiting Flight Chief - cell 845-554-8512, office 845-563-2162, grant.drumgold.1@us.af.mil; and Master Sergeant Taylor Ogden, 105th Airlift Wing Retention Office Manager - cell 845-219-4077, office 845-563-2193, taylor.ogden@us.af.mil. State-level contacts include Commander Major General Gary Charlton - phone 518-786-4502, and Command Chief Master Sergeant Michael Hewson - phone 518-786-4569, michael.hewson@us.af.mil. Mid-Hudson News newsroom contacts are news@midhudsonnews.com and news@statewidenews.com for local coverage or inquiries.

The awards mark routine recognition of service within the 105th while offering residents an opportunity to connect with local Air National Guard members who balance community life with national missions; additional biographical or mission-specific details are available through the wing’s public affairs and recruiting offices.