Kentucky Guard

Fatality search and recovery mission helps bring closure to disaster
November 1, 2022 — Never before had Airman 1st Class Brandon Porter seen the kind of destruction left by a tornado after it ripped through a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, in December 2021, starting a fire that killed eight people... MORE

Airman 1st Class Brandon Porter, left, and Master Sgt. Kevin Woodard from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team inspect a generator used in recovery operations during training at the 123rd Airlift Wing in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 8, 2022. The FSRT, part of the 123rd Force Support Squadron, assisted local coroners during historic flooding in Eastern Kentucky this summer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Phil Speck)

Zollman assumes command of 123rd Maintenance Group
October 31, 2022 — Lt. Col. Jerry Zollman took charge of the 123rd Maintenance Group during a change-of-command ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 11, 2022... MORE

Lt. Col. Jerry Zollman, right, accepts the 123rd Maintenance Group guidon from Col. Bruce Bancroft, 123rd Airlift Wing commander, during the group's change-of-command ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 11, 2022. Zollman assumed command from Col. Ash Groves, who has been named director of staff at Headquarters, Kentucky Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Wear)

Mounkes takes command of Kentucky Air Guard as new assistant adjutant general
September 13, 2022 — David J. Mounkes was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and officially took charge of the Kentucky Air National Guard during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 13, 2022, at the 123rd Airlift Wing... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, left, adjutant general of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, administers the oath of office to Brig. Gen. David J. Mounkes, assistant adjutant general for Air, during a promotion and change-of-command ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 13, 2022. Mounkes assumed command of the Kentucky Air Guard at the event, taking on the role of assistant adjutant general for Air from Brig. Gen. Jeffrey L. Wilkinson, who is retiring. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Wilkinson concludes career as special tactics officer who rose to become top Air Guardsman
September 12, 2022 — Brig. Gen. Jeffrey L. Wilkinson concluded his military career at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Aug. 18, 2022, drawing an end to 28 years of service that saw him rise through the ranks to become the state’s top Air Guardsman... MORE

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey L. Wilkinson, center, outgoing assistant adjutant general for Air, renders his final salute to Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, left, adjutant general of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, during Wilkinson’s retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 13, 2022, as Brig. Gen. David Mounkes, incoming assistant adjutant general for Air, looks on. A career special tactics officer, Wilkinson served the Air Force and Air National Guard for more than 28 years. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Wing completes aircraft modernization with arrival of eighth C-130J Super Hercules
September 11, 2022 — The 123rd Airlift Wing welcomed its eighth C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 25, 2022, completing the unit’s transition from legacy C-130H transports... MORE

A C-130J Super Hercules aircraft arrives at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., from Lockheed-Martin Corp. In Marietta, Ga., Aug. 25, 2022. The plane is the eighth J-model to be delivered to the 123rd Airlift Wing since November, completing the unit’s transition from legacy-model C-130H transports. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Chloe Ochs)

Security Forces conduct specialized law-enforcement training
September 10, 2022 — Twenty-two Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron recently conducted a week of training San Luis Obispo, California, focused on supporting law enforcement... MORE

Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron a conduct riot-control exercise at Camp San Luis Obispo, Calif., May 18, 2022. The event was part of law-and-order training completed by more than 20 unit members over six days in central California. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

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

Several units from three Kentucky National Guard Brigades and the 123rd Air Lift Wing supported local agencies in a variety of ways during the 50th Anniversary of Thunder over Louisville Air Show, on April 24, 2022, on Louisville’s Great Lawn.

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)

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