Korean American Colonel David Kang has taken command of the Alaska Army National Guard’s 38th Troop Command, a key formation responsible for missions ranging from missile defense to aviation and emergency response.
The Alaska National Guard announced Aug. 11 that Kang succeeded Col. Anthony Mortrud during a change-of-command ceremony held Aug. 1 at Bryant Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Col. Aaron Kelsey, commander of the Alaska Army National Guard’s land component, presided over the ceremony.
The 38th Troop Command oversees several specialized units, including the 49th Missile Defense Battalion at Fort Greely, which conducts the nation’s ground-based midcourse ballistic missile defense mission. The command also includes the JBER-based 207th Aviation Troop Command, a multipurpose helicopter aviation unit, and the 103rd Civil Support Team, which supports civilian authorities in responding to hazardous-material emergencies.
In his remarks, Kang said one of his priorities will be understanding the challenges facing the command’s subordinate units and soldiers so that he can advocate for the resources and training they need.
He also emphasized the importance of building a unified organization.
“Be ready, be relevant, be optimistic and be professional,” Kang told the troops, outlining four principles he wants the command to follow.
Kelsey urged Kang to build on the command’s recent progress while maintaining the highest level of readiness for emergencies in Alaska and contingencies around the world.
“The burden of command you assume today is heavy,” Kelsey said. He noted that Kang will have to navigate constrained resources, complex training environments and unpredictable threats ranging from natural disasters to international security challenges.
But Kelsey said Kang’s record and character made him well suited for the assignment.
“You are the right leader, at the right time, for this command,” he said.
Kelsey also urged Kang not to accept the status quo, but to continue improving readiness while taking care of soldiers and their families, whom he described as the Alaska Army National Guard’s most valuable resource.
Kang brings extensive experience in infantry leadership, emergency management and disaster response.
In 2022, then-Lt. Col. Kang commanded the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment during the Exportable Combat Training Capability program at Camp Roberts, California, a large-scale exercise designed to test and improve National Guard combat readiness.
He also spent years working in homeland security and emergency management for the state of Alaska, overseeing planning, operations, preparedness and training programs. His work included emergency response and recovery operations as well as statewide disaster planning and infrastructure protection.
Kang’s experience extends to international disaster-response cooperation. He participated in Gobi Wolf 2017, a multinational disaster preparedness exercise in Mongolia, and had attended several previous editions of the exercise in roles involving both the Alaska Army National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Kang earned a master’s degree in global supply chain management from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
As commander of the 38th Troop Command, he now takes responsibility for one of the Alaska Army National Guard’s most operationally diverse formations, with missions spanning homeland missile defense, military aviation, disaster response and support to communities across the state.
