Kentucky Guard

123rd Airlift Wing welcomes new command chief
September 10, 2022 — The 123rd Airlift Wing welcomed a new wing command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Steven D. Best, to the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, May 3, 2022... MORE

Command Chief Master Sgt. Steven Best engages with service members from the 123rd Airlift Wing, after assuming the role of wing command chief for the Kentucky Air National Guard in Louisville, Ky., May 3, 2022. Best has served with the wing since 1998 in the 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, and was awarded First Sergeant of the Year for the wing in 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Chloe Ochs)

Kentucky Air Guardsman part of Air Force team that won Halo esports competition
August 9, 2022 — Trey Christenson, a technical sergeant in the Kentucky Air National Guard, was attending an esports gaming competition at the beginning of May 2022 to see some friends compete, when a chance meeting led him to assist the United States Air Force team in taking the win by the end of the month during the first official Halo Infinite esports competition in the Department of Defense... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Trey Christensen, an air transportation specialist for the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, was part of an Air Force team that competed in the 2022 Halo Infinite World Finals in San Antonio, Texas, May 11-31, taking home first place. (Courtesy photo)

Spaulding concludes distinguished military career after 35 years of service
August 8, 2022 — Chief Master Sgt. Gary L. Spaulding was retired from the Kentucky Air National Guard during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, June 12, 2022, concluding a 35-year career of distinguished service to the Commonwealth and nation... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Gary L. Spaulding, right, military personnel management officer for the Kentucky Air National Guard, receives a plaque from Maj. Gen. Charles M. Walker, director of the Office of Complex Investigations at the National Guard Bureau, during Spaulding’s retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., June 12, 2022. Spaulding served 35 in the Kentucky Air Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

Kentucky Air Guard Special Tactics rescue 19 after devastating floods
August 1, 2022 — Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron rescued 19 stranded residents and two dogs in the aftermath of historic flooding that claimed at least 28 lives in Eastern Kentucky in July 2022... MORE

An Airman from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron search for flood victims from a helicopter in Eastern Kentucky on July 30, 2022. In response to devastating flooding, the unit coordinated 29 rotary-wing relief missions, rescued 19 people and two dogs, and recovered four bodies. Their command-and-control efforts also facilitated the assistance or recovery of 40 people. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Wear)

Lalonde retires after three decades in the Kentucky Air Guard
July 30, 2022 — After more than 30 years of service to the Kentucky Air National Guard, Col. David S. Lalonde was officially retired in a ceremony held in Louisville, Kentucky, May 14, 2022... MORE

Col. Robert Hamm, left, former commander of the 123rd Operations Group, presents Col. David Lalonde, director of Air operations at Joint Forces Headquarters—Kentucky, with the Legion of Merit during Lalonde’s retirement ceremony, held May 14, 2022 at the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville, Ky. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Wear)

New wing chaplain returns to his roots for Air Guard ministry
July 16, 2022 — The Kentucky Air Guard’s newest chaplain, Capt. James Detwiler, is a native of Eminence, Kentucky, who spent four years on active duty before returning home to provide religious ministry to Airmen in the Commonwealth... MORE

Capt. James Detwiler is the newest chaplain at the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing. He previously served as a base chaplain at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo., and is a Kentucky native who graduated from the University of Kentucky. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Horton)

Churchill Downs honors fallen Kentucky Guard Special Tactics Airman
July 4, 2022 — Churchill Downs honored a fallen Kentucky Air National Guardsman in Louisville, Ky., June 12, 2022, staging a thoroughbred horse race in his name as part of military appreciation day... MORE

More than 150 Airmen, friends and family members attend Military Appreciation Day at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., June 12, 2022, to honor Tech. Sgt. Travis Brown, a pararescueman from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron who died Feb. 16. One of the races on the day's card was named in honor of Brown and concluded with eight of his fellow 123rd STS Airmen presenting the trophy. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Horton)

