Legacy of the Guardian Angel: State Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael Hewson Retires After 40 Years of Service Published Aug. 11, 2026 By Staff Sgt. Hunter Unis 106th Rescue Wing WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES -- FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. — Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael T. Hewson, a Pararescueman (PJ) and the New York Air National Guard's senior enlisted leader, retired Aug. 1 after 40 years of military service during a ceremony at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base. Hewson began his career as an avionics technician before spending much of his uniformed life in the Air Force's Guardian Angel community, an elite special operations enterprise whose pararescuemen and combat rescue officers specialize in finding, reaching and recovering isolated personnel under the motto, "That Others May Live." He culminated his military career as command chief of the New York Air National Guard, the state's highest enlisted position. Hewson enlisted in the Air Force in 1986 and joined the 106th Rescue Wing three years later, earning his maroon beret as a pararescueman. Over the next three decades, he rose steadily through the rescue community, serving in a succession of leadership roles before being named command chief of the 106th Rescue Wing in December 2016 and appointed command chief of the New York Air National Guard in March 2023. His operational career included deployments in support of Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Northern Watch and Enduring Freedom. Domestically, Hewson participated in NASA Space Shuttle launch rescue operations, civilian search-and-rescue missions, hurricane relief efforts, and the World Trade Center recovery operations following 9/11. Retired Maj. Gen. Michael W. Bank, who served with Hewson both as commander of the 106th Rescue Wing and later as commander of the New York Air National Guard, presided over the ceremony. In each role, Hewson served as his command chief. Bank said Hewson's purpose never wavered across four decades of service. "From his early days as a communication/navigation mechanic and then to a PJ, to the Command Chief of the New York Air National Guard, he has had a singular purpose and a reason to serve with you for over four decades," Bank said. "You, the Airmen that he served with. You are the collective that outweighs the self." Maj. Gen. Gary R. Charlton II, New York Air National Guard Commander, said Hewson's influence will endure long after his departure. "I could not be more proud," Charlton said. "What an honor to have served with you and call you a friend, especially these last two years. The impression and DNA of what you've left on this state is going to be here for a legacy." Command Sgt. Maj. Corey Cush, New York National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, who served alongside Hewson, said the chief's excellence was evident well before he ever pinned on a stripe. "While many of us were trying to stay out of trouble on the weekends, Mike was learning how to parachute into trouble, swim through it, treat the wounded, and bring everybody home," Cush said. "His friendship made me a better leader, a better soldier, and most importantly, a better man." Family members, former pararescuemen, wing members and alumni from across the rescue community attended the ceremony. Speakers throughout the program recognized Hewson's wife, Michelle, and their sons, Michael and Matthew, as central to both his career and the life of the wing's community. In addition to his military service, Hewson concurrently served 24 years with the Suffolk County Police Department's Emergency Services Unit, retiring in April 2018. In that role, he oversaw rescue, tactical, hazardous materials and bomb operations, and served on the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. From the podium, Hewson addressed his family directly, reflecting on the life he built alongside them. "I've helped raise two sons into the men they are today," he said. "Michelle, I can't believe you're still here. You're the real quiet professional who gets everything done behind the scenes. I can't believe how lucky I am to be going through life with you." Looking out over a formation of colleagues, friends and family, Hewson offered a closing reflection on the meaning of a life in service. "If you hang around me long enough, you'll hear me say, 'God loves me,' or 'When I die, I'm coming back as me,'" Hewson said. "Up here, looking at this formation, looking at my family, looking out at my friends, you would easily understand why I feel that way." Among Hewson's military decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters and numerous other awards and decorations recognizing his four decades of service. The 106th Rescue Wing, based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, operates HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft and HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopters. The wing is home to a Guardian Angel Squadron comprised of Combat Rescue Officers, Pararescuemen, SERE Specialists and Tactical Air Control Party Airmen who specialize in personnel recovery and deploy for domestic and overseas operations.