This year’s Thunder Over Louisville air show, held April 22 along the banks of the Ohio River, featured more than 20 military and civilian aircraft, including a C-130J Super Hercules from the Kentucky Air National Guard, which served as the base of operations for military planes flying in the show. Other highlights included the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy's F-35 Lightning II Demonstration Teams, historic warbirds, and parachute demonstrations by the U.S. Army Golden Knights and the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron.

A Kentucky Army National Guard platoon leader was awarded the 2022 Lt. Orville Munson Award at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri on April 28, 2023. 1st Lt. Jason Ball, a platoon leader with the 2061st Multi-Role Bridge Company, received the award from U.S. Army Col. Joseph C. Goetz, the commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer Regimental School. The Munson award is given annually to honor an engineer lieutenant or warrant officer platoon leader in the Active Army and Army National Guard in recognition of outstanding contributions to military engineering by demonstrated technical and leadership ability.

In the middle of it all was the Kentucky National Guard’s 202nd Army Band. The five Soldiers were on hand in the center of the walking ring near the entrance to the racetrack playing for the attendees when the gates opened before the races kicked off.

The ceremony honored the Soldiers who successfully completed the 12-month training program and have now been commissioned as new officers in the Kentucky Army National Guard.

The Kentucky Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion changed its leadership team during a ceremony held May 22, 2023, at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort. Lt. Col. Jason Mendez took charge of the battalion, headquartered in Frankfort, from Lt. Col. Jacob McKinney, while Command Sgt. Maj. Johnnie Parton turned over his responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan Reed.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Barker retired during a ceremony at the Boone National Guard Center, in Frankfort, Kentucky on April 27, 2023, culminating a distinguished 39-year-long military career. Barker joined the Army in 1984 as an enlisted Soldier and in 1993 commissioned as a warrant officer, specializing in electronic maintenance. His career at Boone National Guard Center began before he enlisted into the Kentucky National Guard as a groundskeeper.

Fire Chief Rondal Hambrick, Crew Chief Kyle Wade and drivers Tyler Henderson and Lincoln Miller, responded to the downed WWI aircraft that crash had landed on the training center May 15.

Nineteen Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron made history near Riverton, Wyoming, April 30 and May 2, 2023, when they facilitated the landing of aircraft on two Wyoming highways for the first time as part of Exercise Agile Chariot.

Soldiers from the 617th Military Police Company provided security for the Derby from outside the track, conducted traffic control and augmented the Louisville Metro Police Department. Inside the Downs, the Soldiers of the 617th kept a close eye on the Kentucky Derby trophy as it was transported throughout the building and eventually to the winner’s circle prior to the race.

The newly formed Kentucky National Guard County Outreach Team has been meeting with officials of each of Kentucky’s 120 counties since January. The idea for the team came after the tornadoes ripped through western Kentucky in December of 2021, but the formation of the team got kicked into overdrive following the flooding of eastern Kentucky last year.

Army Col. Jason P. Penn assumed command of the brigade from Col. Timothy R. Starke, who had previously served as the brigade’s executive officer two years prior to becoming the commander.

Chief Master Sgt. David E. Malone, senior enlisted leader of the 123rd Maintenance Group, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 4, 2023, ending a career spanning 35 years.