MANSFIELD — The first woman has been chosen to lead the Ohio Air National Guard 179th Airlift Wing.
On Tuesday morning it was announced that Colonel Allison Miller has become the first woman to lead air wing operations in Ohio. She will officially take command of Mansfield’s Airlift Wing during a ceremony on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Lahm Air National Guard Base.
Miller will replace Col. James Camp, who was promoted on Dec. 29 to the Ohio Assistant Adjutant General for Air.
According to a press release issued by Ohio Adjutant General Mark E. Bartman, Miller is assigned as Director of Safety, Air National Guard. She is responsible for managing all ANG Ground, Flight, Weapons, and Space Safety programs for 90 flying and mission support units encompassing over 105,700 members.
“It is a true honor to be given the opportunity to work alongside the incredible men and women of the 179th Airlift Wing, who are known worldwide as professionals in all they do and are the epitome of our core values — integrity, service and excellence,” Miller said. “Our Air National Guard Airmen are our greatest asset and truly a family.
“I look forward to helping each 179th Airman advance personally and professionally to ensure undeniable mission success with the continued excellence, passion and dedication to which they already serve.”
The decorated pilot and 20-year veteran will command 1,100 airmen of the 179th, which flies the C-130H Hercules to provide tactical airlift capabilities to bother domestic and expeditionary missions.
“Colonel Miller has had an exceptionally distinguished career over the past 20 years — starting out at the top as a distinguished graduate at the Academy of Military Science, graduating third in her undergraduate pilot training class, earning the highest academic honors from Air Command and Staff College, and supporting numerous deployments with more than 400 combat hours flying over Iraq and Afghanistan,” Bartman said. “Colonel Miller is as ready as any Airman to fulfill the duties of wing command, and the men and women of the 179th Airlift Wing will be excited to welcome her to Ohio,” said Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio adjutant general.”
Miller began her military career in 1996 when she joined the Alabama Air National Guard. As the director of safety for the Air National Guard, she is responsible for managing all ground, flight, weapons, and space safety programs for 90 flying and mission support units encompassing more than 105,700 Air National Guard members nationwide.
“Safety isn’t simply a topic, it is who we are and it impacts everything we do. Allison Miller was a natural pick to lead the safety directorate at the Air National Guard headquarters level and her record of achievement is proof that it was the right decision,” said Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, director of the Air National Guard. “The 179th Airlift Wing is getting a great commander and I look forward to watching her continued success.”
Brigadier Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, commander of the Air National Guard Readiness Center, also commented about Miller’s selection.
“As the director of safety, Col. Miller has had a tremendously positive impact by reducing mishaps and fostering a culture of safety across the Air National Guard,” Nordhaus said. “Colonel Miller will lead with distinction and continue the great tradition of the 179 AW.”
Miller has served in Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn and Inherent Resolve. She earned her bachelor’s degree in aviation management and flight in 1993 from Auburn University in Alabama and a master’s of military operational art and science in 2013.
The Ohio National Guard has more than 16,000 personnel and is the nation’s fourth-largest National Guard. The Ohio National Guard responds with ready units and personnel when called for federal, state and community missions, and is an operational reserve of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.
