Georgia Air National Guard names first Black Commander

ATLANTA — The first Black Commander of the Georgia Air National Guard assumed his new post on Tuesday.

Major General Konata Crumbly spoke exclusively with Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne about how critical of a period Georgia’s Air Guard is with 1,300 new jobs coming to the state.

“I’m not the first African American qualified, but I’m the first that was given the opportunity,” Crumbly said.

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Crumbly says that he is laser-focused on keeping his people combat-ready to “bend the odds of victory in our favor.”

“Obviously, the world threats haven’t gone away. You got China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, and you obviously got violent extremists organizations. We’ve gotta be ready every single day,” said Major General Thomas Carden.

Crumbly also says he’s focusing on pivotal changes including the replacement of the J-STARS aircraft based in the state. The aircraft was the U.S. Department of Defense’s primary airborne battlefield command and control platform during the War on Terror. It’s now being replaced by a multi-faceted battle management system also based in Georgia.

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The newest commander was part of the ROTC at Florida A&M University, served as an Army helicopter pilot before moving to the Air Guard and piloting the J-STARS.

By all accounts, retiring Major General Thomas Grabowski is a tough act to follow, but Crumbly wants to take the Air Guard higher than ever before.

“Whether in combat or here at home, Major General Grabowski has set the standard,” Carden said.

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