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U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Steven Best, right, accepts the guidon for Joint Force Headquarters—Kentucky/Air from U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard,  signifying Best’s assumption of the role of state command chief during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 13, 2025. Best replaces U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate, who is retiring. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)
Best named top enlisted leader of Kentucky Air National Guard
June 29, 2025
Chief Master Sgt. Steven Best officially assumed the post of state command chief for the Kentucky Air National Guard during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, April 13.

Chaplain (COL) Bill Draper and his wife, Yvonne, laugh at what was being said by Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, Adjutant General-Kentucky, during his retirement ceremony at the Wellman Auditorium June 25, 2025. The ceremony also included Lamberton awarding four former state chaplains with the Order of Martin of Tours medallion for their many years of faithful service. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)
Kentucky National Guard Honors Five Spiritual Leaders for Lifelong Service
June 26, 2025
The Kentucky National Guard paid tribute to its spiritual leaders during a ceremony held at the Wellman Armory auditorium June 25, celebrating decades of service, compassion, and commitment.

Staff Sgt. Ashley Renye performs during a culminating training event to medically evacuate Soldiers at Fort Cavazos, Texas, May 14, 2025. This training scenario had units from the 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion (Michigan), the 101st Public Affairs Detachment (Delaware) and the 328th Military Police Platoon (New Jersey) work together to respond to a vehicle rollover accident with multiple casualties. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Alyssa Lisenbe)
Calm in the Chaos: Flight Medic Training Turns Real
June 5, 2025
Soldiers of the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and its assigned units reacted to a real-world emergency that occurred during a medical evacuation training exercise on May 14, 2025.

Recent News

Colonel Amina Mohamed Moussa of the Djiboutian Armed Forces presents a gift to Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of Kentucky, during a key leader engagement in Frankfort, Kentucky, July 23, 2025. The gesture highlighted the mutual respect and ongoing partnership between Kentucky and Djibouti through the State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jose Pena)
Kentucky and Djibouti celebrate decade-long partnership
July 29, 2025
Senior leaders from the Kentucky National Guard and the Djiboutian Armed Forces met in Kentucky from July 21–23, 2025, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their partnership and strengthen ongoing cooperation. The event brought together representatives from the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard, Kentucky Emergency Management, Urban Search and Rescue, the Office of Homeland Security, the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Chamber of Commerce, U.S. National Guard Bureau, and a delegation from Djibouti.

Soldiers assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard participate in a radio communications knowledge exchange with Djiboutian soldiers at the Djiboutian signal corp compound in Djibouti City, Djibouti, July 14, 2025. The state partnership program conducts military-to-military engagements in support of U.S. defense security goals, facilitating cooperation across all levels of international civil-military affairs, and encouraging relationship building at the state level. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman)
Cyber, radio exchange deepens US, Djibouti military cooperation
July 18, 2025
Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), and the Kentucky Army National Guard teamed up with Djiboutian forces for a cybersecurity and radio communications fundamentals skills-sharing initiative that blended instruction, live demonstrations, and practical exercises.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton and Pfc. Alexander Stark cut the cake together at the celebration of the 233rd birthday of the Kentucky National Guard in Frankfort, June 24, 2025. The most senior and junior Soldiers cutting the cake together is a tradition that symbolizes the passing of experience and values from one generation to the next. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)
Kentucky Guard celebrates 233rd birthday
July 17, 2025
Soldiers, Airmen and community leaders gathered to celebrate the 233rd birthday of the Kentucky National Guard during a ceremony at Boone National Guard Center, June 24, 2025. The birthday celebration was held in conjunction with the dedication of the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Highway, and special recognition of the Kentucky National Guard Marathon Team.

Task Force Aviation of Kentucky National Guard, assigned to the 256th IBCT and KFOR RC-E drops water over a wildfire threatening the Devic Monastery in Kosovo, July 8, 2025. Crews worked 19 hours to suppress the fire using helcopter water buckets. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Laura Bradley)
Kentucky National Guard Helps Fight Wildfire of Historic Kosovo Monastery
July 14, 2025
Kentucky National Guard’s Task Force Aviation helped fight a wildfire July 8 that was threatening the Dević Monastery, a centuries-old Serbian Orthodox religious site in the Drenica Valley.

A portion of US Route 127 in Franklin County—known as the West Frankfort Connector, from the intersection with US 60 (Louisville Rd) to KY Route 1005 (Devil’s Hollow Rd)—has officially been designated the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Highway, in recognition of the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our Commonwealth and nation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st. Class Benjamin Crane)
Sign unveiled for Kentucky National Guard Memorial Highway
July 11, 2025
A portion of U.S. Highway 127 in Frankfort has been officially designated the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Highway. The dedication coincided with the 233rd anniversary of the founding of the Kentucky militia. The designation was approved by the Kentucky General Assembly through a joint resolution earlier this year. The mile-long stretch between Louisville Road and Devil’s Hollow Road was renamed during a ceremony at Boone National Guard Center, where new signage was unveiled, June 24, 2025.

A M109 Paladin howitzer with Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery, is staged as its crew waits for a fire mission from the command team during annual training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 9, 2025. After setting the howitzers, the unit conducted a dry fire mission to ensure the weapons were functioning properly. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Isaiah Jackson)
Kentucky National Guard Field Artillery gets back to the basics
July 11, 2025
Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery got back to the basics, mastering artillery fundamentals and training for evolving threats posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) during their annual training, June 6-21, 2025.

Soldiers of 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry, practice assault tactics using blank fire ammunition on a training range as a part of the Exportable Combat Training Center (XCTC) exercise at Fort Pickett, Virginia, June 19, 2025. Practicing with blank ammunition formed the battalion's
1-149th Infantry “Mountain Warriors” participate in Exportable Combat Training Center exercise
July 10, 2025
Soldiers of the Kentucky National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry conducted annual training to sustain mission-essential task proficiency at the Exportable Combat Training Center in Fort Pickett, Va., June 19, 2025.

Chief Master Sgt. Blair Baerny, the newly appointed command chief for the 123rd Airlift Wing, speaks during a change-of-responsibility ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville Ky, April 13, 2025. Baerny replaces Chief Master Sgt. Steven Best , who was named state command chief for the Kentucky Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)
Bearny appointed command chief for 123rd Airlift Wing
June 30, 2025
Chief Master Sgt. Blair Baerny accepted the guidon of the 123rd Airlift Wing during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, April 13, signifying his appointment as the unit’s new command chief and highest-raking enlisted Airman.