FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Headquarters, GSDF, Public Affairs Office

Captain Andy Creed, PAO, (404) 285-5630 (cell)

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GSDF finds body of missing amateur astronomer

ATLANTA, Ga. Nov. 18, 2010 – Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) personnel have located the body of Keith Burns, an amateur astronomer who has been missing for more than a week.  After scouring an area that had previously been searched by others, the body was discovered by Sgt. Jay Tavares of the GSDF 1st Brigade. 

The 1st Brigade fielded 77 troops in seven search teams of eight-to-ten troops each, all of which included a search & rescue certified specialist and a medic.  Team members established an operations center, forward collection point and a forward operating base to facilitate the mission.

Captain Michael Kent was the mission commander and Capt. Ed McCarthy coordinated the search teams and handled field operations. Also present were a GSDF Chaplin, Doctor, Certified Counselor and JAG (legal) officers.  

The GSDF was joined in the search by members of the Cobb County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).  Many GSDF members are also CERT qualified.

The Georgia State Defense Force is an all-volunteer, unpaid military force – authorized by Title 38-2-3 OCGA – which is responsible to Gov. Sonny Perdue and Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, Georgia’s Adjutant General, as one of the three components of the Georgia Department of Defense.