N.Y. Air National Guard opens new training center

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The 108th Attack Squadron of the New York Air National Guard has opened a new $3.5 million facility at Hancock Field near Syracuse to train students to operate the MQ-9 Reaper weapon system.

The building was dedicated Sunday to Maj. Gen. Robert Knauff, who served as 174th Wing commander from 1996 to 2003 and as commander of the New York Air National Guard until his retirement in 2009. He died in a glider accident last year in Arizona.

Knauff is credited with developing the plan to transition the 174th Attack Wing from flying F-16 fighter jets to the remotely piloted MQ Reaper drone.

Sunday's ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by some of New York's top military brass, including Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, adjutant general of New York, and Maj. Gen. Verle Johnston, commander of the New York Air National Guard.

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