Photo By Sgt. 1st Class April Davis | Brig. Gen. Donna M. Prigmore, incoming commander of the Oregon Air National Guard,...... read more read more
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SALEM, Oregon – Oregon Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Donna M. Prigmore assumed command of the Oregon National Guard’s Air Component during a change of command ceremony, Jan. 5, 2019, at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon. She succeeds Brig. Gen. James R. Kriesel who is scheduled to deploy in support of joint operations in Africa.
Prigmore is the first woman to command the Oregon Air National Guard (ORANG). In her new role as the Air Component Commander, she will be responsible for more than 2,400 military and civilian personnel who support the operational effectiveness and mission readiness of the two Oregon-based fighter wings, the 173rd FW in Klamath Falls and the 142nd FW in Portland.
Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, presided over the change of command ceremony. He highlighted Prigmore’s background, noting her knowledge and experience working in both wings, which make her an ideal candidate for the current mission challenges.
Prigmore was keenly aware of the opportunity to lead the state at this critical juncture in the ORANG’s nearly 80-year history as she addressed those in attendance.
“I assume this trusted position with enthusiasm, gratitude, eagerness, but most important of all, with great humility,” Prigmore said. “To the men and women of the Oregon Air Guard, let me convey that as your next leader, as an organization, we will continue to say focused on the future.”
Part of that future will involve looking toward the next generation of aircraft that will supersede the F-15 Eagles flown at both fighter wings. It also involves developing cyber capabilities and growing opportunities with other institutions. With her vast experience and working in the community, Prigmore hopes to leverage added potential for the Oregon Air National Guard.
“Expanding our partnerships with organizations like the FBI, the Oregon Fusion Center, Bonneville Power Administration, and the Oregon Technology Institute…just to name a few,” Prigmore said.
When she began her military career in 1982, Prigmore first enlisted to serve on active duty in the Air Force as an electronic technician. Subsequently, after four years on active duty, she joined the Arizona Air National Guard and in 1990 and obtained her officer commission from the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Additional assignments eventually took her to Oklahoma with the 137th Air Lift Wing, serving as a cost analysis officer and later to the 176th Wing in Alaska, first as the services flight commander and then chief of public affairs. Her proficiency and comprehensive work background eventually brought her to Salem, Oregon, in 2002, at Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs.
She has more than 12 years of command experience and has served as the vice commander for both the 173rd and 142nd Fighter Wings. Prigmore served one-year as the executive officer for the vice chief of staff National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C. Then most recently in August 2018, she was promoted to her current rank and became the Oregon National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General – Air. In her civilian career, she is the senior manager, Passenger Terminal Experience at the Port of Portland.
While looking toward the future, Prigmore acknowledged the vital importance of the current dual missions engaged at both Klamath Falls and Portland.
“Oregon is prime real estate for fighter pilot training. We have the best air training space in the country. It also comes with the responsibility for the 142nd Fighter Wing and the aerospace control alert mission,” she noted while describing the large fleet of F-15’s assigned at the 173rd FW, the only F-15 schoolhouse in the country, and at the 142nd FW in Portland for critical NORAD operations.
“The downside during today’s change of command is losing someone with over 28 years of experience,” Stencel said, as he described Kriesel’s contributions to the Oregon Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. “He has been on multiple deployments and has served both with the 173rd Operations Group before he lead the Air National Guard here in Oregon.”
In his outgoing remarks, Kriesel described the challenges that every Airman must be ready to train towards and continually embrace.
“What is the future? Without question, state and federal mission requirements are not slowing down and global varsity-level challenges will continue – it is imperative that resilient Airmen continue to be fit, deployable and can establish trusted partnerships with our coalition partners.”
| Date Taken: | 01.05.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.09.2019 14:06 |
| Story ID: | 306537 |
| Location: | SALEM, OREGON, US |
| Web Views: | 198 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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