West Virginia Air National Guard Story Archives - Page 2 of 2

W.Va. National Guard Names First African-American General

For the first time, an African-American now holds the title of general in the West Virginia National Guard. The Guard hosted a ceremony to mark the milestone on Saturday.

Col. Christopher S. Walker, Chief of Staff for the West Virginia Air National Guard, was recently promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

Walker is the first African-American service member to be promoted to this rank in the West Virginia National Guard.

Maj. Gen. James Hoyer led the ceremony saying Walker was selected because of his experience and his leadership abilities.

Walker began his military career after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988. After nine years as a C-130 navigator, he left active duty and joined the West Virginia Air National Guard at the 167th Airlift Wing. There, he served almost a decade as a navigator as well as other titles including commander of the 167th Operations Support Squadron.

Walker has held several other positions and operations on bases in Maryland, Connecticut, and Virginia – as well as overseas in Qatar and Iraq.

Walker assumed the role of Chief of Staff for the West Virginia Air National Guard in Dec. 2016.

West Virginia Guard Unit Flying to Puerto Rico

The West Virginia Air National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing has sent a transport plane and crew from Charleston to support relief efforts in storm-damaged Puerto Rico.

According to the Air National Guard, the C-130 Hercules plane is transporting equipment from New York to Georgia before departing for the Caribbean island on Thursday.

Col. Randy Huffman, vice wing commander of the 130th Airlift Wing, says they’re helping in the efforts for American citizens in desperate need.

Additionally, the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg is also transporting supplies and has airmen in Puerto Rico and Georgia helping with airfield operations.

The U.S. territory’s governor said Tuesday the official death toll from Hurricane Maria increased to 34.

Gov. Ricardo Rossello also said he believes the hurricane that struck on Sept. 20 with winds over 150 mph caused $90 billion in damage across the island.

West Virginia National Guard to Monitor Election Systems

West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner says his office is partnering with the West Virginia Air National Guard to protect state election systems from potential computer threats.

Warner says in a news release that a National Guard member specializing in cyber systems operations will join the daily operations of the Secretary of State’s Office to assess elections systems and monitor computer security.

Warner says his office will use every resource available to protect the democratic process, protect voters’ private information and ensure voting accuracy.

He says the partnership “should ease the minds of West Virginians that share in the concerns of foreign or domestic cyber interference of our elections process.”

W.Va. Environmental Agency Chief Leaving Post

West Virginia’s top environmental official says he’s leaving the post to take a full-time job with the Air National Guard.

Randy Huffman has been environmental protection secretary since May 2008, appointed by then-Gov. Joe Manchin after more than three years as deputy secretary and director of the department’s Mining Division.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that Huffman, who has been a colonel and Supply Group commander in the National Guard, will become a vice wing commander with the 130th Airlift Wing, based at Yeager Airport.

Huffman previously worked in the department’s Abandoned Mine Lands Program, the Division of Water and Waste Management, the Office of Administration and the Mining Division.

Gov.-elect Jim Justice has begun naming members of his Cabinet. He takes office in January.