[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20214-20215]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JOHN FRANCIS DITRO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN KATKO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 15, 2015

  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Chief 
Master Sergeant John F. Ditro who will retire from the United States 
Air Force on December 31, 2015. Chief Master Sergeant Ditro has more 
than 27 years of combined military service in the United States Navy, 
the United States Air Force, and the New York Air National Guard.
  Chief Ditro entered the United States Navy through the delayed 
enlistment program in May of 1982 and was called up to active duty in 
July of that year. In January of 1983, he was assigned to the United 
States Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, working on truck 
diesel engines and aviation fuel pumps in support of the Aviation Fuels 
Division.
  After a brief stint in the naval reserves, Chief Ditro re-enlisted in 
the United States Navy in March of 1986. He was stationed aboard the 
Caloosahatchee and in March of 1988, Chief Ditro was released from the 
United States Navy. Chief Ditro then began working as a civilian 
accountant at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base and in 1994 he 
joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard as a Combat Communications 
technician. In August of 1995 Chief Ditro accepted a position with the 
New York Air National Guard working as a Command and Control Battle 
Management Operations specialist in the Northeast Air Defense Sector. 
Chief Ditro was activated on September 11, 2001 after the attack on the 
World Trade Center.
  In June of 2002, Chief Ditro transferred to the 174th Fighter Wing 
located at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York. 
Chief Ditro was named the Financial Management Superintendent in 2003; 
under Chief Ditro's management, the financial services office was named 
the Financial Services Office of the Year in 2008. In June of 2010, 
Chief Ditro accepted the challenge to become the first Operations 
Support Squadron Superintendent leading the charge to assist the 
Operations Group in all missions as the Chief of Intelligence.
  Chief Master Sergeant Ditro's major awards and decorations include: 
Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with 2

[[Page 20215]]

Devices, Air Force Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force 
Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, 
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Readiness Medal with 
2 Devices, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious 
Service Medal with 6 Devices, National Defense Service Medal with 1 
Device, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on 
Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy and Marine 
Corp Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon 
with Gold Border, Air Force Longevity with 5 Devices, Armed Forces 
Reserve Medal with 3 ``M'' Devices, New York Recruiting Medal, New York 
Humane Service to New York State Medal, New York Air National Guard 
Outstanding Enlisted Leader of the Year Ribbon, and New York Defense of 
Liberty award.
  Chief Ditro has served his country honorably and for that he has my 
utmost respect. I want to thank him for his dedication, loyalty, and 
service to his country. I wish Chief Ditro the best and I hope that he 
enjoys his retirement with his wife Sandy and his two sons, Jason and 
Joshua.

                          ____________________