Maj. Field Oversees Aircrew Proficiency, Training
SYRACUSE -- Maj. Kenneth O. Field, an Air Force intelligence officer who recently transferred from active duty to the New York Air National Guard in Rome, has been named standardization/evaluation officer for Central New York Group, giving him responsibility for overseeing pilot and aircrew proficiency and training.
In announcing the appointment, Group Commander Maj. Carl Anthony said Major Field would evaluate aircrew training and oversee a "check pilot" program for readying Civil Air Patrol pilots to fly search-and-rescue, disaster relief and other missions.
"He brings a lot of experience to Central New York as an Air Force instructor and aircrew trainer, and as a multi-rated civilian pilot and flight instructor," Major Anthony said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the changes he'll make and working with him to make our flying program one of the best in the New York Wing."
Major Field, who in August moves with his family into a home they purchased in the Utica suburb of Deerfield, recently joined the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS) in Rome as Chief of Intelligence. His Air Force career includes stints at:
- the U.S. Air Force Academy, CO, where he was an academic program manager after graduating from the academy and earning his commission;
- Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, where he was an instructor and Flight Commander and Director of Operations;
- Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall in the United Kingdom, where he was an aircrew trainer and Flight commander;
- Harbor, HI, where he was an anti-terrorism senior watch officer;
- the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador, where he was the Air Force attaché;
- Creech Air Force Base, NV, where he was senior intelligence officer with the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron.
Before joining EADS, he served a short tour in Qatar, where, as chief liaison officer for unmanned aircraft systems at the Combined Air Operations Center, he was the focal point for all Predator and Reaper flights supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Over the past decade, Major Field also has been active in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), which is the search-and-rescue, cadet-mentoring and aerospace-education auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. He holds airline transport pilot, multi- and single-engine aircraft ratings. He also is a certified flight instructor. He has more than 1,700 hours as pilot in command, and has flown the following CAP aircraft: Cessna 172, Cessna 182, Cessna 210, GA-8 Airvan, Maules (glider tow planes), and both the SGS 2-33 glider and L23 Super Blanik glider. During his CAP tenure, he has served as wing public affairs officer, squadron commander, and safety officer. He was honored as pilot of the year in 2001 by the Hawaii Wing, and again in 2008 by the Nevada Wing.
During his Air Force tours, Major Field also made time for other civilian pursuits, serving as a Scoutmaster for two different Boy Scout troops and as both a Sunday school teacher and church youth counselor.
Major Field completed Command and Staff College, and graduated summa cum laude with a Masters of Business Administration from Touro University International.
Major Field and his wife, Nicole, have two daughters and two sons -- Brigitta, 13; James, 10; Isaac, 7, and Alana, 4.The Civil Air Patrol's Central New York Group, which is headquartered at the New York Air National Guard Base at Hancock Field, Syracuse, oversees six squadrons in the Watertown, Fulton, Syracuse, Rome and Utica areas. The Group is one of nine in New York Wing.
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For Media Inquiries:
1st Lt. Bob Stronach, CAP
Public Affairs Officer
Central New York Group, Civil Air Patrol
(315) 796-9468