Virginia National Guard

CMSgt Lawanda Jackson makes VaANG history as the first Black woman to achieve the rank
September 22, 2021 — The Virginia Air National Guard has had its share of women trailblazers. Betty J. McDaniel, first woman to enlist. Rebecca A. Sisson and Mary Rebkovich, first female officers. And, Toni M. Lord, is the first woman to serve as Air Component Commander for the Virginia National Guard. These are just some of the women who have had a lasting effect on the VaANG and paved the way for future generations... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Lawanda Jackson, 192nd Support Squadron Mobility Flight chief, addresses the audience in attendance at her promotion ceremony on July 10, 20221, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. She was the first Black woman to be promoted to chief in the history of the Virginia Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Eugene Silvers)

Sending off the Bats! - the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron supports USCYBERCOM
September 17, 2021 — Virginia Air National Guard members from the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron have embarked on a six-month mobilization this month in support of United States Cyber Command’s 856th Cyber Protection Team. The Airmen celebrated their upcoming mission with family and command leadership during send-off ceremonies in August 2021 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia... MORE

Virginia Air National Guard members from the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron ceremoniously removed their 185th COS bat patch, replacing it with the 856th Cyber Protection Team patch during send-off ceremonies Aug. 7, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

Airman jumps into action using deployment training, resuscitates drowning child
September 12, 2021 — Situations can change in an instant. We’ve all heard that before. But for Master Sgt. Keona Newsom, a commander’s support staff noncommissioned officer in charge with the 192nd Operations Group, it was never more true than on July 27, 2021... MORE

Master Sgt. Keona Newsom, 192nd Operations Group commander’s support staff noncommissioned officer in charge, is sitting down and smiling for a photo.

Airmen remember 20th Anniversary of 9/11 with 20K
September 11, 2021 — In the pre-dawn hours of Sept. 11, 2021, approximately 40 Airmen assigned to the 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, gathered to remember the events of September 11th, 2001, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. In teams of up to four Airmen, or individually, they walked or ran a combined distance of 20 kilometers in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the attack on the United States... MORE

A group of Airmen walk and run outside in an event.

Yang takes command of the 192nd MDG as Price retires
August 31, 2021 — The 192nd Medical Group, Virginia Air National Guard, held a joint change of command and retirement ceremony Aug. 7, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Col. Frank Y. Yang took command of the group from Col. Jason R. Price who then retired from the VaANG... MORE

Col. Christopher G. Batterton, 192nd Wing commander, left, passes the 192nd Medical Group guidon to Col. Frank Y. Yang marking his assumption of command for the group.

192nd Mission Support Group recognizes new commander
August 8, 2021 — The 192nd Mission Support Group welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony July 10, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Col. J. Stock Dinsmore relinquished command of the 192nd MSG to Col. David R. Lands. Dinsmore served as the MSG commander from December 2017 to July 2021... MORE

ceremony, mission support group, 192nd Wing, Virginia, air national guard

192nd Maintenance Squadron holds assumption of command
July 22, 2021 — The Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Maintenance Squadron gained a new commander, Lt. Col. Elim H. Sniady, during an assumption of command ceremony July 11, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia... MORE

The 192nd Maintenance Squadron holds an assumption of command ceremony July 11, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Lt. Col. Elim H. Sniady assumed command of the squadron after serving as Air National Guard Combat Forces advisor.

Virginia Air National Guard engineers return from Southwest Asia
May 7, 2021 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than 100 Virginia Air National Guard engineers reunited with family, friends and fellow Airmen May 5, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, after serving on federal active duty in Southwest Asia since October 2020. Virginia National Guard senior leaders were also on hand to thank them for their service and welcome them home. Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, or RED HORSE, were responsible for 15 engineer projects in six countries in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel... MORE

VaANG maintainers rebuild F-22 Raptor after collapse on JBLE flight line
May 1, 2021 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- For the first time in his more than 20 year career, Master Sgt. Christopher Plath held his breath and felt the intense pressure during the take off and landing of F-22 tail #85 on April 9, 2021. As a flight chief in the 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Plath stayed quietly in command of his exclusive team of Virginia Air National Guard maintainers, advising them to stay focused even while a crowd of onlookers started to gather on the Langley flight line in hopes of witnessing the end result of what Plath said were long, tireless hours. ... MORE

An F-22 crew chief watches on as the pilot prepares to take flight in the aircraft.

Here to stay: 192nd Wing celebrates first dedicated HQ facility at JBLE
April 8, 2021 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — The Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Wing celebrated the opening of its first dedicated headquarters facility on the Hampton installation with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 31, 2021... MORE

U.S. military leaders cutting a ribbon during a ceremony

VaANG breaks ground on its first MILCON project since relocation to JBLE
April 6, 2021 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va - Virginia National Guard leaders welcomed community representatives to the installation in Hampton on March 31, 2021, to celebrate the 192nd Wing’s first military construction project since its move from Sandston in 2007. U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, Adjutant General of Virginia Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams and 192nd Wing Commander Col. Christopher Batterton each grabbed a shovel to ceremoniously break ground on what is to become a permanent headquarters facility for the unit’s 185th Cyber Operations Squadron... MORE

Three men wearing hard hats ceremoniously turn dirt during a ground breaking ceremony

192nd Medical Group, Det. 1, welcomes new commander to lead transition to COVID-19 vaccination mission, CBRNE evaluation
March 16, 2021 — The Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Medical Group, Detachment 1, welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony March 13, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. VaANG members, family and friends tuned into the ceremony via a live streamed broadcast on social media as Lt. Col. Lynn K. Samms assumed command of the specialized medical unit from Lt. Col. Gregory Chew. Col. Jason R. Price, 192nd MDG commander, presided over the ceremony... MORE

An airman hands a flag to another during a change of command ceremony

203rd RED HORSE honors its fallen on tragedy’s 20th anniversary
March 5, 2021 — Airmen from the 192nd Wing’s 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) came together March 3, 2021, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of what's known as the worst peacetime aviation disaster in National Guard history and the worst loss of life in the Virginia National Guard since World War II. ... MORE

An honor guard Airman lays a wreath in front of a memorial

Virginia Air National Guard recognizes its state, national-level winners in virtual ceremony
February 24, 2021 — Leaders from the Virginia Air National Guard recognized the organization’s top performers of the year during an annual awards ceremony Feb. 20, 2021... MORE

Airman stop to receive their awards during a ceremony

Through trauma, 192nd Wing Airman works to end bullying, boost confidence in children
February 10, 2021 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.— The year was 2018 when Rebecca Adams was crushed by the news her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Adams has no siblings, and her mother raised her as a single parent in Portsmouth, Virginia. Needless to say, their relationship could be described as nothing less than “very close.” In 2019, the two celebrated receiving college degrees together, in the same month!... MORE

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