July 27, 2026 Groves appointed chief of staff, promoted to brigadier general 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.
July 1, 2026 Kentucky Air National Guard concludes operations supporting NATO exercise Ramstein Flag 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.
June 9, 2026 U.S. Air National Guard Airlift Wing from Kentucky Supporting Large-Scale NATO Exercise 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.
May 8, 2026 New plaque recognizes latest retirees at Kentucky Air Guard 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.
April 24, 2026 Mayor, city council recognize Air Guard firefighters for plane crash response 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
April 16, 2026 Aircraft arrive at Kentucky Air National Guard Base for Thunder air show 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.
April 14, 2026 Ecuadorian military team visits Kentucky Guard to share disaster-response techniques 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.
April 10, 2026 Kentucky Air Guard firefighters honored for civilian plane-crash response 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.
March 31, 2026 Guard Airmen earn Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal for life-saving actions 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.
March 25, 2026 Kentucky Air Guard honors top Airmen 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.