For the first time in his more than 20 year career, Master Sgt. Christopher Plath held his breath and felt the intense pressure during the take off and landing of F-22 tail #85 on April 9, 2021. As a flight chief in the 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Plath stayed quietly in command of his exclusive team of Virginia Air National Guard maintainers, advising them to stay focused even while a crowd of onlookers started to gather on the Langley flight line in hopes of witnessing the end result of what Plath said were long, tireless hours. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)

“My father was in the Army and we moved around all the time. As military children, it’s like we have our own special fraternity or special club. You become a group with an understanding, a shared experience and a shared bond. When someone asks ‘where are you from?’ military kids have to go into a detailed story. But I think that’s one of the best things about being a military kid; having that automatic connection to someone no matter where you go. Immediate connections and conversation, now you have a friend!" (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)

The Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Wing celebrated the opening of its first dedicated headquarters facility on the Hampton installation with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 31, 2021. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)

Virginia National Guard leaders welcomed community representatives to the installation in Hampton on March 31, 2021, to celebrate the 192nd Wing’s first military construction project since its move from Sandston in 2007. U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, Adjutant General of Virginia Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams and 192nd Wing Commander Col. Christopher Batterton each grabbed a shovel to ceremoniously break ground on what is to become a permanent headquarters facility for the unit’s 185th Cyber Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)

“When I first joined, I was the only woman in my technical training class. And then, when I got to my first base, there was only one other woman in my flight for a long time. That was just the norm! Chief wasn’t really a goal of mine and I think part of it was because I never really saw a lot of women in leadership positions. There are still times when I’m the only woman in the room..." (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)

The Virginia Air National Guard’s 192nd Medical Group, Detachment 1, welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony March 13, 2021, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. VaANG members, family and friends tuned into the ceremony via a live streamed broadcast on social media as Lt. Col. Lynn K. Samms assumed command of the specialized medical unit from Lt. Col. Gregory Chew. Col. Jason R. Price, 192nd MDG commander, presided over the ceremony. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)