▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁Ay ers ▁assumed ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 4 3 d ▁Airl ift ▁Squadron . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁he ▁was ▁named ▁Ass istant ▁Ad j ut ant ▁General   – ▁Air ▁of ▁the ▁Rh ode ▁Island ▁National ▁Guard . ▁During ▁this ▁time , ▁he ▁also ▁served ▁as ▁Air ▁National ▁Guard ▁Ass istant ▁to ▁the ▁Command ▁of ▁the ▁Tw enty - F our th ▁Air ▁Force ▁at ▁L ack land ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base . ▁After ▁a ▁brief ▁time ▁with ▁the ▁Central ▁Security ▁Service , ▁he ▁was ▁assigned ▁to ▁Air ▁Education ▁and ▁Training ▁Command ▁as ▁Air ▁National ▁Guard ▁Ass istant ▁to ▁the ▁Commander ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁ ▁Awards ▁he ▁has ▁received ▁during ▁his ▁career ▁include ▁the ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Mer it , ▁the ▁Mer itor ious ▁Service ▁Medal ▁with ▁o ak ▁leaf ▁cluster , ▁the ▁Air ▁Medal , ▁the ▁Aer ial ▁Ach iev ement ▁Medal ▁with ▁o ak ▁leaf ▁cluster , ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁Ach iev ement ▁Medal , ▁the ▁Out standing ▁Unit ▁Award ▁with ▁two ▁o ak ▁leaf ▁clusters , ▁the ▁Organ iz ational ▁Ex cell ence ▁Award , ▁the ▁Com bat ▁Read iness ▁Medal , ▁the ▁National ▁Def ense ▁Service ▁Medal ▁with ▁service ▁star , ▁the ▁Ar med ▁Forces ▁Ex ped ition ary ▁Medal , ▁the ▁South west ▁Asia ▁Service ▁Medal ▁with ▁service ▁star ▁and ▁the ▁Global ▁War ▁on ▁T error ism ▁Ex ped ition ary ▁Medal . ▁ ▁Education ▁University ▁of ▁New ▁Ham pshire ▁Squadron ▁Officer ▁School