U.S. Army Col. Eddie Dewayne Simpson retired from the Kentucky Army National Guard during a ceremony at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 21, 2026. Over his 35-year military career, Simpson commanded multiple infantry units, built strategic state partnerships, and pioneered early holistic health and fitness initiatives that drastically improved Soldier readiness.

Surrounded by family, friends, and fellow Service members atop the Hill at Western Kentucky University, Col. Michael Armstrong was promoted to the rank of brigadier general Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026.

Members of the KYNG’s 41st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team trained alongside North Carolina National Guard’s 42nd CST at the Jim Beam Booker Noe Plant in Boston, Aug. 11, 2026. The joint exercise tested how the teams integrate during a complex chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive (CBRNE) incident.

Two Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group traveled to Ecuador in April to share information about the unit’s Critical Care Air Transport Teams with their Ecuadorian colleagues.

U.S. Army Col. Eddie Dewayne Simpson retired from the Kentucky Army National Guard during a ceremony at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 21, 2026. Over his 35-year military career, Simpson commanded multiple infantry units, built strategic state partnerships, and pioneered early holistic health and fitness initiatives that drastically improved Soldier readiness.

The Kentucky National Guard hosted six state legislators at the Army Aviation Support Facility on Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, March 9.

Senior leaders from the Kentucky National Guard visited the children attending youth camp at Camp Loucon in Leitchfield, Kentucky, July 16, 2026. The camp is an annual event hosted by the Kentucky National Guard Child and Youth Program that brings children from Guard Families ages 10 to 17 together for a week of fun and challenges.

Kentucky Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve hosted more than 40 employers and civic leaders during a Boss Lift event at Fort Knox, Ky., June 12, 2026. The event provided participants a firsthand look at field artillery and aviation training to demonstrate the leadership, teamwork, and technical expertise their employees develop through military service.

The Kentucky Army National Guard promoted Master Sgt. Michael Meredith to the rank of sergeant major during a ceremony at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 10, 2026. Meredith assumed the role of G-1 sergeant major, serving as the senior enlisted advisor for personnel and overseeing enlisted readiness and career development.

The Kentucky Guard cut the ribbon on Burlington’s Field Maintenance Shop on Aug. 24, 2026, culminating a 15-year endeavor. The state-of-the-art facility will support units in the northern Kentucky area.

Across nearly 36 years of service from enlisted Soldier to Kentucky's deputy adjutant general, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Brian Wertzler has served in a myriad of different roles. Through every change and every challenge, one thing has remained constant: putting people first.

U.S. Army Col. John Barger was promoted during a ceremony at the Kentucky Historical Society on Aug. 10, 2026. Prior to his pinning, Barger stood before Kentucky’s original constitution to take the state Oath of Office, marking a full-circle milestone in his three-decade engineering career.