Senior Airman Mason Schafer was recognized as Livingston County’s Veteran of the Month during the Board of Supervisors’ regular meeting Wednesday, where he led the pledge of allegiance and received a certificate of appreciation for his service.
A native of Dansville and raised in Springwater, Schafer is a Wayland-Cohocton High School graduate and holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Keuka College. His military career spans over a decade, with service in both the Army and Air National Guard.
Schafer began his military journey in 2014 with the Army National Guard, completing basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma and advanced training at Fort Lee, Virginia, as a Quartermaster and Chemical Equipment Repairer. He served with the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion out of Rochester before transitioning to the Air Force. Since 2020, Schafer has been an intelligence analyst with the New York Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing at Hancock Field in Syracuse, specializing in operations involving General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones.
Throughout his career, Schafer has earned numerous accolades, including the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, and the Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award.
Beyond his military accomplishments, Schafer recently joined the Livingston County Probation Department as a probation officer. He resides in Livingston County with his fiancée, Taylor Gary, a certified nursing assistant at the Livingston County Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and their four children. In his spare time, Schafer enjoys golfing, weightlifting, and camping.
The Veteran of the Month program highlights outstanding contributions from Livingston County’s veterans, celebrating their commitment to both country and community.
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