[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E702-E703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT ANITA MARIE SULLIVAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN KATKO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2015

  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Senior 
Master Sergeant Anita Marie Sullivan, a native of East Syracuse, New 
York and currently a resident of Oneida, New York. Sergeant Sullivan 
has more than 38 years of military service with the United States Air 
Force and the New York Air National Guard. She has been decorated with 
numerous medals, awards, and service distinctions and will retire from 
military service on 1 July 2015. It is my honor to recognize such a 
distinguished citizen and airman.
   Sergeant Sullivan was born Anita M. Mozo on 29 August 1957. She is a 
1975 graduate of East Syracuse-Minoa High School. After graduating from 
high school, she worked full-time at the Syracuse School of Automation 
and subsequently the Syracuse University Department of Geology as a 
receptionist.
   Sergeant Sullivan began her military career in the United States Air 
Force in January 1977, enlisting in the New York Air National Guard, 
and left for Basic Military Training to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 
on 1 April 1977. After graduating from Basic Military Training, she 
began her Air Force Technical Training as an Air Passenger Specialist 
at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Upon graduation from technical 
training in July 1977, she returned to Hancock Field Air National Guard 
Base as a Drill Status Guardsman in the Traffic Management Office, 
where she worked during monthly Unit Training Assembly weekends and 
also performed additional annual training to achieve her 3-skill level 
and 5-skill level as an Air Passenger Specialist, becoming the ``go 
to'' person on base for all airline reservations. While assigned to 
Hancock Field she met Master Sergeant William E. Dardis and married on 
30 September 1978, becoming Sergeant Anita M. Dardis. In June 1979, she 
applied for and was subsequently hired as a full-time Air Technician as 
a GS-04 Clerk-Typist in the Supply Squadron.
   In December 1979, then Sergeant Dardis was hired as a full-time Air 
Technician as a GS-05 Air Operations Specialist assigned to the 174th 
Operations Group, and began career field cross-training into the 
Airfield Management career field and received her 7-skill level in Air 
Force Specialty Codes 27171 and 27172. During her tenure in the 174th 
Operations Group, she participated in several unit deployments to 
include a two week Coronet Sail deployment as part of the Joint Chiefs 
of Staff Checkered Flag Exercise program to Lechfeld Air Base, Germany 
in 1981; two deployed Operational Readiness Inspections to Savannah, 
Georgia in 1982 and Volk Field, Wisconsin in 1986; and also 
participated in unit deployments to Patrick Air Force Base, Florida in 
1983 and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona in 1982.
   In 1982, Sergeant Dardis was assigned a position as the GS-07 
Standardization/Evaluation Technician, and in 1983 began an Active Duty 
Title 32 tour as the Wing Standardization/Evaluation NCO. In 1989, 
Sergeant Dardis left her Active Duty position and transferred into the 
174th Fighter Wing Safety Office as the Administrative NCO as a Duty 
Status Guardsman, which allowed her to spend more time at home with her 
two young children. In 1992 Sergeant Dardis attended the 7-level in-
residence technical school for the 3A071 Air Force Specialty Course at 
Keesler AFB, Mississippi, and earned the distinction of being named the 
class leader. She maintained her position in the Wing Safety Office 
until 1995. Sergeant Dardis performed additional duty at Hancock Field 
Air National Guard Base in 1990 and 1991 when the 174th Fighter Wing 
was called to Federal Active Service in support of Operation DESERT 
SHIELD and Operation DESERT STORM, backfilling various positions in the 
174th Operations Group for NCO's who deployed with the aircrew package 
in support of the Persian Gulf War.
   In Nov 1995, Sergeant Dardis was asked by the acting Wing and Vice 
Commanders to take the position of the Commander's Executive Assistant 
as a temporary technician. In March 1996, she was hired into the 
position as a permanent GS-06 Air Technician. In April 1999, the 
position was upgraded to a GS-07 and advertised as an Active Guard/
