Massachusetts National Guard — The Nation's First

09/13/2026

Congratulations to the 104th Fighter Wing on the exiting chapter in your rich history you now begin. Enjoy those F-35s. We look for to seeing your soar high above.

09/11/2026

CONCORD, Mass. -- Members of the Massachusetts Air and Army National Guard, family and friends attended the retirement ceremony of Chief Master Sergeant Michelle C. O'Keefe at the Massachusetts National Guard Friends and Family Museum, September 11, 2026.
Chief O'Keefe retired as the Command Chief of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. As the senior enlisted leader for the Massachusetts Air National Guard, she advises The Adjutant General, Commander of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and senior leaders on matters impacting enlisted personnel.
With a distinguished career spanning over 34 years, Chief O'Keefe has rendered invaluable service to the Air National Guard and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, establishing a lasting legacy that significantly impacted Airmen across the state.

09/11/2026

Day two of the Massachusetts National Guard’s annual hosting of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge has come to an end.

The day started at Hanscom Air Force Base with the fitness test, which includes a 100m shuttle sprint, flexed arm hang, and 1000m Run.

After that, participants moved to Fort Devens for the pistol qualification.

After a long day, those seeking to earn their badge will have one more event awaiting them in the morning… the 12k Ruck!.

Stay tuned for more, and look for the full story later this month in the next issue of the Magazine

09/11/2026

On a clear September morning, 25 years ago, a call came into Otis Air National Guard Base that set two F-15 pilots from the 102nd Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, in motion.

Col. Tim “Duff” Duffy and Maj. Dan “Nasty” Nash were on air defense alert when they were scrambled in response to reports of a hijacked airliner. They launched from Cape Cod and headed toward New York City, not yet knowing the full scope of what was unfolding.

Minutes later, American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center.

What followed was a mission unlike anything they had ever trained for. Flying toward a city under attack, Duff and Nasty found themselves at the center of one of the defining moments in American history.

For the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, we remember that morning through the eyes of Col. Duffy, one of the Massachusetts Air National Guard pilots who answered the call that day.

This is his story.

As we listen to Col. Duffy’s account, we also remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives that morning, the families and loved ones left behind, and the brave first responders who ran toward the danger. Their courage, sacrifice and service are forever woven into the story of Sept. 11.

We remember those we lost. We honor those who answered the call. We will never forget.

09/10/2026

Day one of the Massachusetts National Guard’s annual hosting of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge has come to an end.

Today, more than 140 Servicemembers from the Massachusetts National Guard, Hanscom Air Force Base, ROTC Cadets, Army and Air Force Reservists, Space Force Guardians, and more took the swim test and the NBC and Medical tests.

More to come as they tackle the physical fitness test and pistol qualification tomorrow.

There will be a full story in the next issue of the magazine, coming later this month!

09/09/2026

09/02/2026

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. — Members of the Massachusetts Army and Air National Guard assembled to witness Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard promote Chief Warrant Officer Four Darysabel Lopez to Chief Warrant Officer Five at Joint Force Headquarters, September 2, 2026. Chief Warrant Officer Five Lopez has served as the Commonwealth’s Seventh State Command Chief Warrant Officer since 1 December 2025. She is the principle advisor to the Adjutant General on all matters pertaining to policies, programs, and actions impacting the warrant officer cohort, including accessions, professional development, training, promotions and career management. As the lead for warrant officer affairs, she works closely with the leadership of the National Guard Bureau and the Department of the Army’s Proponency Branches across the United States.

(Massachusetts National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Eaton)

09/01/2026

Congratulations to Maj Gen Gary W. Keefe, The Adjutant General of Massachusetts, upon his appointment as NGAUS chairman of the board.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the adjutant general of Massachusetts and a member of the NGAUS board of directors for the last 10 years, is now the association’s chairman of the board.

08/31/2026

Medics, nurses, and physicians from the Massachusetts National Guard, Paraguayan
Armed Forces and Kenyan Defense Forces participated in critical care interventions
training at Boston Bioskills Lab in Lexington, Massachusetts, August 19-20, 2026. The
event equipped medical personnel with the skills and knowledge to manage complex
injuries they may encounter during large-scale combat operations.

Over two days, participants worked with cadavers to perform lifesaving procedures,
including advanced airway management, thoracic interventions, hemorrhage control,
intraosseous vascular access and suturing. Cadaver-based training increases
procedural confidence by giving participants a unique opportunity to visualize and work
with anatomical structures that cannot be replicated with conventional simulation.

(Photos by Tech Sgt. Lauren Ogburn and Sgt. 1st Class Steven Eaton)

08/31/2026

Building Bridges & Strengthening Alliances in Paraguay! 🇺🇸🇵🇾

When our Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers and Airmen deploy, they don't just build structures—they build lasting international partnerships.

More than 50 personnel from the 181st Engineer Vertical Construction Company and the 102nd Civil Engineer Squadron recently returned from a joint mission near Asunción, Paraguay. Working side-by-side with our Paraguayan partners, they completed critical renovations at Centro de Entrenamiento Conjunto de Operaciones de Paz (CECOPAZ) and a sniper tower at the Escuela de Infantería.

These rapid facility upgrades directly support preparations for Fuerzas Comando 2026—a major U.S. Southern Command-sponsored special operations competition hosting over 20 nations this month!

Why this mission mattered:

Contingency Training: Teams adapted to limited equipment in a foreign operating environment, sharpening vital expeditionary engineering skills.

Joint Integration: Air National Guard and Army National Guard units worked seamlessly alongside local military partners.

25 Years of Friendship: This mission marks nearly a quarter-century of the Massachusetts-Paraguay State Partnership Program (SPP) alliance.

As Master Sgt. Bradford Townsend put it: "Working with the Army has been fantastic because we all speak the same language – construction."

🔗 Read the full story on how our Guardsmen made a lasting impact: https://www.102iw.ang.af.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/4578968/constructing-interoperability-massachusetts-national-guard-engineers-bolster-st/