Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara presented a citation to Colonel Christian E. Sander congratulating him on his recent appointment as Wing Commander of the 109^th Airlift Wing at the Stratton Air National Guard Base in Schenectady County on Friday, May 27th. Colonel Sander has served in the United States Air Force since 1991 and has previously held the titles of Aircraft Commander for the 139th Airlift Squadron, Chief of Wing Plans for the 109th Airlift Wing and Chief of Current Operations for the 109th Operations Support Flight.

As a member of the State Assembly’s Veterans Committee, I’m pleased to sponsor a resolution each year honoring our local military installations and all those who serve here in the Capital Region. These military installations are important not only for protecting us, but also for supporting our local economies, our culture and our way of life,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, who served in the US Army Reserve from 1990-1998. “It has been an honor to work with military leaders like Colonel Sander here in the Capital Region and I look forward to working with him in his new role as Wing Commander.” 

In his newly appointed role as Wing Commander, Colonel Sander will lead the unit’s more than 1,200 personnel on its mission to provide airlift support to the National Science Foundation’s South Pole research program. The 109^th Airlift Wing is the only unit in the world to fly the LC-130H Hercules Airlifters modified with wheel-ski gear, in support of Arctic and Antarctic operations.