Delaware Air National Guard changes command -- New Castle County Manager and Hockessin resident is Delaware's newest general

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NEW CASTLE, Delaware --  On Sunday, October 3 at 10:30 a.m., Col. Wayne Merritt will take command of the Delaware Air National Guard from the outgoing commander, Maj. Gen. Hugh Broomall. Col. Merritt will also be promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

Major Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, will officiate at the ceremony held on the New Castle County Air Base.

Colonel Merritt will become the Assistant Adjutant General for Air, Headquarters, Delaware Air National Guard. He will serve as the commander of the Delaware ANG and is the primary advisor to the adjutant general on all ANG matters.

Colonel Merritt retired from the New Castle County Police, served as executive assistant to the New Castle County executive and currently is the senior manager of operations for New Castle County Special Services.

Major Gen. Frank Vavala said, "The National Guard has the constitutionally unique mission of supporting both the nation and the state of Delaware. Wayne Merritt is a perfect fit to lead our Delaware Air National Guard. His 41 years of military experience and nearly 40 years of building relationships with our state and New Castle County will prove invaluable in serving our Airmen, their families and the citizens of our community."

Outgoing Assistant Adjutant General for Air and Deputy Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Hugh Broomall is a former congressional military fellow to Sen. William Roth and a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, and has just become the special assistant to the director of the ANG in Arlington, Va.

The Delaware ANG base is located on New Castle County Airport and in addition to its 1,000 Airmen the unit has eight C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The Delaware National Guard is comprised of nearly 2,500 Soldiers and Airmen and is your Hometown Force, living and serving here in Delaware.

OPPORTUNITIES: Photo, video, and interviews; ceremony in front of a large formation of Airmen.

DIRECTIONS TO AIR BASE: from I-95, take Rt. 141 South to Corporate Commons Blvd. Make a right turn; turn left at the U-turn and follow air base signs. At the main gate security force personnel will direct you. For GPS directions use this address: 2600 Spruance Drive, New Castle, DE 19720.

For more information, please contact Lt. Col. Len Gratteri at (302) 540-0134 or Tech Sgt. Ben Matwey at (302) 593-2126.

Delaware National Guard
First Regiment Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19808
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