182nd Airlift Wing Gets New Commander, Former Commander Promoted

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/01/2017) (readMedia)-- Peoria, Ill. – On the same day he relinquishes command of the Illinois Air National Guard's 182nd Airlift Wing, Col. William "Robbie" Robertson will pin on his first star as a general officer.

"The 182nd Airlift Wing has maintained the highest mission capability rates for all C-130 units for 10 of the past 11 years. That includes active, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard," said Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "That fact is testament to the hard work of the Airmen and to the great leadership of Brig. Gen. Robertson."

Robertson will replace Brig. Gen. Clayton Moushon as the Illinois Air National Guard's Chief of Staff. Moushon, an attorney and currently deployed in Afghanistan, has been selected to fill a general officer slot in the Air Force Legal Operations Agency. On Saturday, Nov. 4, Robertson will relinquish command of the 182nd Airlift Wing to Col. Daniel R. McDonough, who was commander of the 182nd Operations Group in the wing.

Robertson had commanded the wing since August 2004 and has been an officer in the wing since 1983. During this time he was instrumental in the conversion of his unit's flying mission from the OA-37 Dragonfly to the F-16 Fighting Falcon in 1992 and then to the C-130 Hercules in 1995. Robertson has also been involved in the Illinois National Guard's State Partnership Program with the Republic of Poland since the beginning of the alliance in 1993. He has deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Joint Forge, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. During his tenure as the Wing Commander the 182d Airlift Wing was a 5 time recipient of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

McDonough has been commander of the 182nd Operations Group since March 2006 and an officer in the wing since 1988. He has piloted the OA-37 Dragonfly, F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-130 Hercules. He has deployed six times as a C-130 aircraft commander in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, as well as four times to command the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Afghanistan.

Moushon had been the Chief of Staff for the Illinois Air National Guard since February 2014. In November 2016 he deployed to Afghanistan to serve as the Director, Rule of Law, for U.S. Forces Afghanistan where he is the primary member of the U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) Rule of Law (ROL) team, and is responsible for directing and coordinating military and civilian ROL planning. He is expected to re-deploy sometime within the next month.

The Change of Command Ceremony will take place on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 3:00 pm. Media is invited to attend and should RSVP to the 182d Public Affairs office at (309)633-5119 by 4:00 pm on Friday November 3rd to be added to the access list.

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