ARLINGTON, Va. - Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III became director of the Air National Guard and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz and Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, in a ceremony held at the Pentagon today.
Wyatt, who previously served as the adjutant general of the Oklahoma National Guard, was nominated in December by then President George W. Bush to the U.S. Senate for confirmation as the director of the Air National Guard.
Wyatt succeeds McKinley, who served as the Air Guard's director for more than two years until becoming chief on Nov. 17, 2008.
In this position, Wyatt will be responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans and programs affecting more than 106,800 Air Guard members in more than 88 flying wings and 200 geographically separated units throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
"This is a special day for members of the Air National Guard," said McKinley.
He added that among the current adjutants general, Wyatt was often the go-to person on many issues affecting the Air Guard.
Wyatt, who also served as commander of the 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa and as the Oklahoma Guard's chief of staff for its Joint Force Headquarters, said he was humbled by the promotion.
"I'm actually just Bud, from Oklahoma," he said after receiving his third star.
He entered the Air Force in 1971 and has flown aircraft such as the F-100 Super Sabre and the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Wyatt also said he looks forward to the challenges of his new position. "I look forward, sir, to being a part of your team," he said to McKinley. "I'm humbled to be here and ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work."