Photo By Capt. Cody Stagner | U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Bruce Bancroft, Kentucky’s assistant adjutant general for...... read more read more
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Senior leaders from the Kentucky National Guard met at Kentucky State University for a three-day off-site conference Dec. 1–3, 2025, focused on leadership, readiness and organizational alignment.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton opened the conference by emphasizing the importance of unified leadership amid growing operational demands.
“We’re performing well as an organization, but we can’t settle for ‘good enough,’” said Lamberton. “Our mission demands constant improvement—better training, better leadership and smarter use of our resources. We need to keep our Soldiers and Airmen ready, retain our people, both in uniform and in our civilian force, and be good stewards of the funding we’re entrusted with. Kentuckians expect us to be ready on their worst day, and that requires us to move from good to great.”
Hosted by retired Brig. Gen. Steve King, Chief of Staff of the Kentucky Army National Guard, the event brought senior leaders together to review upcoming training events and opportunities, resource requirements, and leadership development.
Discussions centered on current mission requirements; including training for large-scale combat operations and an overview of the National Guard Reaction Force, which has been available to governors, Congress, and the president during emergencies for about 20-years. Together, these priorities reflected the KYNG’s continued focus on maintaining readiness for both federal missions and state domestic response.
Guest speakers addressed the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the ethical and operational implications of artificial intelligence and current military perspectives from Europe. Leaders also took part in breakout sessions to analyze challenges and identify ways to strengthen readiness across the force.
The event concluded with an infrastructure tour of the Frankfort Plant Board Water Treatment Facility.
“Seeing the facility firsthand helped us understand how critical these systems are,” said Col. Kevin Jones, G6. “In any emergency—whether cyber-related, a natural disaster or a security issue—the Guard could be called to support or protect infrastructure like this. Having that perspective during the conference made the discussions on readiness and response even more meaningful.”
Brig. Gen. Brian Wertzler, deputy adjutant general, highlighted the value of the conference in sharpening senior leader focus.
“These discussions ensure we stay aligned, anticipate requirements and keep readiness at the highest level,” said Wertzler. “Kentuckians count on us—during disasters, deployments, and every crisis in between. Our preparation today ensures we are ready tomorrow.”
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| Date Taken: | 12.09.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2025 15:10 |
| Story ID: | 553472 |
| Location: | FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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