Brig. Gen. Tony Hart to assume command of Alaska Air National Guard Published April 5, 2007 By Kalei Brooks Department of Military and Veterans Affairs CAMP DENALI, Alaska -- The more than 2,200 Alaska Air National Guard members across the state have a new commander to help train, equip and organize them for duty. Brig. Gen. Tony Hart will step in as the new leader of the Alaska Air National Guard in an assumption of command ceremony April 5 at the Alaska National Guard Armory. Hart takes over for Brig. Gen. Timothy Scott, who retired in March after serving more than 26 years in the Alaska Air National Guard, four of them as the commander. Hart is currently the commander of the 176th Wing at Kulis Air National Guard Base, which is home to roughly 1,500 Airmen. "Brig. Gen. Hart will provide mission ready forces to the U.S. Air Force in times of national crises and international conflict, as well as to Governor Sarah Palin for use in times of state emergencies or disasters," said Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard. "I am confident in his leadership and look forward to building and strengthening our Alaska Air National Guard together." Hart has been the commander of the 176th Wing since January 2005. He came to Alaska from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., where he served as the Air National Guard Advisor to the Commander Headquarters Air Mobility Command. His Guard credentials reach back to his service in both the Tennessee and Illinois National Guard units. "Brig. Gen. Hart is a proven leader with a tremendous amount of experience and expertise in the airlift field," Campbell added. The Alaska Air National Guard is comprised of the 176th Wing and the 168th Air Refueling Wing at Eielson Air Force Base. The Air Guard is responsible for missions in Alaska and around the world that involve passenger and cargo airlift requirements, refueling operations and rescue missions.