146th Airlift Wing Commander's Message
Address from the 146th Airlift Wing Commander to the 146 Wing Association: ( June 2026 )
Hollywood Guard,
The 146th Airlift Wing values its longstanding relationship with the 146th Wing Association and remains grateful for the continued support of its members, community partners, families, and friends. The association represents an important extension of the wing’s legacy, connecting those who built its foundation with those who continue to serve and support its mission today.
The wing entered 2026 with a deliberate focus on training, readiness, and sustaining operational capability. Airmen across the wing continue to execute daily flight operations, training requirements, and mission support functions that ensure the 146th Airlift Wing remains ready to respond at a moment’s notice. This consistent, disciplined execution is what preserves readiness and enables the wing to answer the call whenever needed.
Earlier this year, the 146th Airlift Wing participated in the State Service Member of the Year Banquet, where the wing had the opportunity to showcase several of its outstanding Airmen before the Adjutant General and senior leaders at the state level. The event reflected the exceptional talent, professionalism, and dedication found throughout the wing. The wing was especially proud to see Maj Cameron Shepard recognized as the State Field Grade Officer of the Year.
Throughout the year, the wing has continued to recognize exceptional performance across its formations. These Airmen represent the highest standards of professionalism and service and reflect the very best of the 146th Airlift Wing.
Most recently, the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and Contingency Response Team returned from Exercise Sentry South at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. This large force employment exercise focused on major combat operations and joint maritime opportunities in a contested or degraded operational environment. Their performance demonstrated the high level of readiness, interoperability, and professionalism the 146th continues to build across the wing.
Wing leadership remains fully engaged in balancing mission execution with the responsibility to care for Airmen and their families. From squadron leadership to wing-level coordination, efforts remain focused on ensuring Airmen are supported, informed, and positioned for success. The wing continues to navigate several significant challenges. Manning remains a concern, as it does across much of the force, and the demands placed on Airmen through exercises, mission requirements, and daily responsibilities continue to be substantial.
The wing is also operating in a constrained resource environment, with budget limitations affecting prioritization and execution. In addition, ongoing installation infrastructure issues, particularly related to base power, continue to present operational challenges.
The wing’s primary hangar also remains under major renovation. Although the project is expected to be completed later this year, it continues to place added strain on maintenance operations and requires daily adaptation to keep aircraft mission ready. Despite these conditions, the wing’s maintenance professionals continue to deliver exceptional results, sustaining mission capable aircraft and ensuring the flying mission remains on track.
Recent climate survey feedback also identified a need to strengthen communication across the wing. This is being taken seriously. Efforts are underway to improve communication at every level so expectations are clear, information flows effectively, and Airmen feel informed, supported, and connected to the mission.
These are enduring challenges that will not be solved overnight. The wing remains actively engaged in developing solutions, advocating for resources, and addressing the issues that most directly affect readiness and quality of life. What continues to define the 146th Airlift Wing is the resilience of its Airmen. They adapt, they lead, and they continue to deliver in demanding environments.
Looking ahead, several events and initiatives will shape the remainder of the year. In the near term, the Wing Resiliency Team will host an Easter family event during an upcoming drill weekend, providing an opportunity to strengthen connections with families and reinforce the support systems essential to readiness. Later this summer, the wing will also host Wing Family Day, bringing Airmen, families, and community members together in support of the people behind the mission.
From an operational perspective, the wing is preparing for a Foundational Readiness Inspection later this year, which will assess its ability to generate, execute, and sustain mission requirements across the formation. In addition, as the wing postures for the possibility of a large-scale deployment, it is conducting Ready Airman Training to ensure Airmen are trained, equipped, and prepared on a compressed timeline.
The 146th Airlift Wing also remains prepared to support the state of California when called upon for emergency response, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. In the wake of recent firefighting operations, notably including the Palisades Fire, the wing has continued to examine how to improve the speed and effectiveness of aerial wildfire response. The Palisades Fire served as a catalyst for pursuing a faster, more responsive approach that reduces bureaucratic delays and enables more immediate action when lives, property, and communities are at risk. As a result of more than a year of multi-agency collaboration, Aerial Quick Strike has now been approved, marking a significant advancement in the wing’s and state’s ability to respond rapidly to wildfires. These efforts reflect the wing’s enduring focus: readiness, people, and mission.
The 146th Airlift Wing remains committed to answering the call, whether at home or abroad. That commitment is made possible not only by the professionalism of its Airmen, but also by the steadfast support of families, community partners, and the 146th Wing Association.
The standards upheld by the wing today are a direct reflection of those who came before. The 146th Airlift Wing remains committed to honoring that legacy through disciplined leadership, operational excellence, and continued service to state and nation.
