An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Feb. 5, 2015

Louisiana National Guard's airport tower spurs excitement

By Spc. Joshua Barnett Louisiana National Guard

NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana National Guard recently made history when it began providing air traffic control services at the Hammond Northshore Regional Airport.

"Standing up a tower in the national airspace is something that hasn't been done in many, many, many years," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Scott Hale, an air traffic and air space management technician with Detachment 1, 2nd Airfield Operations Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment. "There's no manual for it, and most of the people who have done it are long retired."

"This has been a long time coming; we are very excited," said Jason Ball, airport director. "It has been a lot of work by a lot of people."

To familiarize local pilots with the new procedures that having controlled airspace brings, Guard members have been providing limited, advisory-only services at the new tower for the past month. On January 15, the advisory period ended and the tower became fully operational.

"We sequence and separate everybody safely, to get them in and out of the airport as quickly as possible," Hale said.

According to Hale, the Guard's involvement at this tower is unique in two ways: this is the only tower in the United States staffed entirely with National Guard members, and the first to be operated by the Army National Guard instead of the Air Guard.

The tower will benefit the airport and the community, increasing safety and allowing for more traffic, but it will also benefit the National Guard. Operating the tower will expand the knowledge and experience of the Guardsmen. It will expose them to situations they wouldn't normally encounter in the Army, such as coordinating with nearby controllers at New Orleans International Airport.

It also created new jobs for Guardsmen. The Army National Guard operates the tower, but the jobs were open to both Soldiers and Airmen. Currently two of the controllers are Airmen, while six controllers and two supervisors are Soldiers.

"Having 10 slots for air traffic controllers to go and do their job, within the state where they live and grew up, is a great situation. Not very many people get the opportunity to apply what they learned on drill weekend on an everyday basis. It's going to make for one of the best-trained Guard units in the country," Hale said.

 

 

Related Articles
Photo of medical training during a Port Subject Matter Expert Exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, August 20, 2025. (Courtesy Photo)
Washington Guard Continues Strengthening Relationship at Thailand’s Port of Laem Chabang
By Joseph Siemandel, | Sept. 30, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Four members of the Washington National Guard partnered recently with more than 170 employees from the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, to continue improving the port’s all-hazard response as part of the...

Leaders and attendees from the Hawai‘i National Guard, Guam National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines gather for a group photo during the 25th anniversary celebration of the State Partnership Program between the Hawai‘i National Guard and the AFP at Clark Air Base, Philippines, Sept. 25, 2025. The Hawai‘i Guard and AFP launched the Indo-Pacific’s first State Partnership in 2000, marking 25 years of cooperation in training, disaster response and regional security.
25 Years Strong: Hawai‘i Guard and Philippines Celebrate Enduring Partnership
By Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy, | Sept. 30, 2025
CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Cheers, handshakes and shared stories filled the air Sept. 23–25 as the Hawai‘i National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines celebrated 25 years of partnership — a bond that has endured...

Oklahoma National Guard leaders and Italian representatives unveil a plaque at the former headquarters of the 45th Infantry Division during WWII in Venafro, Italy, Sept. 8, 2025. A delegation of Oklahoma National Guard members and veterans toured key locations from the 45th Infantry Division’s campaign in Italy against German forces during World War II, continuing the development of the Thunderbird Trail. The initiative is aimed at preserving the Division's role in World War II through a memorial trail tracing its footsteps through Italy, France and Germany, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Danielle Rayon)
Thunderbird Trail: Preserving Sacrifice, Strengthening Connection for Oklahoma Guard
By Sgt. Danielle Rayon, | Sept. 29, 2025
ITALY – Standing among rows of white marble headstones at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard bent to place sand from the beaches of Anzio into the carved names of...