170th Group alumni picked for top NE Guard positions

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. James “Bob” Stevenson Jr. is administered the Oath of Office by Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, Nebraska adjutant general, following his promotion to general officer and assumption of the position of assistant adjutant general for air of the Nebraska Air National Guard during a formal ceremony held Dec. 2, 2016 at the Nebraska Joint Force Headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska. All Airmen take an oath upon entry into the service. Officers take the Oath of Office upon commissioning and renew that oath with each promotion. Enlisted members take the Oath of Enlistment upon entry and again each time they re-enlist.

170th Group alumni picked for top NE Guard positions

Chief Master Sgt. Tyrone Bingham receives a sword, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility from the outgoing senior enlisted leader to the incoming, from Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, Nebraska adjutant general during a formal ceremony held Dec. 2, 2016 at the Nebraska Joint Force Headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.

170th Group alumni picked for top NE Guard positions

Published Jan. 5, 2018
By Drew Nystrom
55th Wing Public Affairs

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Brig. Gen. James “Bob” Stevenson Jr. and Chief Master Sgt. Tyrone Bingham, both 170th Group alumni, were named to the Nebraska National Guard senior leadership team recently.

Stevenson assumed the position of assistant adjutant general for air of the Nebraska Air National Guard while Bingham assumed responsibility as the Nebraska National Guard’s seventh senior enlisted leader during a change of command ceremony Dec. 2, 2017 at the Nebraska National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The 170th Group is a Nebraska Air National Guard unit, located at Offutt Air Force Base, consisting of 80 authorized personnel, including 35 full-time and 45 traditional, or part-time, Citizen Airmen.

The unit was activated June 26, 2007, under the Offutt AFB Future Total Force Initiative and their mission is to provide initial qualification, re-qualification and upgrade training to active duty and ANG aircrew members within the 55th Wing.

“The way the 170th Group seamlessly integrates with their active-duty counterparts,” Col. Mike Manion, 55th Wing commander, said, “is not only a textbook example of Total Force Integration being done right culturally, but, operationally-speaking, increases the 55th Wing’s capability and capacity to support global operations every day.”

The specific 55th Wing functional areas the 170th integrates with include requirements, weapons and tactics, intelligence, base operations, weather and aviation resource management.

Stevenson served as the commander of the 170th Group from 2011-2013 and has accumulated more than 4,000 flying hours including combat hours supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

According to Stevenson, his career and personal life have shown him the importance mentoring and developing teamwork can have.

“Each one of us can positively encourage and help others,” Stevenson said. “You never know what one little thing you do will make all the difference that creates your legacy, changes someone else’s life and may impact families for generations.

Bingham served in multiple positions with the unit from 2000-2005 culminating as its enlisted superintendent before his selection by Nebraska’s adjutant general Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac.

“I am humbled that you put your trust and confidence in me to help lead the men and women of the Nebraska National Guard, which I believe is, the best Guard organization in the nation,” Bingham said.