116th ACW Officer supports state partnership with Argentina

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Regina Young
  • 116th Air Control Wing

A bilateral affairs officer with the 116th Air Control Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, will be joining the Security Cooperation Office at the U.S. Embassy, Buenos Aires, Argentina, as part of the Georgia National Guard State Partnership Program.

Maj. Ileana O’Shea will be continuing to build relationships from her previous partnership work by coordinating emergency and disaster response, and strengthening cooperation in peacekeeping operations and readiness alongside the Argentine military.

“I’m excited about this unique opportunity to partner with the Argentine military while working jointly with U.S. active duty members at the U.S. Embassy,” said O’Shea. “So far I have attended the state partnership program signing ceremony, planning meetings in Argentina and was able to host several Argentine representatives during Georgia National Guard’s recent Vigilant Guard exercise.”

O’Shea brings emergency and disaster response experience from her Air Guard position as deputy chief nurse for the 116th Medical Group, Detachment 1, Homeland Response Force, as well as civilian experience as an emergency room nurse.

Governor Deal announced the Georgia National Guard state partnership with the Argentine Republic in 2016. Argentina is the second state partner for the Georgia National Guard along with the Country of Georgia. In support of theater commander’s security cooperation objectives, the National Guard has been building relationships worldwide through State Partnership Programs since 1993.