Colonel Steven Westgate of Savannah, a 35-year veteran of the Georgia Air National Guard and former commander of Savannah's 165th Airlift Wing has been appointed Chief of Staff of the 3,300-member Georgia Air National Guard. The announcement was made in September by Brigadier General Scott A. Hammond, Commander of the Georgia Air National Guard.
Col Westgate, a 35-year veteran of the Georgia Air National Guard, enlisted in the 165th in 1969 and received a direct commission to Second Lieutenant. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Williams AFB, AZ, graduating in 1970.
Returning to Savannah, Westgate was assigned the 158th Military Airlift Squadron and participated in numerous missions into Southwest Asia. He is currently a Command Pilot with more than 8,000 flying hours in the T-41, T-38, T-37, C-124 and C-130.
In his civilian occupation, Col Westgate is the Air Commander for the 165th Air Technicians Detachment supervising the day-to-day worldwide operations of the Savannah unit.
Col Westgate recently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as Deputy Director of Mobility Forces where he coordinated the complex air mobility operations for personnel and equipment throughout the Iraqi and Afghanistan theaters of operation.
A highly decorated Air Force officer, Westgate holds the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award among others.
As Chief of Staff of the Georgia Air National Guard, Westgate will manage the day-to-day activities of nine Air National Guard units throughout the state.
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