Kentucky Guard

Kentucky National Guard responds to fatal civilian plane crash
November 5, 2025 — Firefighters from the Kentucky Air National Guard were among hundreds of emergency workers who responded to a fatal civilian plane crash just south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport here Nov. 4... MORE

Master Sgt. Kyle Miller was one of eight firefighters from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing who responded to a fatal civilian plane crash just south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 4, 2025.

Tellis retires after more than 38 years of service in Air Force, Air Guard
September 27, 2025 — Chief Master Sergeant Chris Tellis, senior enlisted leader for the 123rd Contingency Response Group, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville on June 7, concluding a career spanning more than 38 years... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Chris Tellis, right, outgoing senior enlisted leader for the 123rd Contingency Response Group, receives his certificate of retirement from Brig. Gen. Bruce Bancroft, Kentucky’s adjutant general for Air, during Tellis’ retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville Ky., June 7, 2025.

Kentucky Air Guard special tactics flexes maritime skill in Caribbean for Emerald Warrior
September 4, 2025 — A squadron of special tactics Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard completed a grueling five-day exercise in the Caribbean Aug. 30, testing their ability to perform a broad spectrum of operations in a maritime environment while responding to an enemy threat... MORE

U.S. Air Force special tactics Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing conduct exfil operations from the Caribbean Sea into a Mississippi Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk off the coast of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Aug. 28, 2025 as part of Emerald Warrior 25.2, a large-scale special operations exercise staged in multiple locations by Air Force Special Operations Command.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists from Kentucky Air Guard recognized for excellence
August 18, 2025 — Three Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight have been recognized for excellence by the National Guard Bureau... MORE

Staff Sgt. Austin Duck, a team lead in the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight, leads his team during a training exercise at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Indiana, July 26, 2025.

Kentucky Air Guard civil engineers strengthen operational readiness in the Azores
August 17, 2025 — Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron joined with the Portuguese military to strengthen operational readiness and assist with base repairs during a two-week field training assignment to the Azores in June... MORE

Fire protection specialists from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron extinguish flames from a simulated engine burn during an exercise at Lajes Field, Azores, June 23, 2025.

Bosslift gives employers an inside perspective on Kentucky Air Guard mission
July 14, 2025 — The 123rd Airlift Wing flew a group of civilian employers to Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah, Kentucky, aboard a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft May 14 to see how Kentucky Air Guardsmen would respond to a major earthquake... MORE

Staff Sgt. Tyler Phillips, a loadmaster from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 165th Airlift Squadron, explains his duties to a civilian employer during an orientation flight over Kentucky aboard a C-130J Super Hercules as part of a "Bosslift" held May 14, 2025.

123rd CRSS, Chapman earn top national awards in Contingency Response field
July 7, 2025 — The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Support Squadron was selected as the Expeditionary Operations Unit of the Year for 2024 in the National Guard Bureau’s Global Air Mobility Support System Awards. Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chapman was recognized as the Junior Expeditionary Operations Performer of the Year... MORE

Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chapman, a command-and-control specialist in the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Squadron, was named the Junior Expeditionary Operations Performer of the Year for 2024 in the National Guard Bureau's Global Air Mobility Support System Awards.

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... MORE

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)

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... MORE

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)

State command chief Tongate retires after 28 years of service to Kentucky Guard
June 29, 2025 — Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate concluded 28 years of service to the Kentucky National Guard with a retirement ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, April 13... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate, right, Kentucky Air National Guard state command chief, is presented with the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, Kentucky’s adjutant general, during Tongate’s retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 13, 2025. Tongate served the U.S. military for 33 years. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)

123rd Airmen honored by Kentucky, North Carolina for 2024 hurricane response
June 4, 2025 — Eleven members of the 123rd Airlift Wing’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team were recently honored with medals from two states for meritorious service following Hurricane Helene in 2024... MORE

Senior Airman Carolyn Peabody, left, is one of 11 members of the 123rd Airlift Wing Fatality Search and Recovery Team who was recognized with two decorations during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 13, 2025, for disaster-recovery work following Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

Kentucky Air National Guard recognizes 2024 retirees
May 27, 2025 — Forty retired members of the Kentucky Air National Guard were honored by the 123rd Airlift Wing in Louisville, Kentucky, April 12 when a plaque bearing their names was unveiled in front of the Lt. Gen. John B. Conaway Headquarters Building... MORE

Current and former members of the 123rd Airlift Wing gather at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 12, 2025, for a ceremony unveiling a new marble tablet honoring retirees.

