ROME — Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Shields, adjutant general for New York, has announced the promotion of Nicholas Spine, of Rome, to the rank of first lieutenant at 224th Air Defense Group in recognition of his capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Spine is an air weapons officer with the 224th Air Defense Squadron.

The 224th Air Defense Group is comprised of the 224th Air Defense Squadron and the 224th Support Squadron, located in Rome, and Detachment 1 and Detachment 2 that serve in the Washington, D.C. area. The 224th ADG provides the forces to conduct the Eastern Air Defense Sector’s (EADS) mission. Part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Sector is responsible for the air defense of the eastern U.S.

Air National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability and development potential, the announcement said, adding the promotions additionally recognize the best qualified airmen and attract and retain the highest caliber citizen soldiers for a career in the New York Air National Guard.

For more information about the New York Air National Guard, go online to www.dmna.ny.gov. For more information on the Eastern Air Defense Sector and the 224th ADG, see the website www.eads.ang.af.mil.

The New York National Guard is the state’s executive agency responsible for managing New York’s military forces, which consists of nearly 20,000 members of the New York Army National Guard, the New York Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard.