Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group provided key support to exercise Patriot 26 in Wisconsin Aug. 20 through 27.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Walker concluded his military career during a ceremony in Nashville Tennessee, July 24, drawing a close to 35 years of service that saw him excel in top posts at the Kentucky Air National Guard, National Guard Bureau and United States Air Force.
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.
The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group has been named Air National Guard Medical Unit of the Year, and two of its officers have been recognized for individual excellence in the 2025 Air National Guard Medical Service Awards.
Ash Groves was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and formally assumed responsibility as chief of staff for the Air Component at Joint Force Headquarters, Kentucky National Guard, during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, June 7, 2026.
Airmen with the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing concluded operations in Denmark June 19 in support of Ramstein Flag 2026, a large-scale NATO defense exercise spanning Europe with troops from 18 nations.
Airmen with the U.S. Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing are supporting a major NATO Allied Air Command exercise in Denmark through June 19, providing tactical airlift for an event spanning three operational areas from Norway to Spain.
Fifty-three retired members of the Kentucky Air National Guard were honored in Louisville April 18 when a plaque bearing their names was unveiled in front of the 123rd Airlift Wing’s Lt. Gen. John B. Conaway Headquarters Building.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and members of the Metro Council paid tribute April 20 to firefighters from the Kentucky Air National Guard and emergency responders from more than 40 other agencies for their coordinated efforts to extinguish a massive blaze after a cargo plane crashed near Grade
Military aircraft began arriving at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on April 16 in preparation for this weekend’s Thunder Over Louisville air show.
Seven members of the Ecuadorian armed services visited Kentucky recently to learn more about how the Kentucky National Guard responds to emergencies and to share their own techniques for disaster operations.
Eight firefighters from the Kentucky Air National Guard were honored here recently for their role in subduing a massive fire after a United Parcel Service cargo jet crashed near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in 2025.
Master Sgt. Sarah Cobb and Lt. Col. Daniel Dierfeldt were awarded the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on Dec. 14 for their role in saving the life of an Airman undergoing cardiac arrest.
The Kentucky Air National Guard recognized the 123rd Airlift Wing’s top Airmen for 2026 during the Airman’s Gala in Louisville on March 14.
Master Sgt. Josh Pence has been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s First Sergeant of the Year for 2026 and will be honored at the Airman’s Gala banquet in Louisville, Kentucky, March 14, 2016.
Senior Airman Ethan Greco, Staff Sgt. Lucas Bradshaw and Senior Master Sgt. Dallas Stoll will be honored during a banquet in Louisville, Kentucky, March 14, 2026, as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s Airmen of the Year for 2026.
Historic flooding canceled Thunder Over Louisville in 2025, but officials promise an exciting air show and fireworks display for its return this spring, thanks to help from the Kentucky Air National Guard.
The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group has been recognized for exceptional achievement, earning the Kentucky Governor’s Outstanding Unit Citation.
Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard and Ecuadorian Air Force conducted an aircrew subject matter expert exchange recently at Cotopaxi Air Base, Ecuador, as part of the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program.
Lt. Col. Josh Ketterer took command of the 123rd Operations Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Dec. 14, replacing Col. Randall Hood, who was named deputy commander of the 123rd Airlift Wing.
Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing are transporting medical patients and healthcare providers to and from clinics and hospitals after Winter Storm Fern dumped around 10 inches of snow and ice in Louisville, Kentucky, Jan. 24 and 25, leaving many secondary roads and
A military cargo aircraft named for a famous thoroughbred racehorse has returned to its old Kentucky home for retirement.
Four members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group have been recognized for excellence in the 2024 Air National Guard Medical Service Awards.
The Kentucky Air National Guard Marksmanship Team placed third overall in the 2025 Adjutant General’s Match at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., with three Airmen claiming the “Governor’s Twenty” tab for scoring in the top 20 percent of all competitors.
The 123rd Airlift Wing has earned its 21st Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award and its sixth Curtis N. “Rusty” Metcalf Trophy for excellence, officials announced during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on Dec. 14, continuing the unit’s legacy as the most decorated tactical airlift
Chief Master Sgt. Krome Raymond, senior enlisted leader for the 123rd Mission Support Group, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Sept. 7.
Airmen and Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard packed 1,920 boxes with free groceries at the Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, over the past week, providing healthy meals to area residents who are struggling to afford basic sustenance.
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.
The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sept. 30, 2025. Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status without pay until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not
Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123d Mission Support Group recently completed a field exercise designed to prepare them for operating the new Deployable Combat Wing model in a contested environment.
Chief Master Sgt. 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 June 7, concluding a career spanning more than 38 years.
Aerial porters, civil engineers, cybercommunications specialists and vehicle mechanics were among more than 70 Kentucky National Guard Airmen who trained with their active-duty, civilian and Hawaii Air Guard counterparts in Hawaii to improve base operations, staff an air cargo terminal and enhance
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.
Three Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight have been recognized for excellence by the National Guard Bureau.
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 than 50 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron and 123rd Contingency Response Group joined with members of the Colorado Air Guard and the Ecuadorian Air Force to sharpen their war-fighting skills during a field exercise at the Combat Readiness Training
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.
The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Support Squadron has been selected as the Expeditionary Operations Unit of the Year for 2024 in the National Guard Bureau’s Global Air Mobility Support System Awards, and Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chapman was recognized as the Junior
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.
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.
Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate concluded 28 years of service to the Kentucky National Guard with a retirement ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, April 13.
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.
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.
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
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.
Flooding along the banks of the Ohio River has led officials to cancel this year’s Thunder Over Louisville air show and fireworks display, originally scheduled for April 12 in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
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.
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.
Master Sgt. Jamarrel Johnson has been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2025 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.
Airman 1st Class Annaliese Billings, Tech. Sgt. Philip Trojanowski and Master Sgt. Kevin Woodard will be honored as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2025 Airmen of the Year during the Airman’s Gala to be held at Woodhaven Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky, March 15.
In alignment with Department of Defense Instruction 5400.17 and recent Executive Orders issued by the President, the Kentucky Air National Guard is reviewing its public website content to ensure compliance with DoD policies and priorities. As a result, certain content has been removed or is in the
Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard will perform an aerial demonstration with their C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and parachute into the Ohio River as part of the Thunder Over Louisville air show April 12, 2025.
Airmen and Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard evacuated 296 residents from two housing complexes surrounded by floodwaters in Martin County, Kentucky, on Feb. 17, 2025.
Col. Hans Otto, commander of the 123rd Medical Group, was officially retired during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Dec. 15, ending a military career spanning more than 27 years.
Col. Patricia Adams assumed command of the 123rd Medical Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Dec. 15, succeeding Col. Hans Otto, who has led the unit since 2022.
Twenty-seven Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron teamed with six Ecuadorian Air Force special forces in California recently for a week-long information exchange supporting domestic law enforcement operations.
Dozens of civilian employers spent the day at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 19, 2024, learning about the missions of the 123rd Airlift wing and the jobs their employees perform for the Air Guard as military reservists here when they’re not working at their
The work of a Kentucky Air National Guardsman was instrumental in locating the remains of two U.S. Marines lost in combat over Vietnam a half-century ago.
Thirty-six Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard conducted Operation Arctic Haven in Alaska Aug. 30 to Sept. 6, 2024, airlifting 39 tons of residential building supplies to the North Slope to support local communities in need.
Two Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard have been selected as top performers nationwide in the Contingency Response community, the National Guard Bureau announced recently.
Col. Randall Hood took command of the 123rd Operations Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Oct. 11, 2024, replacing Col. Matthew Quenichet, who has been selected to lead the 123rd Airlift Wing.
Chief Master Sgt. Gregory W. Myers, manager of the 123rd Security Forces Squadron, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Oct. 13, 2024, ending a career spanning 30 years.
Around 100 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group joined more than 50 Soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 359th Inland Cargo Transfer Company to participate in a week-long U.S. Transportation Command exercise in California, successfully revalidating the units’
The Kentucky Air National Guard was among more than 50 military and civic organizations that participated in the annual Veterans Day Parade and massing of the Colors in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 9, 2024.
Col. Matthew Quenichet took charge of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing during a change-of-command ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, Oct. 11, 2024.
The Kentucky Air National Guard deployed 11 Airmen to North Carolina on Oct. 1, 2024, to assist local authorities with the humane recovery of flood casualties in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Lt. Col. Aaron Zamora assumed command of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group in a change-of-command ceremony Aug. 26, 2024, replacing Col. Ryan Adams, who led the unit since 2021.
The 123rd Airlift Wing successfully completed its first major graded inspection in four years during the August Unit Training Assembly, capping a multi-day evaluation that rated its ability to deploy and operate in a contested environment.
Chief Master Sgt. Bradley W. Simms, a loadmaster and senior enlisted leader for the 165th Airlift Squadron, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville, Kentucky, July 20, 2024, concluding a career of more than 27 years.
The Kentucky National Guard hosted Ecuadorian military and civilian officials for a subject matter expert exchange focusing on interagency operations and communications in a domestic operational environment Aug. 5-9.The engagement included various activities and site visits across central Kentucky,
Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Schmidt, fire chief for the 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron’s Fire and Emergency Flight, officially retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, July 19, closing out a career spanning more than 37 years.
The Kentucky National Guard dedicated a state-of-the-art office building in Frankfort, Kentucky, Aug. 13, 2024, to serve as home to Joint Force Headquarters, marking a new era of increased operational capability, officials said.
Lt. Col. Kevin Krauss assumed command of the 123rd Mission Support Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, 2024.
An Airman from the Kentucky Air National Guard recently earned the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for outstanding performance while attending the U.S. Navy’s explosive ordnance disposal school.
More than 200 current and former members of the 123rd Maintenance Group gathered at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, for a cookout and fellowship June 28, 2024.
For the first time, the Kentucky National Guard’s CERF-P trained at Fort Stewart, Georgia, with Region 4’s Homeland Response Force in June, enhancing their ability to respond to radiological disasters while serving the Commonwealth.
The 223rd Intelligence Flight was formally deactivated during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on April 19, 2024.
Chief Master Sgt. Alan M. Peake, maintenance production superintendent for the 123rd Maintenance Squadron, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on April 21, 2024, ending a career spanning 36 years.
June 24, 2024, marks the 232nd birthday of the Kentucky National Guard, which was formed by Gov. Isaac Shelby as one his first official acts in 1792. On Thursday, dozens of Soldiers and Airmen gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, to celebrate the occasion and look back over the past two centuries.
A crew of Kentucky Air National Guardsmen departed for France in May aboard an aircraft emblazoned with distinctive World War II “Invasion Stripes” to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The aircraft, a Kentucky Air Guard C-130J Super Hercules, will fly over France June 6 as part of scheduled D-Day
The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Communications Flight was redesignated a squadron during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 11, following it’s official re-classification in October.
More than 20 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard deployed to Alaska in April, 2024, to airlift 15 tons of home-building materials for housing in the Arctic Circle.
The Ecuadorian Air Force welcomed a C-130H Hercules into its inventory March 25, 2024, during a ceremony attended by leadership from the Kentucky Air National Guard, who were on hand to congratulate their State Partnership Program colleagues on the new capability.
Spectators lined the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, and Southern Indiana on April 20, 2024, for the annual Thunder Over Louisville air show, made possible with support from the Kentucky Air National Guard.
Military aircraft began arriving at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, April 18, 2024, in preparation for the Thunder Over Louisville air show.
Fifty-three members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing supported their European allies Oct. 25 to Nov. 17 as part of the Silver Arrow program, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Fourteen members of the Kentucky Air National Guard cleared roadways in Prospect, Kentucky, April 3, 2024, after tornados touched down across the region.
More than 200 area high school students visited the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on March 14, 2024, to learn about careers at the 123rd Airlift Wing, including military aviation, aircraft maintenance, medical care, logistics, special operations, cyber security, explosive ordnance disposal and
The Kentucky Air Guard public affairs team has again won top awards in the Air National Guard Media Contest, the National Guard Bureau announced Feb. 28, 2024.
Four Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard were honored for outstanding achievement during the National Guard Association of Kentucky’s annual conference in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Feb. 3, 2024.
The Kentucky Air National Guard is once again serving as a key partner in the city’s annual Thunder Over Louisville air show, officials announced Feb. 28, 2024.
Col. Ash Groves was awarded the Legion of Merit during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Dec. 10, 2024, recognizing his superior performance as commander of an aircraft maintenance unit.
Key leaders from the Ecuadorian military met with Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard on Jan. 31, 2024, to tour the 123rd Airlift Wing in Louisville, Ky., and learn more about the wing’s missions. They also spoke with unit members about their roles in supporting U.S. military operations
Senior Airman Ethan Hall, Staff. Sgt. Yuri Motamedi and Master Sgt. Charles Wilding will be honored as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2024 Airmen of the Year during the Airman’s Gala to be held in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 10, 2024.
Master Sgt. Megan Foote of the 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron has been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2024 First Sergeant of the Year.
Security forces Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group completed air base ground defense training with Airmen from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard’s 156th Security Operations Squadron Sept. 16-23, 2023.
The adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard presented the family of U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jack Henry Owen with a posthumous Prisoner of War Medal during a ceremony in Cynthiana, Kentucky, Nov. 13, 2023.
For the 25th time in the past 28 years, public affairs Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard have earned top awards in a national competition.
Two civil engineers from the Kentucky Air National Guard helped their team earn second place in the Air Force Civil Engineer Readiness Challenge, held April 24-28, 2023, at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Chief Master Sgt. Danny L. Gregory, senior enlisted leader for the 165th Airlift Squadron’s Flight Engineer Section, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 9, 2023, ending a career spanning more than 40 years.
More than 700 Gold Star Family members who’ve lost loved ones in military service to the United States gathered at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 5, 2023, as part of Survivor’s Day at the Races.
Four members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron played a key role in Resolute Sentinel 23, a multi-national exercise held in Peru to enhance readiness, cooperation and interoperability between partner nations.
The Kentucky National Guard has been awarded the 2023 Association of the United States Army’s trophy for best National Guard command.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear praised the men and women of the 123rd Airlift Wing for superior performance during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, Oct. 14, 2023, to honor one of the top wings in the U.S. Air Force.
Airmen assigned to the Puerto Rico Air National Guard’s 156th Medical Group, Detachment 1, partnered with the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group, Detachment 1, and the Puerto Rico Army National Guard to conduct a Collective Training Exercise focused on implementing the National Guard
Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron completed mission-ready training designed to promote the development of multi-capable Airmen.
Special Warfare operators across the U.S. Air Force are in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 3-9 to vie for the title of top pararescuemen during the 2023 PJ Rodeo.
Lt. Col. Daniel Dierfeldt, chief of aerospace medicine for the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group, has been named Air National Guard’s Field-Grade Physician of the Year for 2022.
Col. David Flynn retired from the Kentucky Air National Guard during a ceremony at the 123rd Airlift Wing in Louisville, Kentucky, May 20, concluding a distinguished career that spanned more than 28 years.
A 123rd Contingency Response Element from the Kentucky Air National Guard deployed to Wunstorf Air Base, Germany, in June to provide base operations support and cargo distribution for exercise Air Defender 2023.
More than 130 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard arrived in Germany in early June to participate in NATO’s largest-ever multinational air force redeployment exercise, Air Defender 23, joining with more than 10,000 personnel and hundreds of aircraft from 25 partner countries.
Chief Master Sgt. Donald J. Hartman, chief enlisted manager for the 123d Force Support Squadron, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base May 21, 2023, ending a career spanning more than 23 years.
Kentucky Air Guardsman honors grandfather's service legacy in Germany during Air Defender 23.
Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Richards, senior enlisted leader of the 123rd Medical Group, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base May 20, 2023, concluding a career spanning more than 30 years.
Fifty-one retirees of the Kentucky Air National Guard were honored April 22 when a plaque bearing their names was unveiled during a ceremony at the 123rd Airlift Wing.
Airmen assigned to the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group trained on hot-refueling techniques and prepared cargo for a helicopter-borne sling load carry at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., March 23, 2023.The training, conducted jointly with the Kentucky Army
Chief Master Sgt. Scott Andrews retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base April 29, 2023, concluding a career that spanned 35 years of service in the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves.
Nineteen Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron made history near Riverton, Wyoming, April 30 and May 2, 2023, when they facilitated the landing of aircraft on two Wyoming highways for the first time as part of Exercise Agile Chariot.
Chief Master Sgt. David E. Malone, senior enlisted leader of the 123rd Maintenance Group, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 5, 2023, ending a career spanning 35 years.
Col. Shawn Keller assumed command of the 123rd Mission Support Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Jan. 21, 2023, replacing Col. George Imorde, who has been named vice commander of the 123rd Airlift Wing.
This year’s Thunder Over Louisville air show, held April 22 along the banks of the Ohio River, featured more than 20 military and civilian aircraft, including a C-130J Super Hercules from the Kentucky Air National Guard, which served as the base of operations for military planes flying in the show.
Military aircraft began arriving at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base April 19 in advance of the 2023 Thunder Over Louisville air show.
Senior Airman Elijah LaMastus, Master Sgt. Ryan Penne and Master Sgt. Jason Newby have been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2023.
Master Sgt. Joshua Thompson of the 123rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron has been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 2023 First Sergeant of the Year.
Chief Master Sgt. Karl Grugel, senior enlisted leader of the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, concluded 31 years of distinguished military service during a retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base here Dec. 10, 2022.
The two squadrons which comprise the 123rd Contingency Response Group were redesignated during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base here Oct. 15, 2022.
Staff members from Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation spent the day at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 17, 2023, meeting Soldiers and Airmen, and learning about the robust mission capabilities of the Kentucky Guard.
A team of contingency response Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard arrived in the Northern Mariana Islands Feb. 12, 2023, to provide cargo handling and aircraft maintenance services for Cope North, a multinational exercise designed to enhance combat readiness in the South Pacific.
More than 900 Soldiers and Airmen from the Kentucky National Guard attended Leadership Development Day at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 5, 2023.
The Kentucky Air National Gard has completed more than a year of deployments in support of U.S. Air Force missions around the world, sending over 100 Airmen from the 123rd Airlift Wing to 10 countries and five combatant commands between October 2021 and January 2023.
From arctic combat training in Sweden to rescue missions across Eastern Kentucky following historic flooding that claimed more than 40 lives, Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard completed another year of dedicated service to their state, nation and the world in 2022. Some of our favorite
Chief Master Sgt. Michael S. Hager, non-commissioned officer in charge of the 123rd Medical Group’s Detachment 1, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Sept. 10, 2022m ending a career spanning 33 years.
Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Operations Group participated in water survival training at Taylorsville Lake in Spencer County, Ky., Sept. 10, 2022. The annual training refreshes aircrew members on skills learned during U.S. Air Force Survival School.
More than 300 Airmen from five different Air National Guard units completed a week of intensive aircraft maintenance training in Gulfport, Mississippi, Aug. 13-19, 2022, honing proficiencies in a joint field environment while avoiding the distractions of home station.
Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight recently swept a civil engineering competition at the National Guard Bureau, taking home four awards.
Col. Michael A. Cooper concluded his military career with a retirement ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 11, 2022, drawing a close to 30 years of distinguished service.
Col. Hans F. Otto assumed command of the 123rd Medical Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 11, 2022, replacing Col. Michael A. Cooper, who is retiring.
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.
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.
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.
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey L. Wilkinson concluded his military career at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Aug. 13, 2022, drawing an end to 28 years of service that saw him rise through the ranks to become the state’s top Air Guardsman.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Col. J. Fred Ehrman officially retired during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky March 13, 2022, concluding more than 38 years of service to the active-duty Air Force and Kentucky Air Guard.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 2022 Airmen of the Year.
The Thunder Over Louisville air show will return to the banks of the Ohio River April 23 for the first time in three years with a salute to the United States Air Force, organizers announced in Louisville, Kentucky, March 3.
Steve Bullard remembers the morning of Feb. 6, 1992 with perfect clarity. That day, the former Kentucky Air National Guard navigator was pulled off a fatal C-130B Hercules training flight just minutes before takeoff.
The director of the Air National Guard arrived in style at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Jan. 7, landing aboard a new C-130J Super Hercules being delivered from the Lockheed-Martin factory in Marietta, Georgia.
More than 20 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group participated in a unique training exercise here involving members from across the Department of Defense in July.
Thirty-three Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron travelled to Fort Carson, Colorado, May 17 to strengthen their specialized skills during nine days of field exercises.
Three Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard are being highlighted in a new national ad campaign funded by the National Guard Bureau.
Seventeen Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard have completed a 10-day mission to Mayfield, Kentucky, to provide traffic control and security patrols as residents struggle to recover from a Category 4 tornado that carved a 220-mile-long path of destruction across five states Dec. 10 and 11,
The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing has been named the top mobility flying unit in Air National Guard for 2021, officials announced in Louisville, Kentucky, Dec. 5.
Two new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft buzzed over the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 6, 2021, before taxing to stop on the flight line under the spray of water cannons while a crowd of Airmen cheered their dramatic arrival.
Two new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft are being readied in California to join the Kentucky Air National Guard fleet as maintainers apply distinctive artwork to the planes’ exterior paint in preparation for their debut in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 6.
The 123rd Airlift Wing’s recently dedicated Response Forces Facility features new air handling technology that can reduce energy use by up to 36 percent while improving air quality for occupants.
Staff Sgt. Harrison Jenkins, Master Sgt. Jacob Blevins and Master Sgt. Duane Wariner have been selected as the Kentucky Air National Guard’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2021.
The last C-130H aircraft assigned to the 123rd Airlift Wing departed the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 24, 2021, for its new home at the Delaware Air Guard.
More than 40 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard reported to Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 14, 2021, to provide logistical support for medical staff fighting a rising tide of critically ill COVID patients.
With family and colleagues looking on, Col. Ryan Adams assumed command of the 123rd Contingency Response Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 7, 2021.
Airmen from the 123rd Contingency Response Group returned to the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 8 after completing an 18-day mission at Volk Field, Wisconsin, to receive more than 11,000 Afghan evacuees arriving aboard military and civilian aircraft.
More than 40 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard have played a key role in the reception of evacuees arriving at Volk Field, Wisconsin, from Afghanistan since Aug. 22.
Col. Bruce Bancroft assumed command of the 123rd Airlift Wing during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville on Aug. 7, 2021, accepting the wing’s guidon before an audience of more than 50 socially distanced family, friends and fellow Airmen.
The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing received its 19th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 7, 2021, maintaining a lengthy record as the most decorated tactical airlift unit in the U.S. Air Force.
The 123rd Airlift Wing dedicated an $8.9 million building in Louisville, Kentucky, July 30, 2021, to house multiple units that respond to contingencies and disasters around the world.
More than 130 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard completed a week of intensive aircraft maintenance training in Puerto Rico June 12-18, 2021, honing proficiencies in a joint field environment while avoiding the distractions of home station.
The Kentucky National Guard has been working alongside the University of Louisville since March of 2020 in the fight against COVID. On June 20, 2021, a ceremony marked a new milestone when UofL Health closed its drive-thru testing and vaccination site in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate assumed responsibility as state command chief for Joint Force Headquarters—Air, Kentucky National Guard, during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, May 15, 2021.
More than 100 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group joined approximately 50 Soldiers the U.S. Army’s 690th Rapid Port Opening Element to participate in Operation Lone Oak, a U.S. Transportation Command Turbo Distribution exercise held June 7-12, 2021.
A special operations Airman in the Kentucky Air National Guard was awarded the Airman’s Medal in a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, June 12, 2021, for voluntarily risking his own life to save others while responding to a car crash near Louisville on the night of Nov. 16, 2018.
Three members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Maintenance Group visited Latacunga, Ecuador, May 3 to 8, 2021, to provide aircraft maintenance training to the Ecuadorian Air Force as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.
After 24 years of service to the Kentucky Air Guard, Chief Master Sgt. Shaun P. Cecil retired during a ceremony held in the maintenance hangar at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, April 10, 2021.
The Kentucky Air National Guard kicked off the Thunder Over Louisville air show April 17 with a nine-person parachute jump from one of the unit’s aircraft by members of its special tactics squadron.
The Kentucky Air National Guard is slated to open the April 17 Thunder Over Louisville air show with a nine-person parachute jump from one of the unit’s aircraft by members of its special tactics squadron.
The state’s largest drive-through clinic for COVID-19 vaccinations officially opened at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky, today with the help of 35 Airmen and Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard.
Dozens of civil engineers from the Kentucky Air National Guard recently completed six months of construction work helping build a retreat center for veterans in Shepherdsville, Kentucky.
Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard have spent the past five days flying relief supplies into Texas following a winter storm that led to the near-collapse of the electrical grid, leaving millions without heat or water for days.
As health officials across the nation continue to report record infections from COVID-19, more vaccination options are being rolled out in Kentucky, including here at the 123rd Airlift Wing.
The Kentucky National Guard will send approximately 270 personnel to the National Capitol Region this weekend to assist civilian law enforcement with security operations leading up to the Presidential Inauguration on Wednesday.
Public Affairs Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard swept the 2019 National Guard Bureau Media Contest, taking home nine top awards before moving on to earn a first-place trophy at the U.S. Air Force level.
With friends, family and fellow Airmen in the audience, Col. George H. Imorde III assumed command of the 123rd Mission Support Group during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Nov. 14.
The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing will soon receive C-130J Hercules aircraft from the United States Air Force, Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation jointly announced today, Nov. 25.
Walker retires, concluding 35 years of distinguished military service
Kentucky Air Guard medical troops conduct information exchange with Ecuadorian partners
123rd Medical Group and Kentucky Guard Airmen honored for national excellence
Groves appointed chief of staff, promoted to brigadier general
Kentucky Air National Guard concludes operations supporting NATO exercise Ramstein Flag
113th Wing Recognized for Air Defense, Combat Performance
When the mission changed: Airmen remember Sept. 11, 2001
Hawaii Guard, partners build toward expanded HADR exercise during Super Garuda Shield 26
Florida Air National Guard successfully trains new recruits
Green Mountain Boys Return Home
FVEY A4 Collaboration Forum synchronizes global allied logistics at Scott AFB
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