Brig. Gen. Ed "Dusty" McIlhenny Retires

  • Published
  • By Maj. DeAnn Barr
  • 184th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Brig. Gen. Ed "Dusty" McIlhenny was honored in a farewell ceremony by the 184th Air Refueling Wing, Kansas Air National Guard, on April 15 at McConnell Air Force Base. On May 2003, Gen. McIlhenny left the unit to assume command of the Kansas Air National Guard as the assistant adjutant general for Air, prior to that he had been a "Flying Jayhawk" since May 1981.

"I could write a book about my military career, but instead will depart with a simple thank you to all of you, - you, the people, the life of the Kansas Air National Guard, men and women with whom I have had the honor and privilege of serving," the general said. "For 26 years I have seen your integrity, sacrifice, and excellence up close. I have witnessed your bravery, compassion, intelligence, professionalism and pride. I entrusted my life to you every time that I flew; you never failed me."

General McIlhenny started his military career by attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. During his time at the academy, he distinguished himself as a four-year letterman in lacrosse, earning honors as most valuable player and team captain. He completed his Bachelor of Science in engineering sciences in 1974. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and entered undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.

As a military pilot, he graduated second in his F-4 Replacement Training Unit class at Homestead Air Force Base, Fla., flew F-4s at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and at Keflavick Naval Air Station, Iceland, where he intercepted 22 Soviet TU-95 "Bear" bombers. In Iceland, he was a member of the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 1978, William Tell Competition Team. Following this assignment, he performed duty as a forward air controller at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. After six years of active duty, he accepted a full-time assignment as an instructor pilot at McConnell Air Force Base and joined the Kansas Air National Guard in 1981. With the acceptance of a pilot position for American Airlines in 1984, he transitioned to a "traditional" Guardsman role and continued as an instructor pilot as the unit transitioned from F-4s to F-16As and Cs, and the B-1Bs.

During McIlhenny's 26 years of service in the Kansas Air National Guard, he served as a flight scheduler, academic instructor and flight examiner. As the commander of the largest consolidated aircraft maintenance squadron in the Air National Guard, he led the reorganization of the unit to an aircraft generation squadron. In 1997, he was selected as the vice commander of the 184th Bomb Wing and held this position for two years. Subsequently, he was selected as the chief of staff for the Kansas Air National Guard and was promoted to brigadier general. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, completed in 1983 and the Air War College, completed in 1996.