Col. Paul Quigley, Manlius resident, takes command of New York Air National Guard’s 224th Air Defense Group
ROME – Col. Paul J. Quigley, a Manlius resident, formally took command of the New York Air National Guard’s 224th Air Defense Group Friday during an assumption of command ceremony at the Eastern Air Defense Sector.
The 224th ADG is responsible for conducting EADS’ mission.
A North American Aerospace Defense Command headquarters unit, EADS is responsible for the air defense of the eastern United States. Staffed primarily by New York Air National Guardsmen from the 224th ADG, the unit includes a Canadian Forces detachment, U.S. Army and Navy liaison officers, and federal civilians.
Quigley received command before a crowd of about 100 family, friends and fellow Airmen. Brig. Gen. Timothy J. LaBarge, the Chief of Staff of the New York Air National Guard, served as the officiating officer for the ceremony.
Quigley replaces Col. John M. Balbierer, who is retiring.
A native of Kings Park, New York, Quigley graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1992. Following graduation, he attended the Air Force Undergraduate Controller School at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Upon completion, Quigley was assigned to the 552nd Airborne Warning and Control System Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where he served as Weapons Director, Evaluator Air Surveillance Officer, and Electronic Combat Officer for the 965th AWACS Squadron. While at the squadron, he deployed in support of four operations in Iraq and one in Haiti. Quigley completed his AWACS assignment with nearly 2,000 hours on the E-3 B/C.
In 1998, Quigley became an instructor and flight commander at the 325th Training Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base. Named Operations Group Instructor of the Year in 2000, Quigley trained more than 500 Air Battle Managers during his three-year tour.
Quigley attended the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Senior Director School in 2001 at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, where he earned distinguished graduate honors.
After completing the school, he was assigned to the 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron. While at the 12th ACCS, he served as Flight Commander, Training Flight Commander, and Senior Director. Selected to lead the first JSTARS sortie of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Quigley participated in 27 combat missions during OIF and Operation Enduring Freedom. He subsequently served as the 116th Air Control Wing Executive Officer and completed his JSTARS tour with more than 750 flight hours.
In April 2004, Quigley joined the New York Air National Guard and was assigned to EADS. At EADS, he has served as Evaluator Mission Crew Commander, Flight Commander, Chief of Weapons and Tactics and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation. Prior to taking command of the 224th ADG, Quigley served as the Commander of the 224th Air Defense Squadron Commander from August 2015 to June 2018.
Quigley is married and has two children.