HAMPTON, Va. –
Virginia Army and Air National Guard senior leaders welcomed distinguished visitors from the Finnish Defense Forces Dec. 11, 20205, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, and at the VNG Sgt. Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.
The 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, welcomed Maj. Gen. Sami Nurmi, the Finnish Defense Forces Chief of Staff for Strategy, and other officers to Langley. There, they met with Col. Matthew Hummel and Chief Master Sgt. Sean Fretwell, the 192nd Wing deputy commander and command chief.
During the visit, the FDF members were briefed about the VaANG’s federal and state missions at the 192nd Wing headquarters. They also discussed future opportunities for joint exercises between the wing and Finland. Nurmi also toured the 185th COS facility and were briefed by Habecker and Maj. Alyssa Legg, 185th COS director of operations, about the mission capabilities for mobilization and cyber integration with Finland.
Col. Matthew Hummel, 192nd Wing deputy commander, Chief Master Sgt. Sean Fretwell, 192nd Wing command chief, Col. Timothy Strouse, 192nd Maintenance Group commander, Lt. Col. Matthew Woodfield, 192nd Operations Group commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Andrew Habecker, 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron senior enlisted leader.
During the visit, the FDF members were briefed about the VaANG’s federal and state missions at the 192nd Wing headquarters. They also discussed future opportunities for joint exercises between the wing and Finland. Nurmi also toured the 185th COS facility and were briefed by Habecker and Maj. Alyssa Legg, 185th COS director of operations, about the mission capabilities for mobilization and cyber integration with Finland.
The visit with the VaANG concluded with a tour of Langley’s flightline and a viewing of the F-22 Raptors in flight. A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter picked up the Finnish Defense Forces members for departure to the Virginia National Guard’s Bob Slaughter Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.
The Virginia National Guard established a formal partnership with Finland in May 2024 as part of the U.S. National Guard’s State Partnership Program. The partnership was initiated to combine air operations and interoperability defense including defense against cyber threats, information and intelligence operations, combined land forces capability, military assistance and support for disaster operations, and special operations training.