Groat succeeds Armstrong as 176th Wing commander, Shinsato succeeds Stone as 176th Wing command chief

Official Statements

• Alaska National Guard, November 9: “Alaska Air National Guard Col. Jeremy Groat succeeded Brig. Gen. Joshua Armstrong as the 176th Wing commander during a Nov. 8 combined change-of-command/change-of-responsibility ceremony at JBER.

  During the ceremony, Chief Master Sgt. Eric Shinsato succeeded Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Stone as the 176th Wing command chief master sergeant.

  Groat and Shinsato most recently served as the 176th Operations Group command team. Both Armstrong and Stone will retire after 32 and 30 years of service respectively.

  The 176th Wing is one of the largest wings in the Air National Guard with more than 1,500 Airmen. The wing embodies the unit motto of Defend, Lift, Save, Serve, conducting the federal missions of air defense, airlift and rescue while being able to provide cyber, engineer, medical, and security forces support during state and national disasters as requested.

  “Team 176 is an indispensable combat-ready force,” said Brig. Gen. Keolani Bailey, Alaska Air National Guard commander and presiding officer for the ceremony. “You are most definitely part of something great: Air defense, strategic airlift, search and rescue, power projection through maintenance, medical, mission support and our amazing wing staff. As professionals, you keep our people and aircraft mission-ready and resourced, paid, equipped fixed, fueled, loaded, supplied, contracted, legal, and physically and mentally, emotionally, and intellectually ready 24/7/365 to Defend, Lift, Save and Serve.”

  Armstrong heralded the wing’s efforts during his tenure as commander, starting with the Rescue Triad of the 210th, 211th, and 212th Rescue Squadrons as well as the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. The accomplishments included transitioning from the legacy HH-60G Pave Hawk to the HH-60W Jolly Green II.

  “Over the last 26 months, you executed over 250 rescue missions, flew 1,200 hours in the most inhospitable weather and terrain that Alaska could throw at you saving 360 lives across the land and sea in this region,” Armstrong said. “At the exact same time you were pulling people off of frozen mountains, you executed a seamless, $600 million HH-60 helicopter conversion with absolutely zero degradation to the 24/7/365 mission that we prosecute here. No one else in the Air Force could pull that off.”

  Armstrong spoke about how instrumental 144th Airlift Squadron was to the response to 2025’s ex Typhoon Halong that devastated much of Western Alaska.

  “When crisis hit Alaska a year ago for Typhoon Halong, this wing led the largest natural disaster evacuation in history,” Armstrong said. “They airlifted 800,000 pounds of vital relief supplies and evacuated over 1,000 residents cut off by the storm.”

  Armstrong highlighted how the 176th Battle Management Control Squadron is vital to homeland defense.

  “Day in and day out, air defense personnel maintain absolute vigilance,” Armstrong said. “That discipline enabled numerous fighter scrambles and air-sovereignty missions. Our teams were decisive through multiple real-world intercepts including four Russian heavy bombers and the first-ever intercept of Chinese military aircraft within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.”

  Armstrong also highlighted 176th Wing’s 2025 national-level awards including: · 176th Battle Management Control Squadron: Outstanding Battle Management Operations NCO of the Year, Ground-Based Battle Management Command and Control Crew of the Year · 176th Civil Engineer Squadron: Maj. Gen. Robert H. Curtin Award for Reserve Component (Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard) outstanding civil engineer unit · 176th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department: Chief Master Sgt. Ralph E. Sanborn Fire Department of the Year Award, Department of the Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Hoyd O. Sanders Award for outstanding military fire officer of the year · 176th Comptroller Flight: Outstanding Financial Analysis Office of the Year · 176th Force Support Squadron: Swept the Reserve Component Airman, noncommissioned officer, and senior NCO awards in addition to the Air Force education and training team of the year · 176th Operations Group: Director of Safety Multi-Aircrew of Distinction · 176th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance: Director of Safety Team Weapons Award · 211th Rescue squadron: Henry E. Red Erwin Outstanding Career Enlisted Aviator Senior NCO of the Year

  Bailey commended Armstrong for his leadership during his command.

  “Josh is always the type of leader who understands the right way to do things,” Bailey said. “He understands commander’s intent, and he’s willing to take the risk to meet that intent and to take care of his warriors, so that they can fight and win. General Armstrong, brother, friend, mission accomplished. Your wing is more ready, is more strong, and is more lethal because your command team and these incredible Airmen have moved us forward.”

  Armstrong said his command wouldn’t have been a success without Stone serving at his side.

  “A commander is only as good as the truth his command chief is willing to provide,” Armstrong said. “Your wisdom, integrity, and that relentless advocacy for our Airmen, frankly, kept this wing sharp, grounded and focused on what was important.”

  Bailey said Groat, whom he calls “J.G,” is more than ready to take the reins as the wing commander, and the AKANG commander provided him with some direction.

  “Arctic Guardians, today we pass the guidon to a proven combat warrior who is ready to serve and meet you in new horizons,” Bailey said. “J.G. as you take this command, my charter to you is simple: keep doing what you’ve been doing. Selflessly serve your Airmen, model the way, and empower them to Defend, Lift, Save, and Serve.”

  Groat pledged to honor the wing’s heritage while looking to the future.

  “I will work to preserve what is strong, improve what still needs improving, and carry this wing forward with strategic purpose,” Groat said.

  At Groat’s side will be a command chief he has learned to trust through years of working together as the 176th OG command team.

  “Chief Shinsato brings reliable knowledge, experience and leadership to our wing,” Groat said. “I am confident he will be an excellent senior enlisted leader as we move forward together.”

  As a team, Groat said he and Shinsato will continue the trajectory the wing has followed during that last decade that has delivered proven success.

  “For nearly 10 years, in one fashion or another, the wing has adopted three main lines of effort: Mission, Developing Airmen, and Esprit de Corps,” Groat said. “The chief and I will keep building on these priorities and keep building a culture of trust that allows Airmen at all levels to feel empowered to make the right risks and informed decisions at the right time.”

  Groat said he expects the wing to rise to take on future challenges in service to Alaska and the nation.

  “We will adapt, remain agile, and build on the experience of those who came before us while preparing the next generation to take this wing even further,” Groat said. “To the Airmen of the 176th Wing … I don’t expect perfection, but I do expect commitment to the mission, to each other and our Total Force partners.”