Kentucky National Guard celebrates 230th birthday
June 27, 2022 — Airmen and Soldiers from across the Commonwealth gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, June 24, 2022, to celebrate the 230th birthday of the Kentucky National Guard, one of the nation’s oldest state militias... MORE

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Wilkinson, left, the Kentucky National Guard’s assistant adjutant general for Air; Airman 1st Class Maryah Bridges, center left; Spc. John Stark, center right; and Col. Joe Gardner, the Kentucky Guard’s Chief of Staff for Army, cut a ceremonial cake during a celebration honoring the 230th birthday of the Kentucky Guard in Louisville, Ky., June 24, 2022. The organization was established in 1792 by Gov. Isaac Shelby, 19 days after the Commonwealth became the 15th state of the Union. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Decker promoted to brigadier general as KYANG chief of staff
June 17, 2022 — Mary S. Decker, chief of staff for Joint Force Headquarters—Air, Kentucky National Guard, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, June 11, 2022... MORE

The adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard, Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, left, administers the Oath of Office to Mary S. Decker, chief of staff for Joint Force Headquarters — Air, Kentucky National Guard, during a ceremony promoting her to the rank of brigadier general at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., June 11, 2022. Decker joined the Air Force in 1987 as an airman basic. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Names of 13 fallen Soldiers added to Kentucky National Guard Memorial
June 1, 2022 — The names of 13 fallen Soldiers were added to the Kentucky National Guard Memorial during a ceremony in Frankfort, Kentucky, May 30, 2022, recognizing their ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom... MORE

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James R. Tongate, left, Kentucky Air National Guard state command chief; and Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, the adjutant general of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, place a wreath at the Kentucky National Guard Memorial during a ceremony in Frankfort, Ky., May 30, 2022. The memorial honors 286 Solders and Airmen from the Kentucky Guard who have paid the ultimate price for freedom since 1912. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Guarding Thunder over Louisville: a Behind the Scenes Look at the Kentucky National Guard's Involvement in one of the State's Most Significant Annual Events
April 30, 2022 — On April 23rd the Louisville waterfront hosted the 33rd annual Thunder Over Louisville in coordination with the Kentucky Derby Festival. The Kentucky National Guard supported the event in several capacities from the air and on the ground. This is a behind-the-scenes story of the KYNG Thunder Over Louisville mission... MORE

Two Soldiers from the 2/138th Field Artillery Bn. wait for the command to load thir 105mm howitzer on the Second Street Bridge on April 23, 2022, in Louisville, Ky. The Soldiers manned six – 105mm howitzers in support of Kentucky's Thunder over Louisville. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Wilhoit)

Thunder air show draws large crowds for 75th Air Force celebration
April 25, 2022 — Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the banks of the Ohio River on April 23 for the annual Thunder Over Louisville air show, which marked its return with more than 30 aircraft to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Air Force... MORE

The U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va., performs an aerial demonstration over the Ohio River in downtown Louisville, Ky., April 23, 2022 as part of the Thunder Over Louisville air show. This year’s event celebrated the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff inspires next generation of cadets to serve
April 25, 2022 — Gen. David W. Allvin, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, encouraged the military’s next generation of leaders to remain flexible and embrace innovation during a reception held at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky, April 22... MORE

U.S. Air Force Gen. David W. Allvin, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, speaks to ROTC cadets at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky., April 22, 2022. Allvin was in town for the Thunder Over Louisville air show, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force. The Kentucky Air Guard served as the base of operations for military aircraft participating in the event. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Horton)

Aircraft arrive at Kentucky Air Guard Base for Thunder air show
April 21, 2022 — Military aircraft began arriving at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, April 21, 2022 for this weekend’s Thunder Over Louisville air show, including the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team... MORE

