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Walker
ELKINS -- American Legion Post 29 will host its 100th Veterans Day Dinner Saturday with a special guest speaker.
Brig. General Christopher Walker is the Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the West Virginia Air National Guard. The West Virginia Air National Guard has more than 2,100 members and consists of two flying units, the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, and the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg.
As the Assistant Adjutant General and Commander, he provides command and control over all Air National Guard forces assigned to the state and is the principal advisor to the Adjutant General, on all matters related to the Air National Guard.
Born in New York City, Walker began his Air Force career 1988 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. After Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather AFB in 1989, he served as a C-130 navigator in weather reconnaissance and tactical airlift squadrons throughout the world, including an assignment as an airdrop planner in the Balkans CAOC in Vicenza, Italy and flying in various contingencies including Operations Provide Promise, Provide Comfort, and Provide Relief.
In 1997, Walker left active duty to join the Air National Guard (ANG) and serve as a C-130H3 evaluator navigator, and has commanded at the squadron and group level. He served in various operations and contingencies such at OEF, OIF, Joint Guard/Joint Forge, and Volant Oak/Coronet Oak. He has served as a special assistant to the DIRMOBFOR at the 609th CAOC at Al Udied AB, Qatar, and also he served as civil aviation advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Transportation with the Coalition Provisional Authority.
He has served as the ANG Crisis Action Team Director, Acting Air Mobility Division Chief at the 609th CAOC, and ANG Deputy Director of Air, Space, and Information Operations.
Walker is a Master Navigator with more than 5,200 hours in WC-130 and C-130E/H/H3 aircraft, including over 400 combat and combat support hours. In 2017, he became the first African-American general in the state of West Virginia.
Walker's decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and three oak leaf clusters, Kosovo Campaign Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
Social hour will begin at 5 p.m. with dinner following at 6 p.m. The menu will consist of lasagna, garlic bread, salad and dessert. The dinner is free of charge to veterans and additional tickets may be purchased for guests. There are a limited number of tickets available. The deadline is today.