Oregon Air Guard Ceremony Marks Command Chief Retirement and Replacement

The Oregon Air Guard Has its own changing of the Guard in Salem.

Oregon Air National Guard State Command Chief Master Sgt. Mark D. Russell, (right), receives the command flag from Brig. Gen. Bruce W. Prunk, commander of the Oregon Air National Guard (left), during the Change of Authority ceremony held at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Ore., on Jan. 11, 2009. State Command Chief Master Sgt. Russell assumes command from Command Chief Master Sgt. Rodney R. Smith, who retired Jan. 11. Russell will be the 15th senior enlisted advisor for the Oregon Air National Guard. (Sll photos by U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nick Choy, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs Office).

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Oregon Air National Guard said goodbye to its former command chief master sergeant, and welcomed his replacement during separate ceremonies held at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon,
on January 11th.

Brig. Gen. Bruce W. Prunk, Commander of the Oregon Air Guard (left), congratulates Chief Master Sgt. Rodney R. Smith at his retirement ceremony on Jan. 11th 2009.

State Cmmnd.
Chief Master Sgt. Mark D. Russell assumed command of the state's highest enlisted position from outgoing State Command Chief Master Sgt. Rodney R. Smith in a morning ceremony attended by family, friends and coworkers.

Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, The Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard, lauded Chief Master Sgt. Smith's accomplishments, calling attention to a long, distinguished military career dating back to 1971, and including a tour as an Army Soldier in Vietnam.

Chief Smith, a resident of Battle Ground, Washington, was the Oregon Air National Guard's 14th senior enlisted advisor, the highest enlisted position within the Oregon Air Guard, and the third person to hold the title of State Command Chief.

Chief Smith served in several supervisory positions throughout the Oregon Air Guard since 1980, when he became a full-time technician working with the munitions branch of the 142nd Fighter Wing in Portland.

Maj. Gen. Daniel B. O'Hollaren, former cmmdr. of the Oregon Air Guard (left) congratulates State Command Chief Master Sgt. Rodney R. Smith at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem. Smith replaces incoming State Command Chief Master Sgt. Mark D. Russell.

During his retirement ceremony held later that day, Chief Smith thanked the many mentors, coworkers, and supervisors he came into contact throughout his long military career.

He also called attention to the new, closer working relationship between Oregon's citizen-Airmen and citizen-Soldiers, a plan he developed with former State Command Sergeant Major, Thomas Moe.

Chief Master Sgt. Russell thanked Chief Smith for his guidance, and for laying the foundation for a closer collaboration between Oregon's two military services. He also thanked Maj. Gen. Rees and Oregon Air Guard commanders for the opportunity to serve in his new role.

Chief Russell's military career began in 1980 when he joined the United States Marine Corps. As a former Chief Master Sergeant with the 101st Combat Operations Group, has served in various supervisory and superintendant roles throughout the Oregon Air Guard since joining the Oregon Air National Guard in 1997.

As the Command Chief Master Sergeant, Russell will support over 2,100 citizen-Airmen as the highest enlisted person in Oregon.

Source: Oregon Air Guard News Release