Air National Guard Fighter Wing in Fresno welcomes new commander

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A new commander is now in charge of the 144th Fighter Wing based in Fresno.

A change of command ceremony took place Saturday at the California Air National Guard base off McKinley Avenue in Central Fresno. The event honored outgoing commander, Brig. Gen. Clay Garrison as well as the incoming wing commander, Col. Reed Drake.

"It's the opportunity of a lifetime to be part of such a great organization, 1,100 individuals we've got working," Drake said. "When you're a lieutenant you always look up to your wing commander, and to be in that position now is just almost unbelievable."

Drake says the 144th will be ready to go 24 hours a day, 365 days a year whenever they're needed to deploy overseas, protect the homeland or respond to emergencies in California.