News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Hokanson confirmed as NGB chief
July 21, 2020 — WASHINGTON – Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Hokanson was confirmed Monday as the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau by the U.S. Senate.Hokanson, who also will be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be promoted to four-star general, the highest-ranking officer in the nation's oldest military force.The Senate action follows Hokanson's June 18... MORE

Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Hokanson testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services at a confirmation hearing for his appointment to the grade of general and to be chief of the National Guard Bureau, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., June 18, 2020. Hokanson was confirmed by the Senate July 20, 2020.

First airborne ISR operator who enlisted as a 1A8X2 becomes senior noncommissioned officer
July 10, 2020 — Last month, the 306th Intelligence Squadron hosted a virtual promotion ceremony for Master Sgt. D. Cody Kaglic, 306th IS flight chief of standardization and evaluations. The occasion marked the first time in U.S. Air Force history that an Airman who enlisted day one as an Air Force Specialty Code 1A8X2 became a senior NCO, said Senior Master Sgt. T. Kearny Vertner, 306th IS superintendent... MORE

Oklahoma governor names Oklahoma Air National Guardsmen as state commissioner of health
July 10, 2020 — Air National Guardsman Col. Lance Frye, Oklahoma National Guard State Air Surgeon, was named as Oklahoma’s interim commissioner of health by Gov. Kevin Stitt, May 22, 2020.As the state air surgeon, Frye is the Oklahoma Air National Guard's senior medical officer and advisor to the Adjutant General. He is responsible for all medical matters in the... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard air traffic controllers receive send-off at deployment ceremony
July 10, 2020 — Oklahoma National Guard air traffic controllers receive send-off at deployment ceremonyBy Staff Sgt. Brian SchroederOklahoma National Guard Public AffairsMOORE, Oklahoma - Friends, family members and fellow Oklahoma National Guardsmen gathered for a departure ceremony for a small contingency of Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers July 1 at... MORE

Oklahoma Guardsman uses skills to help community
July 7, 2020 — Oklahoma Army and Air National Guardsmen, like all Guardsmen, serve on two fronts: one at home and one overseas. For many of those Guardsmen, the Guard’s current part in Oklahoma’s whole-of-government response to COVID-19 is their first state activation here at home. Oklahoma Air National Guard Senior Airman Kaleb Peckham, a water and fuels systems maintainer with the 137th Special Operations Civil Engineering Squadron, is one of them. He worked for weeks at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City before transitioning to other needed tasks within the state... MORE

Oklahoma Air National Guard Senior Airman Kaleb Peckham, a water and fuels systems maintainer with the 137th Special Operations Civil Engineering Squadron, poses for a photo at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, April 24, 2020. He worked for weeks at the Food Bank before transitioning to other needed tasks within Oklahoma during the state's whole-of-government response to COVID-19. (Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Martin)

Perseverance during trying times turns Liberian into ANG Captain
July 7, 2020 — A journey that began in Liberia as the president of his seventh grade class led to fleeing the country during a civil war and ultimately becoming an officer in the Oklahoma Air National Guard is one of perseverance and determination. This journey is the life of Capt. Robert S. Gaygay, 138th Medical Group preventative health assessment officer in charge, who attributes his success in life to God’s blessing first; followed by his tenacity, humility and positive attitude, which he realizes has been the platform for who he is today. ... MORE

Capt. Robert Gaygay, 138th Medical Group, speaks with Airmen at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, April 23, 2020. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, 25 Airmen from the 138th FW are working with the Tulsa Food Bank to provide support including receiving, packing and transporting food, as well as completing inventory food bank supplies. (Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

Video by Sgt. Haden Tolbert

Oklahoma Army National Guard hosts Best Warrior

Oklahoma National Guard

Nov. 9, 2024 | 1:30

Sixteen Soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard competed in the 2025 OKARNG Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Nov. 6-8, 2024.

At the conclusion of the competition, Spc. Juan Lopez, a resident of Stillwater, Oklahoma assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team as a signal operations support specialist, won the title of Soldier of the Year, while Sgt. James Bording, a resident of Claremore, Oklahoma assigned to the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th IBCT as an infantryman, was awarded the title of Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. (Oklahoma National Guard Video by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

CG:
00:23:15
Command Sgt. Maj. John Hernandez
Command Sgt. Maj. for Oklahoma

00:38:14
Spc. Juan Lopez
2025 Soldier of the Year

00:46:23
Sgt. James Bording
2025 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year