Navy vet and Air National Guard master sergeant Jared Hazzard of Riverhead dies at 46

Jared Hazzard, a Navy veteran from Riverhead who spent 20 years with the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing and serviced homes across Suffolk as a master plumber, died on July 31 at 46.

With the 106th, based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, Hazzard rose to become chief of the unit’s communications and navigation shop — the team responsible for the radios, GPS and other systems that let rescue aircraft find their way and stay in contact during missions.

In that role, the wing said in a Facebook post, his technical expertise directly enabled the unit’s rescue missions, supporting the Air Force pararescue community’s “That Others May Live” ethos — the creed behind the elite Guardian Angel units that specialize in combat search and rescue.

“Master Sgt. Hazzard dedicated 20 years of honorable service to our nation,” the 106th Rescue Wing wrote in its tribute to Hazzard. “His technical expertise directly enabled our rescue assets to execute life-saving missions.”

The wing called Hazzard, who leaves behind his wife, Johana, and their son, Samuel, “a cherished friend and a leader whose loss will be felt deeply across the entire 106th.”

That Others May Live Foundation, which supports the Air Force’s rescue community, also remembered Hazzard, calling him a “rescue community hero” whose two decades of service “quietly enabled countless rescue missions through his expertise, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the mission.”

“His legacy will live on in the Airmen he mentored, the teammates who served beside him, and the lives impacted by his dedication,” the foundation added.

Hazzard was laid to rest on Aug. 7 with full military honors at Calverton National Cemetery.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Johana, their son, Samuel, the 106th Rescue Wing, and all who knew and loved him,” the That Others May Live Foundation wrote. “May they find strength, comfort, and peace in the days ahead. Rest easy, Jared. Your watch is complete.”

_{Top: Facebook/106th Rescue Wing}