JANUARY 7, 2025 – The Space Force Association recognized two New York National Guard Airmen as enlisted service members of the year for 2024 during the organization’s annual conference Dec. 10-12.
Staff Sgt. Jason Capostagno was named National Guard Enlisted Airman of the Year in the Space Operations category.
Staff Sgt. Curtis Grady was named National Guard enlisted Airman of the Year in the Intelligence Operations category.
Both men are assigned to the New York Air Guard’s 222nd Command and Control Squadron. The squadron supports the National Reconnaissance Office, the agency responsible for U.S. spy satellites.
The squadron, part of the Niagara Falls-based 107th Attack Wing, is headquartered in Rome but has Airmen working full time at National Reconnaissance Office headquarters in Herndon, Virginia.
The 222nd conducts space mission functions.
The leadership of the 222nd is 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 Space Force members, according to the association website.
This was the first year the group presented the award to military members.
The association selected recipients based on operational, national security, acquisition or warfighting achievements.
The awards recognize officers, enlisted members and civilian personnel from the Space Force, the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard, in three categories: space, cyber and intel operations.
Capostagno, a recent graduate of the University of 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 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 in Brazil. He shared his expertise in orbital analysis, space domain awareness, and space battle management expertise with participants, Rachon said.
“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,” said Capostagno, who enlisted in the Air National Guard in December 2019.
Grady, who is pursuing a master’s degree from Georgetown University, enlisted in the Air National Guard in September 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 — the first time an Air Guardsman was chosen for the job, Rachon said.
Grady provided critical intelligence support to multiple tactical mission plans. Rachon said he also conducted vital briefings that directly impacted mission planning for adversarial counterspace threats.
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,” Grady 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.
By Capt. Jason Carr
107th Attack Wing