A U.S. Air Force pilot guides his F-22 Raptor to a parking spot on the flight line of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 21, 2022. The two-ship Raptor Demonstration Team
will be among the highlights of this year’s Thunder Over Louisville air show, to be held on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Louisville on April 23. The event, which celebrates the 75th anniversary of the United States Air Force, is slated to feature more than 30 military and civilian aircraft, including the B-2 Spirit, C-17 Globemaster III, CV-22 Osprey, CH-53 Sea Stallion, F-16 Viper and UH-60 Blackhawk, in addition to eight historic warbirds like the B-24 Liberator, B-29 Superfortress and P-51 Mustang. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Walker promoted to major general in Capitol Rotunda ceremony
April 14, 2022 — Charles M. Walker, the Kentucky Air National Guard’s chief of staff, was promoted to the rank of major general during a ceremony held in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort, Kentucky, March 12, 2022... MORE

Charles M. Walker is promoted to the rank of major general during ceremony held in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort, Ky., March 12, 2022. Walker, who previously served as chief of staff for the Kentucky Air National Guard, is the director of the Office of Complex Investigations at the National Guard Bureau. Participating in the ceremony were Walker’s wife, Suleena Walker (right), and J. Michael Brown, left, secretary of the executive cabinet for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Ecuadorian Army’s demining effort gets new, updated equipment
April 11, 2022 — Ecuadorian civil engineers recently welcomed a team of Air National Guard, active duty Air Force and civilian personnel from U.S. Southern Command to observe, train and equip a battalion of demining soldiers... MORE

Col. Jaime Gómez (left), U.S. Senior Defense Official, and Brig. Gen. Edwin Adatty (right), Commander, Ecuadorian Army Corps of Engineers, sign equipment transfer documents at a ceremony held on Feb. 25, 2022, in Sangolquí, Ecuador. The equipment, from U.S. Southern Command, will be used to help clear the last remaining part of the country's southern border so it can be returned to the local population for farming and other activities. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Allison Stephens)

Kentucky Air Guardsmen rescue drowning infant
April 7, 2022 — Three Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron saved the life of a drowning infant at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center in Louisville, Kentucky, March 15, 2022... MORE

Three pararescuemen from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron rescued a drowning infant at a pool in Louisville, Ky., March 15, 2022. Master Sgt. Elmer Quijada, left; Tech. Sgt. Ryan Penne, center; and Master Sgt. Devin Butcher, who were conducting unrelated training at the pool and are certified paramedics, administered life-saving aid to the child, who had stopped breathing. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Ky. Air Guard Public Affairs earns 4 more national awards, eclipsing triple-digit mark
March 30, 2022 — Public Affairs specialists from the Kentucky Air National Guard earned four awards of excellence in the 2021 Air National Guard media contest, the National Guard Bureau announced March 24, bringing their total number of national honors to 103... MORE

Senior Airman Eric Burk (left) and Master Sgt. Judson Wisely, loadmasters from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Operations Group, simulate an airdrop June 14, 2021, over mountain terrain in Puerto Rico as part of Maintenance University. Kentucky aircrews also re-certified on low-level tactical maneuvers and open-ocean flying during the week-long event. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Wear)

Kentucky Air Guard special tactics Airmen train for arctic warfare in Sweden
March 29, 2022 — Fifteen Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard recently completed an arctic warfare training course during two weeks of field exercises at the Swedish Subarctic Warfare Center... MORE

Airmen with the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron fire their M4 rifles while on skis at a range in Grubbnäsudden, Sweden, Jan. 13, 2022. Fifteen members from the 123rd STS — including combat controllers; pararescuemen; special reconnaissance personnel; search, evasion, resistance and escape troops; and support Airmen — came here to build upon their relationship with European partners during an arctic warfare training course. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

Ewing, Wright, Zena named Kentucky Air Guard’s Airmen of the Year for 2021
March 12, 2022 — Senior Airman Xavier Ewing, Tech. Sgt. Elijah Wright and Master Sgt. Andrew Zena will be honored at a banquet in Louisville, Kentucky, March 12 as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2021 Airmen of the Year... MORE

Senior Airman Xavier Ewing has been named the 2021 Kentucky Air National Guard Airman of the Year in the Airman category. Ewing is a C-130 Hercules crew chief in the 123rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

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