Airmen from Air Guard's 107th Attack Wing receive Space Force Association honors

Press Release

Two members of the New York Air National Guard's 107th Attack Wing, who work in space operations, were recognized as enlisted service members of the year for 2024 by the Space Force Association during the organization's annual conference in Orlando, held Dec. 10-12.

Staff Sgt. Jason Capostagno, a resident of Rome, New York, was named National Guard Enlisted Airman of the Year in the Space Operations category. Staff Sgt. Curtis Grady, a resident of Arlington, Virginia, was named National Guard enlisted Airman of the Year in the Intelligence Operations category.

The 107th Attack Wing is headquartered at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, but the wing's 222nd Command and Control Squadron, is headquartered in Rome. The squadron supports the National Reconnaissance Office, the agency responsible for U.S. spy satellites.

The space operations unit also has airmen working full-time at National Reconnaissance Office headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia.

The leadership of the 222nd is extremely proud of both airmen, said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Rachon, the squadron's senior enlisted leader.

"This is an incredible opportunity for them to be recognized for their critical contributions, leadership, and outstanding dedication to the space mission," Rachon said.

The Space Force Association is a not-for-profit that supports the U.S. Space Force and its personnel by advocating for the new service's overall mission, promoting public awareness of space operations, and providing resources and networking opportunities for current Space Force members, according to the association website.

This was the first year the group presented the award to military members. According to the association, recipients were selected based on upon operational, national security, acquisition, or warfighting achievements

The awards recognize officers, enlisted members, and civilian personnel from the Space Force, as well as from the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard, in three categories: Space Operations, Cyber Operations, and Intel Operations.

Capostagno, a recent graduate of the University at Buffalo, said he was "immensely grateful” for “the recognition and appreciation of my endeavors and contributions to the space mission and the Air National Guard."

In 2024, Capostagno, who enlisted in the Air Guard in December 2019, served as the space battle management subject matter expert for National Guard Bureau space operations integrating U.S. and NATO space domain initiatives with the Indonesian National Armed Forces.

He also instructed Romanian and Indonesian military personnel in mission planning and orbital analysis skills, according to Rachon.

In November 2024, Capostagno was selected as the only enlisted U.S. space representative for the multi-national Cruzeiro do Sul Exercise (CRUZEX) in Brazil. He again shared his expertise in orbital analysis, space domain awareness, and space battle management expertise with participants, Rachon said.

Capostagno said he appreciated the chance to be part of the conference, as well.

"It was a true honor to be invited to the conference, and to be able to meet with and talk to so many great people passionate about the mission and industry," he said.

Grady, who is pursuing a master's degree from Georgetown University, enlisted in the Air National Guard in September of 2017. In 2024, Grady was selected to support a federal intelligence analyst position at the National Reconnaissance Office.

He was the sole intelligence expert supporting a 20-person team. This was the first time an Air Guardsman was selected for the job, Rachon said.

Rachon noted Grady is credited with providing critical intelligence support to multiple tactical mission plans. He also conducted vital briefings, which had a direct impact on mission planning for adversarial counterspace threats, Rachon added.

Grady said he appreciated the recognition.

"The fact that our full-time staff took the initiative and time to nominate me for consideration means a lot," he said. "It's an honor to be selected for the award, and I'm grateful to the association for the recognition."

But Grady said he couldn't have accomplished his mission alone.

"Intelligence and space operations are both team sports, so any success that I've found working in this mission area could not have happened without contributions and guidance from leadership, teammates and mission partners," he said.

New York Air National Guard staff sergeants Jason Capostagno, left, and Curtis Grady, right, pose for a photograph with Space Force General B. Chance Saltzman, the chief of space operations, after being recognized as National Guard enlisted servicemembers of the year by the Space Force Association, during the group's annual meeting in Orlando.