New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Aron Sacchetti, a Nassau resident, takes command of a National Guard unit that specializes in identifying the presence of biological, chemical, and radiological materials and weapons during a Change of Command ceremony at Stratton Air National Guard Base on Monday, Oct. 3

WHO: Lt. Col. Aron Sacchetti, the incoming commander of the 2^nd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (CST), Lt. Col. Drew Pinckney, the outgoing commander, and the men and women of the 2^nd CST.

WHAT: A traditional change-of-command ceremony during which the guidon of the 2^nd CST will be transferred from Pinckney to Sacchetti, indicating the change of authority and responsibility for this full-time New York National Guard unit. Pinckney has been selected to serve as the executive officer of the 27^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse.

WHEN: 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3, 2016

WHERE: Stratton Air National Guard Base, Ronald Regan Way, Scotia

Coverage Opportunities

Interviews with both incoming and outgoing commanders and imagery of the traditional change of command ceremony and troops in formation.

For access to this secure military installation members of the press must contact Master Sgt. Catharine Schmidt at (518) 344-2423

BACKGROUND:

Lt. Col. Aron Sacchetti

Lt. Col. Aron Sacchetti enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as an infantryman in 1992. He was commissioned through the National Guard’s Office Candidate School conducted by the Massachusetts Military Academy in 1994 as an infantry officer.

He served in numerous positions in the Massachusetts Army National Guard’s 1^st battalion 104^th Infantry, including platoon leader, and company commander.

In 2004 he became the operations officer of the Massachusetts Army National Guard Information Operations support Team and in 2006 he deployed to Kosovo as the Military Assistant to the Commander of Kosovo Forces for 18 months.

In 2008 he joined the New York Army National Guard as the plans officer for the 42^nd Infantry Division in Troy, N.Y. and held other staff positions in the division to include Space Operations Officer.

He has commanded the 1^st Battalion 106^th regional Training Institute at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill since 2014.

He has served as a full-time National Guard officer since 2011, working in the New York National Guard’s Joint Operations Section, and has overseen state Homeland Response Force operations.

Sacchetti holds a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst and is also a certified Medical Technologist.

His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Kosovo Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal and the Army Basic Space Badge.

Sacchetti resides in Nassau, NY with his son, Adam and his fiancé, Lisa Mangravito.

Lt. Col. Drew Pinckney

Lt. Col. Drew Pinckney, who has served as the commander of the 2^nd CST since 2014, entered the Army as an enlisted Soldier in 1995 after graduating from SUNY Brockport in 1995.

In 1998 he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as Field Artillery Officer. He served in the 101st Air Assault Division, the 3rd Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division until he left active duty in 2004. He served as a fire support officer in Kosovo in 2000 and 2001 with the 2rd Infantry Division and in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division in 2003.

Pinckney joined the New York Army National Guard in 2004, serving as the commander of Company C 1st Battalion 101st Cavalry in Hoosick Falls. He went on to serve as a personnel officer of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse and the Executive Officer of the 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry in Buffalo.

He deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as a Security Force Advisory Team Commander.

His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Serve Medal, the NATO Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Kosovo Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from SUNY Brockport.

He and his wife have three children.

The 2^nd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team.

The 2nd CST is a joint Army and Air National Guard unit whose members are trained to identify chemical, biological or radiological agents employed in a terrorist attack or released in an accident.

The 22-member unit, headquartered at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, is equipped with high-tech detection equipment and the members are trained to operate in a hazardous environment, and is prepared to deploy across New York or outside the state as necessary

The unit deploys teams on a regular basis in support of high-visibility events like the annual races at Watkins Glenn or the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly.

New York has two Civil Support Teams. The 24tn CST, headquartered at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, focuses on supporting law enforcement in the New York City metropolitan region.