#HollywoodGuard Forever
Colonel Christopher M. Lutz
Commander, 146th Airlift Wing
Hollywood Guard,
The 146th Airlift Wing values its longstanding relationship with the 146th Wing Association and remains grateful for the continued support of its members, community partners, families, and friends. The association represents an important extension of the wing’s legacy, connecting those who built its foundation with those who continue to serve and support its mission today.
The wing entered 2026 with a deliberate focus on training, readiness, and sustaining operational capability. Airmen across the wing continue to execute daily flight operations, training requirements, and mission support functions that ensure the 146th Airlift Wing remains ready to respond at a moment’s notice. This consistent, disciplined execution is what preserves readiness and enables the wing to answer the call whenever needed.
Earlier this year, the 146th Airlift Wing participated in the State Service Member of the Year Banquet, where the wing had the opportunity to showcase several of its outstanding Airmen before the Adjutant General and senior leaders at the state level. The event reflected the exceptional talent, professionalism, and dedication found throughout the wing. The wing was especially proud to see Maj Cameron Shepard recognized as the State Field Grade Officer of the Year.
Throughout the year, the wing has continued to recognize exceptional performance across its formations. These Airmen represent the highest standards of professionalism and service and reflect the very best of the 146th Airlift Wing.
Most recently, the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and Contingency Response Team returned from Exercise Sentry South at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. This large force employment exercise focused on major combat operations and joint maritime opportunities in a contested or degraded operational environment. Their performance demonstrated the high level of readiness, interoperability, and professionalism the 146th continues to build across the wing.
Wing leadership remains fully engaged in balancing mission execution with the responsibility to care for Airmen and their families. From squadron leadership to wing-level coordination, efforts remain focused on ensuring Airmen are supported, informed, and positioned for success. The wing continues to navigate several significant challenges. Manning remains a concern, as it does across much of the force, and the demands placed on Airmen through exercises, mission requirements, and daily responsibilities continue to be substantial.
The wing is also operating in a constrained resource environment, with budget limitations affecting prioritization and execution. In addition, ongoing installation infrastructure issues, particularly related to base power, continue to present operational challenges.
The wing’s primary hangar also remains under major renovation. Although the project is expected to be completed later this year, it continues to place added strain on maintenance operations and requires daily adaptation to keep aircraft mission ready. Despite these conditions, the wing’s maintenance professionals continue to deliver exceptional results, sustaining mission capable aircraft and ensuring the flying mission remains on track.
Recent climate survey feedback also identified a need to strengthen communication across the wing. This is being taken seriously. Efforts are underway to improve communication at every level so expectations are clear, information flows effectively, and Airmen feel informed, supported, and connected to the mission.
These are enduring challenges that will not be solved overnight. The wing remains actively engaged in developing solutions, advocating for resources, and addressing the issues that most directly affect readiness and quality of life. What continues to define the 146th Airlift Wing is the resilience of its Airmen. They adapt, they lead, and they continue to deliver in demanding environments.
Looking ahead, several events and initiatives will shape the remainder of the year. In the near term, the Wing Resiliency Team will host an Easter family event during an upcoming drill weekend, providing an opportunity to strengthen connections with families and reinforce the support systems essential to readiness. Later this summer, the wing will also host Wing Family Day, bringing Airmen, families, and community members together in support of the people behind the mission.
From an operational perspective, the wing is preparing for a Foundational Readiness Inspection later this year, which will assess its ability to generate, execute, and sustain mission requirements across the formation. In addition, as the wing postures for the possibility of a large-scale deployment, it is conducting Ready Airman Training to ensure Airmen are trained, equipped, and prepared on a compressed timeline.
The 146th Airlift Wing also remains prepared to support the state of California when called upon for emergency response, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. In the wake of recent firefighting operations, notably including the Palisades Fire, the wing has continued to examine how to improve the speed and effectiveness of aerial wildfire response. The Palisades Fire served as a catalyst for pursuing a faster, more responsive approach that reduces bureaucratic delays and enables more immediate action when lives, property, and communities are at risk. As a result of more than a year of multi-agency collaboration, Aerial Quick Strike has now been approved, marking a significant advancement in the wing’s and state’s ability to respond rapidly to wildfires. These efforts reflect the wing’s enduring focus: readiness, people, and mission.
The 146th Airlift Wing remains committed to answering the call, whether at home or abroad. That commitment is made possible not only by the professionalism of its Airmen, but also by the steadfast support of families, community partners, and the 146th Wing Association.
The standards upheld by the wing today are a direct reflection of those who came before. The 146th Airlift Wing remains committed to honoring that legacy through disciplined leadership, operational excellence, and continued service to state and nation.
#HollywoodGuard Forever
Colonel Christopher M. Lutz
Commander, 146th Airlift Wing