ANCHORAGE AIR GUARD WING GETS NEW COMMANDER

Photo By Maj. John Callahan | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Col. Darrin E. Slaten (right), the new commander of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing, receives the wing's command flag from Brig. General Karen E. Mansfield, commander of the Alaska Air National Guard, in a ceremony here March 3, 2018. A former rescue helicopter pilot with the wing's 210th Rescue Squadron, Slaten also served as commander of the wing's Operations Group from 2014-2015. He returns to serve as commander of one of America's largest and busiest Air Guard wings. National Guard photo by Maj. John Callahan.  

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, UNITED STATES

03.03.2018

Story by Maj. John Callahan 

176th Wing

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - One of the nation's largest and busiest Air National Guard wings has a new leader.

The 176th Wing, based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, welcomed their new commander, Col. Darrin E. Slaten, before a full assembly here March 3.

It is Slaten's third stint with the wing. Originally an Army pilot, he joined the Alaska Air National Guard from 1999-2009 as a helicopter pilot with the wing's famed 210th Rescue Squadron. He was with the wing again from 2014-2015 to lead the wing's 176th Operations Group.

Since 2015 Slaten has been serving at the national level at National Guard Bureau headquarters in Washington, D.C. As commander of the 176th Wing, Col. Slaten will be responsible for wing's 1,500 members and their ongoing missions.

"It is tremendously gratifying to return to Alaska to serve with the men and women of the 176th Wing," Slaten said. "My priority will be to ensure that the Airmen are ready and able to meet America's needs, whether here in Alaska or anywhere in the world."

• Date Taken: 03.03.2018
• Date Posted: 03.03.2018 19:41
• Story ID: 268024
• Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US