Exercise Grindstone tests Kentucky Air Guard’s response to a major earthquake
May 24, 2025 — The Kentucky Air National Guard staged a major earthquake-response exercise in Paducah, Kentucky, May 13-15, deploying more than 30 Airmen and three aircraft to establish a regional cargo hub, process relief supplies, provide fuel for helicopter operations and manage aeromedical evacuations at two airports... MORE

An airman from the 123rd Contingency Response Group marshals a C-130J Super Hercules from the Kentucky Air National Guard down a taxiway at Murray-Calloway County Airport in Murray, Ky., May 14, 2025, as part of Exercise Grindstone, a major earthquake-response simulation.

Canine Callie, DOD’s only search-and-rescue dog, retires from service
May 10, 2025 — Callie, the only certified search-and-rescue dog in the Department of Defense, officially retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Jan. 24, 2025... MORE

Callie, the only certified search-and-rescue dog in the Department of Defense, is retired from service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 24, 2025.

Bancroft takes command of Kentucky Air National Guard
April 4, 2025 — Brig. Gen. Bruce Bancroft took command of the Kentucky Air National Guard during a ceremony at the 123rd Airlift Wing on March 14, 2025, pledging to continue a rich heritage of excellence and teamwork as the state’s new assistant adjutant general for Air... MORE

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Bruce Bancroft, right, Kentucky’s new assistant adjutant general for Air, salutes U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, during a change-of-command ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., March 14, 2025.

Billings, Ochs, Speck, Greer take honors in Air National Guard media contest
March 16, 2025 — Four Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard public affairs team have been recognized for excellence in the National Guard Bureau’s 2024 media contest... MORE

Lt. Col. Jim Roy, a U.S. Air Force pilot with the 47th Fighter Wing, climbs out of an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 18, 2024, after landing in preparation for this weekend’s Thunder Over Louisville air show.

Billings, Trojanowski, Woodard named top Kentucky Guard Airmen
March 14, 2025 — Airman 1st Class Annaliese Billings, Tech. Sgt. Philip Trojanowski and Master Sgt. Kevin Woodard were honored as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2024 Airmen of the Year during the Airman’s Gala held at Woodhaven Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky, March 15... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Philip Trojanowski, a combat control craftsman assigned to the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, is the Kentucky Air National Guard’s Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for 2024.

Johnson named Kentucky Air Guard’s First Sergeant of the Year
March 14, 2025 — Master Sgt. Jamarrel Johnson has been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2024 First Sergeant of the Year and will be honored at the Airman’s Gala to be held March 15 at Woodhaven Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky... MORE

Master Sgt. Jamarrel Johnson, first sergeant for the 123rd Maintenance Squadron, is the Kentucky Air National Guard’s First Sergeant of the Year for 2024.

Otto concludes military career spanning 27 years and three continents
February 10, 2025 — Col. Hans Otto, commander of the 123rd Medical Group, was officially retired during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Dec. 15, ending a military career spanning more than 27 years... MORE

Airmen from the 123rd Medical Group present Col. Hans Otto, right, outgoing group commander, with a framed unit flag during his retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Dec. 15, 2024.

Adams takes command of 123rd Medical Group
January 15, 2025 — Col. Patricia Adams assumed command of the 123rd Medical Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base here Dec. 15, succeeding Col. Hans Otto, who has led the unit since 2022... MORE

Col. Patricia Adams addresses the audience after assuming command of the 123rd Medical Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Dec. 15, 2024.

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