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Brig. Gen. Leah V. Voelker of Brighton became the first-ever female to command the 127th Wing and Selfridge Air National Guard Base in a Dec. 7 ceremony. As commander, Voelker is responsible for ensuring the combat readiness of nearly 1,500 Airmen, eight KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, 21 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, and provide installation support for more than 5,000 joint service members and civilian employees in 40 tenant units.
Voelker earned her commission from the Academy of Military Science in November 2001. She completed pilot training in July 2003, and has flown both the C-130 Hercules and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft missions. In her 24 years of service in the Michigan Air National Guard, she has commanded at the squadron and group levels, and served as executive officer to the Adjutant General, Michigan National Guard. Prior to that, she was the deputy commander of the Michigan Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters in Lansing.
A command pilot with more than 3,500 hours flying air mobility, aeromedical evacuation, aerial refueling and combat missions around the world, Voelker has deployed in support of Operations Joint Forge, Iraqi Freedom, Eduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel, and has served as director of operations for two expeditionary air refueling squadrons and as director of mobility forces for Exercise Valiant Shield 25…