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"Texans Serving Texas"

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

Texas Air National Guard Welcomes New Commander

AUSTIN, Texas (Jan. 28, 2016) – Members of the Texas Air National Guard officially welcomed Brig. Gen. David M. McMinn to his new role as the Commander of the Texas Air National Guard during a change of command ceremony, at Camp Mabry, in Austin, Texas, Jan. 23, 2016.

McMinn, who most recently served as the Chief of Staff for the TXANG, assumed the reins from Maj. Gen. Kenneth W. Wisian, who retired from the Texas Military Department after more than 32 years of service. Humbled by the appointment, McMinn thanked the Adjutant General of Texas for emplacing the trust in him to take over the position.

“From the time I joined the Texas Air National Guard, in 1992,” McMinn said, “from that moment, I always felt I owed the Texas Air Guard more than it could ever owe me. I still feel that today. I’m as charged up and excited about doing great things for the people of Texas, and for the people within the National Guard of Texas than I ever have been.”

McMinn received his commission upon graduation from Clemson University in 1985, completed Undergraduate Pilot Training and was assigned to Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina as a C-130E pilot in 1986. While there, McMinn specialized in Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System Tactical Air Delivery and Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System formation flying.

After serving during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, McMinn transferred to the TXANG and joined the 136th Airlift Wing, based in Fort Worth, as an instructor pilot and later served as the 321st Expeditionary Operations Group Commander during operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. He also served as the Operations Group, Vice Wing and Wing Commander in the 136th Airlift Wing. As a traditional Guardsman, McMinn gained over 5,000 flying hours both in his role as a command pilot in the T-37, T-38, C-130E and C-130H2 aircraft and as a captain for a major commercial airline.

As Commander of the TXANG, McMinn commands more than 3,000 service members and oversees TXANG operations, training, readiness and resource allocation for both state and federal missions.

The appointment follows the recent announcement regarding the retirement of Maj. Gen. Kenneth W. Wisian, Deputy Adjutant General-Air and Commander of the TXANG. He now serves as director of the Coastal Protection division of the office of the Texas General Land Office.

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The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.

The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor. The Texas Military Department includes the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG), the Texas State Guard (TXSG) and the Domestic Operations Command (DOMOPS).

For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our website at www.tmd.tx.gov.