On
May 3, the New Jersey Air National Guard was awarded the 2002 Governor’s
Air and Space Medal in Wood Ridge. Col. Mike Cosby, Commander, 177th
Fighter Wing, and Col. Craig Widen, Commander, 108th Air Refueling Wing,
joined Col. Larry Thomas, the Inspector General, who accepted the award
on behalf of Maj. Gen. Craig Cosgrave, Commander of the NJANG.
The Award Committee, comprised of six members of the civil aviation community, decided that a special presentation of this annual award would be made to the 108th and the 177th in recognition of their outstanding contributions to national defense and Homeland Security following Sept. 11.
The Governor’s Air and Space Medal was created on January 10, 1996 replacing an earlier award that had not been given since 1946.