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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 03, 2008 No. 08-002 LEGER TO TAKE COMMAND OF KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD, 1ST BATTALION, 108TH AVIATION Lt. Col. David Leger, Salina, will take command of 1st Battalion, 108th
Aviation Regiment (Assault), Kansas Army National Guard (KSARNG) in a
Change of Command ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 6. The 2:30 p.m. ceremony will
take at the KSARNG’s Army Aviation Flight Facility, Building 682,
Armed Forces Reserve Center complex at Forbes Field in Topeka. “I feel honored to be given the privilege of taking command of such
a fine organization as the 108th Aviation,” said Leger. “I look
forward to working with all the highly experienced and qualified aviation
personnel as we reorganize after their long deployment to Iraq.” Lt. Col. David Leger Leger, 50, began his military career on May 12, 1980. He received basic
training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and immediately entered Warrant Officer
Rotary Wing Flight Training at Fort Rucker, Ala. After flight school graduation
he was assigned as an OH-58A and UH-1H pilot in Company B, 2nd Aviation
Battalion in Camp Casey, South Korea. His last assignment on active duty
was the aviation maintenance officer for the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry
at Fort Riley. He left active duty in 1985 to pursue a bachelor’s
degree in Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State University. He went to work full time for the Kansas National Guard in 1987 as the
supervisory maintenance test pilot at Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF)
#2 in Salina and currently holds the position of AASF Commander. He received
his commission as a second lieutenant from the Kansas Military Academy
in 1988. He has held numerous positions including Aviation Unit Maintenance Platoon
Leader, Company Operations Officer, Commander of Company D, 135th Aviation,
Commander of Company D, 108th Aviation, 108th Aviation logistics officer,
35th Division aviation officer, 108th Aviation battalion executive officer
and Kansas state Army aviation officer. He has participated in several overseas deployments and training exercises
including Operation New Horizons as the Aviation Officer in Charge to
Belize in 2001 and to Panama in 2005. In 2003 he deployed to Bosnia and
Herzegovina as the Executive Officer of the 108th Aviation. Leger has attended numerous military schools including the Warrant Officer
Rotary Wing Aviator Course, NBC Officer Defense Course, Aviation Maintenance
Officer Course, Aviation Basic Course, Aviation Officer Advanced Course,
Combined Arms and Services Staff School, UH-60 Aircraft Qualification
Course, and the Command and General Staff Officer Course. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2005. He is currently assigned
to the Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas – Land Component as the Aviation
Branch Chief. Leger’s military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Force Expeditionary Medal, Armed Force Reserve Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, NATO Medal (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and the Master Army Aviator Badge. His state awards include the Kansas Emergency Duty Ribbon with six sunflower
devices, Kansas Homeland Defense Service Ribbon and the Kansas National
Guard Service Medal. His civic affiliations include National Guard Association of the United
States and the Army Aviation Association of America. -30- |
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