Brig. Gen. Buel Dickson relinquished command of the Montana Air National Guard to Brig. Gen. Trace Thomas this weekend, and retired as about 150 members of the 120th Airlift Wing returned from deployment.

Dickson has served as the assistant adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, commanding the air component, since June 2020 and before that served as commander of the 120th. He’s been a member of the unit in varying capacities for nearly 39 years.

120th Airlift Wing airmen return from deployment

Thomas has been the chief of staff for the Montana Air National Guard, and previously commanded the 120th, having enlisted in 1986 as an aircraft maintenance specialist, then commissioning and moving through the ranks.

Both men were fighter pilots who transitioned to cargo pilots when the 120th converted from the F-15 to the C-130 in 2014.

During a Sept. 7 change of command ceremony, Brig. Gen. Trent Gibson, adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, said it was a “bittersweet day” for both men.

To Dickson, he said, “you’re going out on top,” and thanked him for his friendship and mentorship since he assumed his current role in May.

120th Airlift Wing airmen deploy to Africa over Memorial Day weekend

To Thomas, “‘we’ve got a lot of things heading our way,” including the conversion to a new model of the C-130 aircraft and some restructuring.

Dickson said standing on the stage for the change of command was a “humbling experience” and to the airmen standing in formation before him, “you are the heart and soul of the Vigilantes.”

Over the last few years, the Air Guard pushed hard to be selected for the new C-130 aircraft, which included a significant recruitment effort to increase manning from 87 percent to more than 100 percent within two years.

120th preparing for deployment, aircraft conversion

He said the unit overcame many obstacles and is on track to become a premier training location with the new drop zone as the Legislature approved the purchase of land near Power, an unimproved landing zone and unimpeded airspace, plus expanding the RED HORSE operation locally.

As he relinquishes command, Dickson said he does so “with complete confidence” in Thomas.

Dickson promoted; Thomas assumes command of 120th Airlift Wing [2020]

To the airmen of the 120th, who rendered their final salute, Dickson said, “serving as your commander has been the greatest honor of my career.”

Thomas said that he “couldn’t have done it without all of you here today,” and shared what he said was the best advice he’d ever received from his father, “don’t forget where you came from.”

To the airmen, who rendered their first salute to their new commander, he said they “need to be ready for changes and lots of them. We need to set the pace for the rest of the Guard to follow.”

MANG selected for new aircraft after years of modernization efforts [2023]

During Dickson’s Sept. 6 retirement ceremony, Gibson said “he is not a leader who needs pomp and circumstance.”

Dickson flew F-15s, F-16s and the C-130, as well as two combat deployments.

Gibson said that Dickson was instrumental in the 120th being selected for the new C-130J model aircraft as manning was a core criteria of consideration and he led a recruitment effort over two year to ensure the unit was fully staffed and able to support deployment as it did this summer.

Gibson thanked Dickson for mentoring him on “all things air. I am better for having served beside you and know I’m not the only one who can say that.”

Dickson was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal from the Air Force and the Montana National Guard Distinguished Service Medal for his role in Secure MT, the state’s cyber protection program.

“I knew I wanted to serve, I knew I wanted to fly and I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself,” Dickson said during his Sept. 6 retirement ceremony.

Having the deployed airmen return for the weekend of his retirement was a “great gift. I cannot think of a better place to have served. I look back at my career and I see you. You have lifted me up in one way or another.”