Reserve active duty position which she applied for and was hired for as 
the Executive Assistant to the Wing Commander. She served in this 
position working directly for Wing Commanders Colonel Robert A. Knauff 
from 1996 to 2003; Colonel Anthony Basile from 2003-2008; Colonel Kevin 
Bradley from 2008-2012; and for Colonel Greg Semmel from 2008 until her 
retirement on 1 July 2015.
   In June 2006, Sergeant Dardis became a widow when her husband, 
Master Sergeant (Retired) William E. Dardis passed away unexpectedly. 
In January 2009, she remarried to Master Sergeant (Retired) John D. 
Sullivan and became Master Sergeant Anita M. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan 
retired from the 174th in 2003 and is currently employed at Hancock 
Field as a New York State employee as the Base Carpenter.
   In 2007, Sergeant Sullivan completed the Senior Noncommissioned 
Officer Academy Course. In 2010 she was reassigned to the military 
position of the Cyber Systems Superintendent and promoted to the rank 
of Senior Master Sergeant. That same year she attended the Air Force 
Protocol Fundamentals Course at Maxwell AFB, Mississippi and was 
assigned the high profile additional duty as the 174th Fighter Wing 
Protocol Coordinator for high ranking distinguished visitor arrivals 
and numerous protocol events for the 174th Fighter Wing. During her 
tenure in this position, Sergeant Sullivan played an integral part in 
the planning and execution of countless high level Distinguished 
Visitor visits, numerous Change of Command Ceremonies, Wing Commander 
Farewell Receptions, Retirement Ceremonies, F-16 aircraft Farewell, F-
86 aircraft static display dedication, Military Funerals, unit re-
designation ceremony, as well as numerous community events involving 
the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and various Veteran's Service 
Organizations, and various other community organizations.
   Sergeant Sullivan's military Decorations include the Meritorious 
Service Medal; the Air Force Commendation Medal; and Air Force 
Achievement Medal. Her military service awards include the Air Force 
Outstanding Unit Award with five oak leaf clusters; the Air Reserve 
Forces Meritorious Service Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters; the 
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star; the Global 
War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon 
with eight oak leaf clusters; the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold 
hourglass and mobilization ``M'' device; and the Air Force Training 
Ribbon.
   Sergeant Sullivan also holds the following New York State awards and 
decorations: New York State Long and Faithful Service Award, with one 
gold and one silver device; the New York State Defense of Liberty 
Medal; New York State Medal for Merit with one silver shield device; 
New York State Recruiting Medal; New York State Exercise Support 
Ribbon; and the New York State Physical Fitness Ribbon with two silver 
shield devices.
   In addition to the previously mentioned awards and decorations, 
Sergeant Sullivan was also named the 174th Fighter Wing's Outstanding 
Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter in December 1984, and the 174th 
Fighter Wing's Outstanding Unit Career Advisor of the Quarter in July 
1985.

[[Page E703]]

   Sergeant Sullivan was promoted to Airman in 1977; Airman First Class 
in 1978; Sergeant in 1979; Staff Sergeant in 1980; Technical Sergeant 
in 1982; Master Sergeant in 1996; and her current rank of Senior Master 
Sergeant in 2010.
   Without question, Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Sullivan is a very special 
person. She willingly served her nation, exuding loyalty and pride. For 
her unrelenting service and dedication to duty, Sergeant Sullivan can 
retire knowing she has earned such a status. I would like to wish 
Sergeant Sullivan well in her retirement years as she will now be able 
to spend more free time with her husband John, daughter Katelin Dardis, 
son and daughter-in-law Christopher and Amy Dardis, stepsons Daniel, 
Ryan, and Evan Sullivan, and granddaughter Ryleigh Dardis. Your late 
father Casper Mozo and your mother Margery (Burbank) Mozo can be proud 
of your service and accomplishments. Sergeant Sullivan, thank you for 
all your years of hard work, dedication and service to our country.

                          ____________________