Long Island Civil Air Patrol Members Recognized for Excellence

SAYVILLE, N.Y., February 26, 2018 – Senior and cadet members from Long Island Group Civil Air Patrol (C.A.P.), representing nine units in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, were distinguished by receiving recognition at the Long Island Group Military Ball, held each year in Holbrook. U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, along with New York Wing C.A.P. commander Col. Thomas Carello and Long Island Group C.A.P. commander Lt. Col. Lou Fenech, was on hand to make presentations to the honorees. Other distinguished guests included Northeast Region C.A.P. commander, Col. Jack Ozer; Connecticut Wing C.A.P. commander, Col. James Ridley; and Jewish War Veterans of the USA chief of staff, Mr. Jason Kaatz. The award recipients are as follows:

• Air Force Association for Unit Cadet of the Year: Cadet Capt. Aaron Weiss, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Alyssa Alameda, Cadet Airman Lucas Stamos
• Air Force Sergeants Association for Unit NCO of the Year: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jackson Demasi, Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Alex Rogers
• Promotions to Major: Maj. Joseph Cordero, Maj. John Messing, Maj. Carl Alongis
• Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award: Cadet Col. Shreeya Panigrahi
• Gen. Ira C. Eaker Award: Cadet Lt. Col. Jared Del Orfano
• Amelia Earhart Award: Cadet Maj. Alexandra Ramotar, Cadet Capt. Ricardo Gomez-Nieto, Cadet Capt. Aaron Weiss
• Gen. Billy Mitchell Award: Cadet 1st Lt. Arian Parrondo, Cadet 2nd Lts. Ailysch Markowitz, Christopher Miles, Kerri Campbell, Mairead Riley, Maria Gerdvil, Mary Vanek, Michael Catanzaro, Nicholas Manfredonia, Brooke Hughes
• Long Island Group Cadet of the Year: Cadet Maj. Max Weiss
• Long Island Group NCO of the Year: Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Aiden Markowitz
• Long Island Group Cadet of Distinction: Cadet Capt. Ricardo Gomez-Nieto
• Long Island Group Officer of the Year: Lt. Col. Andrew Balistrieri
• Long Island Group Officer of Distinction: Maj. Patricia Aceves, 1st Lt. Rachel Silverberg
• Long Island Island Group Squadron of the Year: Lt. Quentin Roosevelt Squadron - Bethpage

C.A.P. Capt. Al Brunetti served as master of ceremonies for the event. Long Island Group C.A.P. Assistant Public Affairs Officer, Capt. Joseph Volpe, contributed to this article.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, C.A.P. operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. C.A.P.’s 58,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. C.A.P. also plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to 24,000 young people participating in C.A.P.’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.

Long Island Group Civil Air Patrol is headquartered on the grounds of Long Island MacArthur Airport. For more information, please visit the Group's website at http://lig.nywg.cap.gov.