MANG gets new commander

Col. Pete Hronek has commanded the 120th Airlift Wing through two mission converions, most recently from F-15s to C-130s.

On Saturday, Col. Lee Smith will assume command from Hronek, who has led the unit since 2009.

Smith is active duty Air Force and will be a dual-status commander.

A dual-status commander serves in federal and state status simultaneously, and the dual status must be approved by the secretary of defense and the governor.

It's the first time a unit has had a dual-status commander in the history of Air Mobility Command, the parent command for the 120th.

Hronek is moving to the joint staff at Joint Force Headquarters of the Montana National Guard in Helena.

Smith is currently the vice commander of the 86th Airlift Wing in Ramstein, Germany.

He is a C-130 pilot with more than 4,000 hours in that airframe as well as the C-20 and C-21. He attended the Air Force Academy in Colorado and was commissioned in 1992.

The 86th fleet consists of one C-40B, two C-20Hs, eight C-21As, two C-37 and 14 C-130Js. It includes more than 9,000 military members and Department of Defense civilians, who bring more than 12,000 family members with them.

Gen. Darren McDew, AMC commander, will attend the event, as will Gov. Steve Bullock.