They’ve helped a small village rebuild its medical facility, trained and mentored junior officers, and volunteered as coaches and tutors in their communities. Now, four members of the Ohio National Guard have gained national recognition for their achievements and dedicated service to their community and country.
The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) has selected the Ohio Air National Guard’s Maj. Jeffery Zetzer and 1st Lt. Ashley Klase to receive the Meritorious Service Award, and Ohio Air National Guard Capt. Matthew Blackburn and Ohio Army National Guard Capt. Phillip Patti to receive the Theodore Roosevelt Leadership Award for Company Grade Officers. The awards were presented on Sept. 12 during the 138th annual NGAUS Conference in Baltimore.
“I’m proud of these Airmen and Soldiers for their accomplishments. Their dedication and leadership serves an example of the men and women who dedicate their careers to serving their communities and country as a member of the Ohio National Guard,” said Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general.
First Lt. Ashley Klase, of Wooster, Ohio, is the supervisory civil engineer for the 200th RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers) Squadron, Detachment 1 based out of Mansfield. Less than four years into her career in the Ohio National Guard, she has served as supervisory engineer and project manager for many construction projects, including renovating a health clinic in a small Romanian village. “Being able to help people means a lot to me,” Klase said. “I get to work with incredibly talented and motivated people every day and it pushes me to constantly work harder and try to be better for them and this organization.”
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