New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Christopher Niles, a Sherrill resident, has retired from the military after 23 years of service. Niles, the owner of Big League haircuts in New Hartford, was chief of training for the 174th Operations Group of the 174th Attack Wing at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base. He has more than 4,700 flying hours in six different Air Force aircraft. He retires as a command pilot. A graduate of Oneida High School, Niles joined the Air Force in 1991 after earning a commission through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Ohio State University. He received
New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Christopher Niles, a Sherrill resident, has retired from the military after 23 years of service. Niles, the owner of Big League haircuts in New Hartford, was chief of training for the 174th Operations Group of the 174th Attack Wing at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base. He has more than 4,700 flying hours in six different Air Force aircraft. He retires as a command pilot. A graduate of Oneida High School, Niles joined the Air Force in 1991 after earning a commission through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Ohio State University. He received his pilot wings in 1993. He is the son of Oneida residents Jill & Elbert Niles. From 1993 until 2001, when he joined the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing in Scotia, Niles flew missions in the Middle East, the Balkans and in Asia. While a member of the 109th Airlift Wing, which flies the only aircraft in the United States military capable of landing on snow, Niles deployed to Antarctica 14 times and went to Greenland seven times. The 109th Airlift Wing supports National Science Foundation research in Antarctica and on the Greenland ice cap. He served as the Squadron Executive Officer, Chief of Mobility, and Chief of Pilot Scheduling. Niles transferred to the 174th Attack Wing in 2009 as the unit began the transition from flying F-16 fighters to the MQ-9 Reaper where he served as an instructor. His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal with 25 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Antarctica Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the New York Defense of Liberty Medal which was awarded to National Guard members who responded to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. (New York Air National Guard photo by Duane Morgan/released)
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