Tim LaBarge promoted to Two-Star General
Dan McClelland
New York Air National Guard Major General Timothy LaBarge, the commander of the New York Air National Guard and a Tupper Lake resident, receives his second star from his daughter Emily (left) and his wife Petra, during promotion ceremonies held on June 1, 2019 at New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham, N.Y. LaBarge and Major General Thomas Owens, Air National Guard Assistant to the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, were promoted to Major General rank in a dual ceremony by Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ben German)
Tupper Lake resident Timothy LaBarge, a member of the Air Force and the New York Air National Guard since 1983, was promoted to Major General (two-star) during a June 1 ceremony at New York National Guard headquarters in Latham, N.Y.
Major General LaBarge, who has served as the commander of the 5,800- member New York Air National Guard since 2018, was promoted by Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York.
The New York Air National Guard is the largest Air National Guard in the country with five flying wings operating 42 aircraft and the Eastern Air Defense Sector which is responsible for the air defense of the United States east of the Mississippi.
The ceremony included the promotion of both LaBarge and Tom Owens, currently serving as the Air National Guard assistant to the commander of the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command.
"I can't say enough about working with both Tom and Tim," Shields said before inviting the families of both general officers to present the new stars.
"With the number of two-star general officers with ties to New York, we now have a small fire team of senior leaders if we need them," Shields joked.
LaBarge also serves as the assistant adjutant general for air for the New York National Guard. LaBarge is the primary advisor to Maj. Gen. Shields on all Air National Guard matters.
"I get to work with Tim every day," Shields said. "It's been a great relationship. I rely on him a lot and I couldn't ask for a better partner in leading our New York National Guard."
"Sir, thank you, and while I work for you, I know that I work directly for the men and women who serve in our New York Army National Guard, Air National Guard, New York Guard and New York Naval Militia," LaBarge said.
"My career, and this promotion, is the end result of the foresight of key Air Guard leaders back in 2002, selecting key officers from across the state for command positions," LaBarge said. "It was the source code for generating today's wing commanders and senior leaders across the New York Air National Guard, and it has done a terrific job of it."
“Our goal now is to inspire and groom our next set of leaders, and the next set after that," he said. "Our job now is to man, train and equip this New York National Guard for whatever comes next."
Tim graduated from Tupper Lake High School and from St. Lawrence University in Canton in 1983 and received his Air Force Commission from the Officer Training School in 1984. He served eight years in the active Air Force and joined the New York Air National Guard in 1991.
He has served in a number of leadership positions, to include command of the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia from 2010 to 2012 and command of the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh from 2012 to 2016.
LaBarge was promoted to Brigadier General in 2016.
He served as Chief of Staff of the New York Air National Guard from 2016 to 2018 and as Director of Joint Staff for the New York National Guard in 2018 before assuming his current role.
He served at United States Air Force Headquarters from 2006 to 2007 as a staff officer in the Air Force Directorate of Total Force Integration.
LaBarge is a command pilot with over 5,800 hours in the T-37, T-38, C-5, C-130, and LC-130 and C-17 aircraft.
He has flown combat missions and combat support missions in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He has also flow mission in Antarctic in support of the National Science Foundation.
LaBarge is a graduate of the Air Force Squadron Officers School, Air Force Command and General Staff School, the Air War College, the Joint Forces Staff College and received a Master of Arts in Military Studies/Strategic Leadership from the American Military University.
LaBarge's awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal , the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal , the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon, the Antarctic Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait.
Tim and his wife Petra live in Tupper Lake and have two daughters Lyndsay and Emily, a grand-daughter Tayler and a grandson TJ.
A number of friends and family members attended the impressive ceremony. Among those were his parents, Bob and Sue LaBarge of this village, daughters Lyndsay and Emily, son in law Jake, his uncle, Jim Frenette, Tupper Lakers Dr. William Maroun, Tom and Barbara McCarthy, Mayor and County Legislator Paul Maroun and Joe Kahn.