EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — Col. Brian Kile assumed command of the 168th Wing Operations Group, Alaska Air National Guard, from Col. Richard Adams during a change of command ceremony here Oct. 19. Col. Bryan White, 168th Wing commander, was the presiding officer.
Kile assumed command of the group after serving as director of operations of joint staff at Joint Force Headquarters, Alaska National Guard, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. He was responsible for providing direct oversight of more than 4,000 personnel in two Air National Guard wings and two Army Guard brigades during domestic operations events.
Kile enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1990 as a loadmaster with the 210th Rescue Squadron before being selected into the undergraduate pilot training program in 1998 when he transitioned into the officer corps.
“You are the perfect person at this moment to take over this group and carry out the mission,” said Adams, the relinquishing commander of the 168th Operations Group and the new 168th Wing commander.
Amongst many accomplishments, Kile has held numerous leadership positions throughout his career and flew over 600 hours on 139 Rescue Coordination Center missions, resulting in 158 combat saves.
“What my biography doesn’t read is that I am a football coach,” Kile said. “This is very similar to my leadership style. I am a coach first, especially when it comes to carrying out our no-fail mission.”
Kile asked the group to trust he will make decisions with the best intentions and that he will ‘go to bat’ for his new team.
During the ceremony, Kile thanked his family for their continued support as he moves forward in his career.
“I am loyal to Alaska, the National Guard, and as your leader I will be loyal to you,” Kile said.