Military unit that defends DC when it faces an aerial threat getting a new commander Saturday at Andrews

Col. George M. Degnon becomes 11th commander of historic unit

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Air National Guard Col. George M. Degnon will assume command of the 113th Wing, D.C. Air National Guard, during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., at 2 p.m. Saturday Sept. 16.

WASHINGTON, DC (08/15/2014)(readMedia)-- The military unit that defends the skies over DC when it faces an aerial threat is getting a new commander Saturday.

Col. George M. Degnon will become the 11th commander of the 113th Wing -- which consists of F-16 fighters, C-40 and C-38 aircraft and roughly 1,200 Airmen -- when he assumes command Saturday. The colonel will also be promoted to the rank of brigadier general during the ceremony.

Media is invited to attend.

What: 113th Wing Assumption of Command Ceremony

When: 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16

Where: 201st Airlift Squadron, Hangar 8, 1234 Menoher Drive, Joint Base Andrews, Md.20762

The 113th Wing has a storied history that inclues mobilization during the Pueblo Crisis in 1968, being the first fighters over the Pentagon during 9/11, escorting Air Force One during that time period, and sending fighters into Iraq during the first days of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit also operates a 24/7 alert mission to protect the skies over the nation's capital.

Degnon entered the Air Force in 1988 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. His operational flying assignments included OV-10s and F-16s in Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, Pacific Air Forces and U.S. Central Command. He joined the DCANG in 1998 and served as an instructor pilot, evaluator pilot, Operations Officer and Commander for the 121st Fighter Squadron. Previous to his current assignment, he served as commander of the 113th Operations Group. His combat deployments included Desert Shield/Storm as a Parachute Qualified Battalion Air Liaison Officer with the 82nd Airborne in 1990, Operation Iraqi Freedom in the 410th Air Expeditionary Wing in 2003, and Balad Air Base, Iraq, as the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Commander in 2006.