Correction: Maj. Gen. Mark Berry passed the Air National Guard colors to Brig. Gen. James K. Vogel during a change of command ceremony Saturday in Jacksonville. The caption of a photograph from the ceremony with this story misidentified Berry.
In a hangar at Little Rock Air Force Base, Brig. Gen. James Vogel stood center stage, looking out over several hundred Air National Guardsmen gathered to see the new commander receive the colors.
In the assumption-of-command ceremony Saturday at the base in Jacksonville, Maj. Gen. Mark Berry, the adjutant general of the state Guard unit, handed Vogel the Air Force flag and with it, the responsibility of leading the state's 2,000 Air National Guardsmen.
"This is truly an exciting day for the Arkansas National Guard," Berry said. "Vogel has the most passion for the National Guard I've seen in years."
Berry said he is excited to see Vogel lead a move toward modernizing training techniques and cyber-protection missions.
"I'm proud to say that I have completed my team here," Berry said. "[Vogel] was my No. 1 draft pick."
Vogel will command six subordinate units, including the 188th Wing at Fort Smith, a unit currently transferring to a new intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission with remotely piloted aircraft or drones. He also will oversee the 189th Airlift Wing's training of airmen from across the nation on C-130H models. Public-affairs officer Lt. Col. Keith Moore said Vogel will lead a push toward training on newer C-130J models, which have the newest technology advancements.
Also under his command is the 154th Weather Flight unit in addition to a marksmanship training unit and a civil support team at Camp Robinson.
Vogel was commissioned in 1985 after graduating from the University of Cincinnati. He's logged more than 2,700 hours of flying time, including operations in Panama, Iraq and Bosnia.
Previously leading the National Guard Bureau's legislative liaison office at the Pentagon, Vogel now will serve as the principal adviser to the adjutant general on Air National Guard matters, in addition to commanding the state unit. Berry and Moore said Vogel's legislative experience and relationships will benefit the state's guardsmen.
Vogel succeeds Brig. Gen. Travis Balch, who retired Friday after four years as commander. Balch began as an instructor with the 189th Airlift Wing in 1986, moving up to become the Airlift Wing's commander and then the Arkansas Air National Guard's chief of staff. The 58-year-old said he will enjoy retirement by spending time with his wife on their 127-acre farm in Naylor, northeast of Conway.
Standing on stage with a C-130 as a backdrop, Vogel led the rows of guardsmen in singing the Air Force anthem. After the first verse, Vogel's eyes went to his 4-year-old son, Brody, and his wife, Col. April Vogel, in the front row. His priorities in life are "the good Lord, family and work," he said, and he described his co-workers and fellow guardsmen as an extension of his family.
"From the bottom of my heart, it is such an honor for myself and my family to become a part of the Arkansas family," he said. "I look forward to taking the Arkansas National Guard to the next level. The future here is bright -- it's brilliant."
After the ceremony, Brody ran to his father, handed him a melted Twix bar, looked up and smiled.
"Congratulations, Daddy," he said before running off to climb the steps of the C-130.
Metro on 06/07/2015