High flier: new Guard chief on job

A new man will lead the Washington Air National Guard unit stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base as it prepares for a closer relationship with the Air Force.

Col. Gregory Bulkley, 47, took over command of the 141st Air Refueling Wing Saturday in a ceremony at Club Fairchild on the base. He replaces Gary Magonigle, 53, who was promoted to brigadier general at the same event. Magonigle soon will become commander of the Washington Air National Guard and will be stationed at Camp Murray in Tacoma.

In 2005, military leaders announced that eight KC-135 Air Guard tankers operated by the 141st would move to Iowa, a decision challenged by Gov. Chris Gregoire. In absence of its own planes, the 141st is expected to share aircraft with the Air Force.

The transitioning of the 141st to an “associated” unit of the Air Force’s 92nd Air Refueling Wing is expected in the coming months and will be the first such relationship attempted between active duty and Air Guard units, Bulkley said.

“The National Guard that has served us all so very well needs to change a little bit because we don’t have as much stuff as we used to have, and we’re going to have figure out how to share it,” said Maj. Gen. George F. Scoggins Jr., the retiring commander of the Washington Air National Guard, at Saturday’s event. “There’s going to be lots and lots of things that we’re going to have to figure out as we go.”

Magonigle has been a member of the 141st for 23 years and led the unit for four years.

Bulkley, who is on leave as a United Airlines pilot, joined the Air Force in 1984 and Air National Guard in 1991.

“I’m well aware that there is change on the horizon,” Bulkley said in his speech to most of the 900 members of unit. “We’ll remain respectful of the 83-year history of this organization, its volunteer heritage and its record of success. We’ll also look forward into the 21st century for new and emerging missions that the traditional Guardsman can support.”