New Air Guard director promoted in Pentagon ceremony

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III became director of the Air National Guard and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in a ceremony held Feb. 2 at the Pentagon.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, pinned General Wyatt's three stars on his shoulders and congratulated him on his new position.

General Wyatt, who previously served as the adjutant general of the Oklahoma National Guard, was nominated in December by then President George W. Bush to the U.S. Senate for confirmation as the director of the Air National Guard. General Wyatt succeeds General McKinley, who served as the Air Guard's director for more than two years until becoming chief on Nov. 17, 2008.

In this position, General Wyatt will be responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans and programs affecting more than 106,800 Air Guard members in more than 88 flying wings and 200 geographically separated units throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

"This is a special day for members of the Air National Guard," General McKinley said.

He added that among the current adjutants general, General Wyatt was often the go-to person on many issues affecting the Air Guard.

General Wyatt, who also served as commander of the 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa and as the Oklahoma Guard's chief of staff for its Joint Force Headquarters. He entered the Air Force in 1971 and has flown aircraft such as the F-100 Super Sabre and the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

"I'm actually just Bud from Oklahoma," he said after receiving his third star. "I'm humbled to be here, and ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work."